Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi
I have switched my tortoise substrate to alfalfa pellets, its been this way for over a month now. I also give him grass and alfalfa hay mix. he seems to be eating the hay and pellets more then his actual food. is this okay? He seems to deficate more often now also, im assuming this is because of the extra fiber.
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"If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George

Is it OK? It depends...what is his "regular diet"? Eating some alfalfa and/or hay is fine, but alfalfa is fairly high protien which probably is not a problem as long as it is also eating other items such as grass hay and "greens" or cactus.

I found alfalfa pellets to be very prone to molding if they get the slightest bit damp and I had to throw a lot of it out. Providing a damp area to tortoises, or better said, HUMID area, is a trend I agree with, many folks think it is the key to preventing pyramiding (see R. and J. Fife). I have been keeping some hatchlings on coconut coire,and it seems OK to me. Unlike alfalfa pellets, it does not readily swell and mold or breakdown into dusty powder. Eating some alfalfa pellets and hay is fine, and probably even desireable as part of a varied diet. good luck, Vic H.

Thanks for the reply.
His normal diet varies month by month of different greens and veggies. Being that its winter time i cutback his feeding since he wasnt eating much. ( I wish i could hibernate him, but im terrified that ill lose him. So im going to wait til next year to try that.)
I had him in a sand and cocfiber mix substrate but he was eating it so someone reccommended i switch to the alfalfa pellets, at least he can digest it. And i do have a humid spot, i had to make it out of dull colored sponges glued in a plastic container.. he tried to eat everything else i tried ( moss, vermiculite, papertowels...).
-----
"If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George