Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

kerrie · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:46 pm Post subject: stubborn leopard tortoise

Hi there,

I was bought my first tortoise for xmas. Her name is Molly and she is a 1 year old leopard tortoise. She seems in good health, but I connot get her to eat anything but lettuce. The people she was bought from have not been very helpful, and although she seems healthy, surely just lettuce cannot be good for her. I have tried her on all sorts, but she is stubborn.
Is she ok??
Any help would be most appreciated!!

blondesarah · Contributing Member Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 89

You need to get her on weeds and grass, i have pancake tortoises that have the same diet as leopards. I pick weeds http://www.tlady.clara.net/TortGuide/Diet.htm#plantlist
And then sprinkle blended timothy hay over their food, YOU NEED to get her off the lettuce with a bit of tough love.
Tortoises can go weeks and weeks without any food, you need to put the weeds down and say that's it if you don't eat that's fine, they will come around, but if you don't do this she will die in a couple of years.
I had the same problems i brought a red foot that was only fed on bananas for 4 years, with a lot of tough love she eats weeds with no problems. It is hard but is a must if you want your tortoise to live for many years.

digitaldav · Contributing Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 53

What else have you tried to feed Molly? Have a look at this list http://www.chelonia.org/articles/Mistypardaliscare.htm for ideas.

kerrie · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 2:39 pm Post subject:

Here goes, I have tried her on cucumber, carrot, squash, tomatoes, apple, banana, grass, alfalfa hay, broccoli, nutrition pellets, milk soaked bread (some of these on the recommendation of friends with tortoises), sugar snap peas, the list goes on. Although I must admit I have given up after a few days of her not eating. But I will follow your advise, and let you know the outcome.

Many thanks Very Happy

digitaldav · Contributing Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 53

Chantal · Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject:

Kerri,
Is she eating yet?
The advice on tough love is a good advice.
When I got Maxwell, he did the same thing. I called the breeder every other day (to the breeder:I'm soooo sorry about that) needing reassurance that Maxwell wasn't going to die. I didn't have anywhere to go for questions or support. I would have loved to have known about this site. But anyway, the breeder keep telling me he is going to be alright, just give him time to get use to his new environment. He told me to give him some gold fish, which he didn't touch so I now have an aquarium, some crickets, which again are now new pets and worms just to try to get him going. Maxwell lost a lot of weight, which was very scary. I thought that I had bought an anorexic turtle. Worms were the only thing he would eat so I started giving him worms once in a while to get his appetite going but not enough to take care of him hunger. It took almost 2 month to get him eating. He's doing well today and has meet his new girlfriend yesterday.
You got a beautiful breed of tortoise. Enjoy her.

kerrie · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject:

Hi Chantel,
she is eating, slowly but surely, the hardest thing is finding her nice bits to eat as it is so cold at the moment.
The only thing I am having trouble with is that I am receiving alot of different advice from alot of people. I received a book with my tortoise but am finding advice that differs. I suppose alot of it is to live and learn. And my mother in law, being as sweet as she can be, keeps buying bags and bags of mixed lettuce and greens.
But yes, Molly is the sweetest thing I have ever seen or had, she is my excuse for not having kids just yet, she is my baby!!!!

I hope Maxwell and his girlfriend are getting along. My partner is at present trying to breed his sting rays, it can be very frustrating and exciting while waiting to see what might happen.

Peter Parrot · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:38 pm Post subject:

The advice that Blonde Sarah gave you is spot on. You should be able to find enough dandelions all year round for one small tortoise. You could try growing some indoors in a £2.99 homebase propagator as back up. They need a lot more variety than that, (other weeds such as clover) but dandelions are the safest back up to fall back on if nothing else is available.

Much better than lettuce Wink

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