What's the best way to create a healthy, varied diet for my tortoise?

I suggest you refer to these links for information on proper feeding and husbandry. ( http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Russian-Tortoise/ ) ( https://russiantortoise.net/russiantortoisediet.htm )

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!

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/

Thanks for reaching out about Zero. The specific species will determine much, but has not been provided. Most aquatic turtles are predominantly carnivorous and will eat a wide variety of insects but should also have nutritional exposure to small fish (for calcium). The will occasionally graze off aquatic lettuces so offering a chopped variety of vegetables could be beneficial. Some aquatic turtles can be sexed by long front fingernails but this is usually later in life. Size is dependent on multiple factors such as nutrition, genetics and other things. Good luck.

Check the temperature in the enclosure. Low temps can affect activity and appetite in reptiles. You can soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes once orb twice a week. This will provide warmth and hydration. Offer a variety of dark, leafy greens, chopped vegetables and commercial pellets. She will also need UVB lighting, a powdered multivitamin and a powdered calcium supplement. Set up a heat lamp to provide a basking area on one side of the tank. There should be an appropriate temperature gradient across the tank so she can move from warm to cool as she needs. If you can provide the species of tortoise, more specific advice can be provided.

Thanks for reaching out about your turtle. Unfortunately, there aren't great ways to calculate ages in turtles - the reason for this is that their size and physical characteristics can vary depending on their husbandry. For example, too much or too little nutrition can cause a turtle to become too large or remain very small instead of growing at a normal pace. As far as the vitamins and diet - to get advice on this, it would be important to know what species of turtle you have. There are many different species that are commonly kept as pets, and they can require very different things in their diet and environment to help them thrive and live a long and healthy life. You could repost your question with some photos, or what may be better is to have a consultation. As another alternative, you can also take your turtle to a veterinarian who is familiar with turtles, and they can assist you with this as well. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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/