Sulcata Tortoise Part 3 - Diet, Care, Food, Feeding & TTT APP

Рет қаралды 8,148

Күн бұрын

#sulcata , #sulcatatortoise , #tortoise , #turtle , #reptiles
Caring for, raising and keeping your tortoise heathy is not for everyone. You see these cute little guys in pet stores, swap meets, online and think this would be a nice addition to the family. Do you research, know what you are getting into.
In this video series I will be talking about Large Tortoise, NOT talking about Hatchlings, Small Tortoise, Breeding, Cold Climates. I have been rescuing large Tortoises for over 30 years now and have had these guys in all types of enclosures and housing. The diet for these beautiful creatures is something that needs a lot of thought and care.
SULCATA: Diet, Caring & Feeding
- Sulcatas are voracious eaters, sometimes called “EATING MACHINES”
The phrase used most commonly by sulcata owners to describe their tortoises is “eating machine.” Sulcatas graze and forage for hours during the day. In captivity, they need to be able to graze on pesticide- and herbicide-free grasses and weeds.
- Grass/Hay - 75%-80% Diet
Sulcata tortoises NEED access to grasses and hay on which to graze. This is the bulk of their diet (upto 90%) and should be from pesticide- and herbicide-free grass and grass cuttings, cheat grass, clover, edible flowers (nasturtium, geraniums, hibiscus, rose petals) and shrubs.
o Avoid feeding predominately alfalfa hay, as this is high in oxalates and can cause stone formation within the bladder, kidney failure and decrease life-span.
o Grass hays to offer include: Timothy, meadow grass, oat hay, orchard grass.
- Balanced Diet: About 10%-15% of overall Diet
o Collard Greens, Kale, Romaine, Carrots, Squash, Pumpkins, Broccoli, Corn on the cob. Etc.
o Radicchio, Mustard Greens, Endive, Turnip Greens, Arugula
o Colored Flowers - Roses, Hibiscus, Etc
o Garden growing several of these in the summer
- Special Treats: Maybe 5% of the Diet
Fruits should be fed sparingly, as a treat. These tend to be high in sugar and water content, both of which sulcatas are not accustomed to receiving in the wild. Fruits that are appropriate to offer as treats include: strawberries, chunks of organically grown bananas with skin, cantaloupe with rind attached, berries; peaches (no pits), apricots (no pits), pears, apples.
- Supplements: “MAZURI”
o Difficult to feed / very difficult to force them to eat.
- Keep Clean / Off the Dirt, Rocks
o They will ingest anything small/colorful
- ** Never (1) kind all the time
- Do not Over Feed, maintain a balanced diet.
WATER:
- Shallow Dish, Clean Water
o Planter Base
o Custom, Concrete
• A shallow water bowl, with sides low enough for the tortoise to reach into, should be available at all times if there is no wallow available. Tortoises do not swim, and can drown easily. You need to make sure they can easily access the water but that it is not any deeper than the tortoise’s bridge, the section of shell that joins the carapace (top shell) and plastron (bottom shell).
o This should be changed daily.
- APPs
There are tons of plants in and around our homes. How do we know if they are safe and something we should be feeding to our Tortoises. Let me show you a couple APPs that can be used to get plants that are a good source for a balanced diet.
o PLANTApp - Plant Identifer
 The APP will identify plants and also can store them if you like for future reference.
 Once you download the APP, Using your phone/tablet, take a picture of the plant for identification. The APP will search the database.
 Once the Plant is identified the APP will display a picture and the name of the plant.
o TTT Plant Database - The Tortoise Table
 This APP will help determine if a plant is something that should be feed to your tortoise.
 The APP does not have a SEARCH feature, the plants are simply listed in Alphabetical order. Next to each listed plant is 3 different icons. “Green Check” means “SAFE” to eat, “’ORANGE Triangle” means “MODERATION”, The “RED X” means “DO NOT FEED”.
 Website:
 www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/i...
 The Tortoise Table: Is an excellent resource for anyone who care for Tortoises. The site was put together by a group of Tortoise Enthusiasts. They have a ton of information for caring for our Big Boys. Check it out.
There are also some resources that can be printed as a reference.
I actually have a couple of these laminated that I hand out to other Tortoise keepers.
/ 442830575863401324
www.pinterest.com/pin/3377768...
/ 419186677817625263
/ 112590059418942613
alles2021.netlify.app/leopard...
Sulcate Tortoise, Sulcate Tortoise Care, Sulcata Care, Tortoise Care, Spurred Tortoise, African Tortoise, Huge tortoise, large tortoise, big tortoise, giant tortoise, Tortoise Enclosure, Tortoise Housing, Tortoise Fencing, Sulcata Diet, Tortorise diet, feeding sulcate, feeding Tortoises

