Ok as most of you know, I have a sulcata that is 20 pounds underweight. Here is my problem, I have gotten one of these in a while back but it was not here but for a week before the tort club took it. Now it looks like Oscar is going to be here a while and I am getting so much conflicting info on the internet about feeding and what to feed. One sight says mustard greens is a great staple while another one says no, same with the collard greens, etc. I realize no fruit for any reason. I also realize that they eat a lot of grasses. etc in the wild. My problem is that he will not eat the alfalfa that I got him and all he will eat is the dandelions, (i have now cleaned out the entire neighborhood) mustard greens and the collards, and loves Bok Choy, but I wont give him much of that.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to feed him and how to get him to eat the right stuff? All this conflicting info is so frustrating! I told my vet what I was feeding him when I took him in and he did not say anything.

Looks like he will be here a while so I definately need to find the correct info!

Sorry, I dont have any info, hopefully Steph will be along soon and can give a heads up.

*edit*

I did find this link from the turtle ranch.

Sulcata Station - Basic Diet Info for sulcata tortoises

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Hello,

You can check your local grocery stores and see if they have any dandelion greens. I know I can purchase them at a few stores in my area. I myself have no experience with Turtles of any sort (other than seeing them where I go fishing and hatching out some snappers that were going to be destroyed).

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We were at the reptile zoo in Monroe, Wa. this morning they heve 3 of them you may want to call them and ask what they feed them. They are so cute 1 of them was a baby smaller than a dinner roll.

OMG! Yes I know Scott who owns and runs that, I cannot believe that I did not even think of that, he actually has tons more, did you go around back? LOL. He is actually doing a show up in my area In April. The only problem with that is that his are all healthy and do not seem to be finicky eaters, where as Oscar, just turns his nose up and walks the other way if I try to give him the hay, alfalfa, or even grass. You know you are not worthy when you have been snubbed by a tortiose, LOL

Stanley did that to my mother too. Here's what she does... she cuts up his collard and mustard greens (and whatever veggies she's feeding that week) and she cuts up the timothy hay on top of the greens. She'll get a handful of the hay and cut it into 2 inch lengths... it's too small for him to avoid.

From what I understand, some keepers say no greens because of the moisture content. VARIETY is the key. Fruit is alright BUT BUT BUT in very small quantities.

My mother has the name of a tort rescue, I'll remind her that I need it ASAP. Also... how many cockatiels do you have? My mother is VERY interested in taking them all off your hands. Maybe we can rehome Oscar at the same time.

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~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

Oscar is not ready to travel at the moment because of his antibiotics and so on, well at least thats what the vet said. I also need him to stop having the diarrhea, which seems to be a little better since the froot loops are all passed, but I also think the antibiotics are giving him some diarrhea too. If I transfer him to someone else at the moment I am also transferring a guaranteed huge bill for the vet, it is hard to find people willing to take that on! He has definate follow ups at the vet in his future in order to insure a proper recovery!
I can tell you to that he does not handle car rides very well at all because my vet is 2 hours from me and when I took him in on monday afternoon he cried the whole way there again and on the way back he got very bad diarrhea again, and then of course the alternator died in my truck so we were stuck in the parking lot of some steak joint for 2 hours before my hubby got there to come and fix it. Now in this incredibly long day Oscar did nothing but cry and **** himself everywhere, I took him out in the parking lot to let him excercise and he walked everywhere crying at the same time. When we got home he stopped crying and went back to his normal self walking around causing all kinds of hate and discontent like normal.

Poor Oscar! Are you supplementing his diet with probiotics? Nutribac, specifically? That will help restore the friendly bacteria that his gut needs... I do it even when on antibiotics... it helps to at least keep some f.b. in the gut.

FYI... when I rehome reptiles, I travel at night because it's a lot less stressful on the animal. I know this isn't possible for a vet visit, though.

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~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

Yes he is on Nutribac which I got off the reptile uv site, so we will see if that helps any, I think it is a waiting game! But as I type this he is sitting by my foot ramming it and cring and grunting (you know the grunt they give you when you annoy them) so I will have to get on the floor in his face and talk to him and pet his big ol head until he falls asleep, LOL

Poor Oscar yes!! But I tell you bout the 8th person that walked up to me and said "wOw is that a turtle" I finally calmly stated "nope, its a dog in disguise' It was very hard not to laugh at the look on his face! So frustrating some of the dumb things that come out of peoples mouth, lol