What can I feed my Russian tortoise for a healthy, varied diet?

Thanks for reaching out about Malusz. The proper diet will depend on the type of tortoise. Desert, Russian, box, all have different nutritional requirements. If you can follow up with the type of tortoise, exacting diet recommendations can be given. Good luck.

Romaine lettuce is not optimal for health or growth. Russians need a high fiber, low protein and calcium rich diet. Variety is key. Dandelion greens, kale, collared greens and turnip greens are recommended over romaine. Fresh, chopped vegetables should be offered and a commercial tortoise pellet can round out a balanced diet. UVB lighting and a heat source, along with calcium and vitamin supplementation, are also required. The shut eyes ma indicate infection or vitamin deficiency, namely vitamin A. Increase enclosure temps by 5-10 F temporarily to aid in recovery. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 30 minutes daily to maintain hydration or to treat or prevent minor dehydration. Have Squirt examined by your vet or an experienced herp vet to diagnose eye infection or injury. You can review additional care information at the link below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Russian-Tortoise/

Hi, this is a great question! I’m glad to hear you’re feeding Geoffrey Timothy hay and cuttle bone. That’s a great start. You can also offer dandelion greens, mustard greens, collards, romaine, herbs, carrot tops, beet greens, etc. For more care information, you can visit www.anapsid.org and check under “chelonian.” I hope that helps!

Check environmental parameters first. Make sure the relative humidity level is correct. For Russians, it can range between 40% and 60%. Provide adequate UVB lighting. If the bulb is more than 6 months old, replace it. Provide a balanced diet including vitamin and mineral supplementation to promote shell health. Survey the enclosure and remove any sharp rocks or furniture. These can cause small scratches which can lead to infection. You can gently clean the shell using a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution once or twice daily. If there is no improvement in the shell condition after 5-7 days, consider an exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. You can review tortoise care at the links below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Russian-Tortoise/ https://www.petcoach.co/amp/article/russian-tortoise-habitats-how-to-create

Check the temperature in the enclosure. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. He could also be a bit stressed by the change in environment. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes. This will warm him up while providing hydration. Dice greens and vegetables finely to make eating easier.

That looks like a good start but you will need to upgrade in size as Oogway grows. Here are a couple of good resources for basic care and habitats. http://www.anapsid.org/russian2.html http://m.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=2719

Offer a high fiber, grass based diet. Almost any herbicide/fertilizer free grass will do for Sulcatas. Grasses should make up about 75% of the diet. Avoid large quantities of fruit or protein in the diet. The link below leads to a fairly comprehensive, but by no means inclusive, list of acceptable foods to feed Tobina. https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-diet-sheet.52677/