Пікірлер: 39

@BenjamintheTortoise Жыл бұрын

That was a great comprehensive dietary review! And I love that Simon keeps making an appearance... Too cute. 😊

@gavilanhillsvineyard Жыл бұрын

Thanxs... He always wants to be involved...

@Lisa-qy3bp Ай бұрын

They are eating machines I don’t need to mow my lawn anymore ❤

@87vikk 3 ай бұрын

This man is like a wife lol knows all flowers 🌸 and plants

@gavilanhillsvineyard 3 ай бұрын

LOL

@lourdesmendez6158 3 ай бұрын

Gracias por la información, detallada. Es muy útil. Saludos desde Puerto Rico.

@gavilanhillsvineyard 3 ай бұрын

Thanxs

@LisaMoreno-uu2fh Жыл бұрын

We were gifted a tortoise several months ago by a family who could no longer care for him. Your videos have been very helpful. We are getting ready to build an outdoor enclosure. Great information. Thank you for taking the time to put together these videos.

@gavilanhillsvineyard Жыл бұрын

Wonderful! Thanxs

@heatherm512 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for these amazing sulcata care videos! They’ve been very helpful!

@gavilanhillsvineyard 4 ай бұрын

Glad you like them!

@carolwilson6113 Жыл бұрын

I was tortoise sitting for my grandson while he was moving...but now I can't part with them!! I live in Arkansas & am renting...so a permanent outdoor enclosed is out of the question. I am constantly researching on how to care for these Sulcata... They are my babies now and you have been so helpful!

@gavilanhillsvineyard Жыл бұрын

Thanxs Good Luck They are great

@thatbme35 5 ай бұрын

Great series. Thanks.👍

@gavilanhillsvineyard 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@evejohnson772 Жыл бұрын

Good info Thank You for making this ,

@gavilanhillsvineyard Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@rm-home1072 10 ай бұрын

Gracias por la buena información, saludos desde NC Asheville ✨️

@lisamaidman5210 Ай бұрын

Loved this! I want to make that saloon!!! So 2-3 times a week for veggies/greens, at what age? Mine is almost two.

@andreacheese4229 Жыл бұрын

This is great information! I always had the plant app for me but just now added the ttt plant database! My sulcata is 1 years old this month. Thank you for all the great information. There are some things I need to add to her diet. Again thank you!

@gavilanhillsvineyard Жыл бұрын

Excelent Thanxs

@JEJAKAKI-AKI Жыл бұрын

Kura kura yg lucu 😀🌷🌷

@gavilanhillsvineyard Жыл бұрын

Thanxs they are amazing creatures

@87vikk 3 ай бұрын

The tortoise knows what they eat they smell and taste . If im not correct . They how do all the tortoises survive in the wild . If they didnt know they would of been extinct by now .

@gavilanhillsvineyard 3 ай бұрын

Great input... Agree... Thanxs

@Lisa-qy3bp Ай бұрын

The plant app is not free ❤

@LeighAnnGue 2 ай бұрын

Get the Tort pellets wet.. They won't eat it dry.

@MTR1965 2 ай бұрын

Is that cooked or rye?

@FishinmattRyann Жыл бұрын

i have a question about keeping dogs in the back yard with the tortoise... my dogs are friendly, but my wife is concerned about the tortoise biting or nipping one of the dogs if they are laying out there in the tortoise's area... do you think a tortoise Simon's size would do that? Or could you do a video on how your dog and tortoises get along?

@gavilanhillsvineyard Жыл бұрын

We have a large dog and a small dog. Both lay in the Tortoise enclosures and the big guys really ignore them. My sistem has 3 large dogs and the same there. I havce never really seen any Tortoise get aggressive, hostile toward other animals except another tortoise. Hope that helps.