How often do grandis eat? some eating behaviour

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tortoise1
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How often do grandis eat? some eating behaviour

Post by tortoise1 » Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:06 pm

Hello, i have a trio of h.g and i have seen them eating many things, but the only thing that drives them crazy is cat or dog food,but not in sticks, in mince meat, other kind of foods are accepted but only deoending on their hunger....

I have tried to feed them twice a week to make them accept more food but only two of the three seem to accept tomatoes and pears well, all three eat more than cat food but when they see that food they literally jump into the meat hehe, it doesnt happen with fruit.

My questions are, how often do your grandis eat and if they eat everything as in the care sheet says.


Thanks

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Marnix Hoekstra
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Re: How often do grandis eat? some eating behaviour

Post by Marnix Hoekstra » Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:09 pm

Hi tortoise1,

Welcome again :wink:

I haven't heard of one that doesn't like tomatoes before. They are usually crazy about anything red. Anyway, tomatoes should not be a major food source, because they have a low calcium/phosphorous ratio.
I feed them mostly cat food as well, twice a week. They eat a lot of different things but their food preferences vary. I feed them vegetables first before giving them cat food or meat.

Where did you get your turtles from?

b_rickard
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Re: How often do grandis eat? some eating behaviour

Post by b_rickard » Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:40 pm

Cat food??
Why don't you feed them turtle diet? Or even tortoise diet?

My adult grandis eat anything I put in their cage. So I feed them spring mix, small mice, fruit, vegetables, and a staple of Mazuri Tortoise diet. This is during the winter when they are inside. During the summer when they are outside all day long I don't feed them at all. They find their own food in their enclosure. Last year some very unfortunate non native bullfrogs were found in their enclosure but they did not get the chance to call because my grandis ate them!

My juvi grandis get in addition to what the adults get they also get Mazuri turtle diet for more protein.

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Marnix Hoekstra
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Re: How often do grandis eat? some eating behaviour

Post by Marnix Hoekstra » Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:28 pm

Hi Barry,
Were they okay after eating the bull frogs? Many years ago I fed my turtles tadpoles that I raised myself.
As for the cat food: it wasn't my idea. Several herpetologists and herp vets here say that it's more nutritious and balanced than any brand of reptile food that is available here, provided that you supplement it with calcium and minerals.

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Re: How often do grandis eat? some eating behaviour

Post by b_rickard » Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:54 pm

Marnix,
Sorry about the availability of reptile food over there. I forgot you are in the EU! Here in the states we can get Mazuri Turtle and Mazuri Tortoise Diet and it is what the zoos use. I buy it by the bag full from a distributor for my animals. Most of my turtles and tortoises love it.

Yeah they were fine after eating the bullfrogs. I found leg bones in their outside water tanks when I was emptying the water for the season. My painted turtles and spotted turtles eat the toads that get in their enclosures as well with no ill effect. It is crazy because you don't know they do it until you change the water and find little tiny leg bones at the bottom of an empty tank. I was told that they could die but I cannot stop the toads from getting into the enclosures. They dig holes or jump in, I don't know how they get in there.

I don't supplement at all, I just feed small mice and whole fish. It is easier than worrying about them not getting enough of the additives in my opinion.

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