well my lil girl is 5 yrs old now and I have had her from a baby - my husband bought her over the phone as a present and she was going to be delivered - unbenown to us she actually came through courier and had been in a depot overnight which was bad enough BUT we bought a start up pack which consistered of a vivarium and all the right lighting and a diet and care sheet - anyway I joined this site mainly because I had a new bearded dragon and needed more info on them and the fact that the forum had a tortoise section was a bonus - seeing as I have had her from a baby a few years ago and shes grown loads and is active and friendly etc I didnt really question the care I was giving her as I was given leads of info by the breeder I bought her from and didnt think to question it but after reading through this forum more thoroughly I have started to question everything I have done despite her growing and functioning well. For starters shes in a vivarium with glass but I have put a strip of car graphic vinyling on the outside of the glass to simulate and edge but shes never really tried continuously climbing it anyway but the more major concern is her diet I have always fed her dark leafy greens such as kale, rocket, spring greens, occassionally cabbage and other random tesco's salad mixes and different types of lettuces (not iceberg) plus tomatoes and strawberries and occassionally cucumber but according to this forum thats completely wrong so what do I do ?? How quickly can I change her diet to the right one without upsetting her constitution and I use nutrobal but how many days of the week should her food be dusted with this? all her lighting and temperatures are correct and on hot days she gets to go out in the garden and gaze on grass - any opinions welcome

You have come to the right place for advice.

She would be better fed on a weed diet with some salad leaves if needed, I dont know about changing her over though so I will let someone else answer that question for you.

If she is 5 years old I would say she should be outside in the garden all of the time at this time of year. Can you build her an enclosure that is safe and secure. Im sure that others on here will be willing to show you what they have done.

Some say give the nutrabol everyday but when mine are in the outside enclosure and just munching on their plants its difficult to put nutrabol on everyday. Most days I give them a little bit of food before they go outside, I like to let them warm up abit before going outside as they are only babies.

I hope you manage to get her sorted.

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ah thanks for the reply and the advice - will make a start I think on changing her over slowly and see how it goes as long as I know I'm doing the right thing changing it all

tortoise diet is quitesimilar to us having junk food. we can eat at mcdonalds everyday and still function and grow, but the effects can be seen in the long run! the reason people feel that dark greens such as kale are unhealthy, is that they bind to any calcium in the diet,basically stopping it from being absorbed and used by the body. its the same for lots of animals. bearded dragons shouldnt have many of the same types of food as tortoises, for exactly the same reasons. Also, tortoises digestive system is better suited towards fibrous foods such as grass and weeds. a little fruit and veg wont do them any harm as a treat though.

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Have a good look at some of the sticky threads on here, there are some brilliant ones about the right plants and weeds to feed.

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Before you think about abuse, check out who your abusing first

Im not the youngster you think I am


My Pets2 Hermanns & 2 Marginateds1 Rottie, 1 Springer Spaniel1 Border Collie, 1 Shih-zhu6 cats6 rabbits, 5 guinea pigs

ah thanks for that so if I change it now then there shouldnt be too much long lasting effects?? I'd hate her to suffer coz of my ignorance - could kick myself really that I didnt think to look about it sooner and have only started being on animal forums this year to gain info

also when reading the sticky on weeds (which is well helpful) I noticed its got stinging nettles on it - do you dry them out first or anything or how do people cut them and put them into a bowl without being stung? lol have been pulling red clover out of next doors garden ready for the morning and have bought a load of 'tortoise friendly' seeds on ebay with the right list of weeds on it

hi dont beat yourself up to much it sounds like you have done a great job just letting her graze will have contributed a lot towards her good health and well being.my first question is what sort of tortoise do you have and the second is please could you post a picture on here so we are able to see what general condition it is in and also if you a have a pic of the plastron or underside its possible to sex some at this age.
terry

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the nettles you have seen in the picture , they are dead nettle , not stinging nettle. dead nettle has large flowers, but no sting! its deffence is that it is so similar to stnging nettle that animals leave it well alone.

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The goat made me remember!! all hail the mighty goat

slowly decrease the salad leaves and increase the weeds over a period of days or feed the weeds first thing when they wake up and are hungriest.

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Age and treachery will always win over youth and vigour!