Comments on: Desert Tortoise Team

By: Shawn Ebbert

Shawn Ebbert — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:17:48 +0000

We have a desert tortoise that was given to us, it was probably on 5 to 6 inches in length and now it’s about 8 maybe 9. Problem seems to be the top shell seems a little soft and actually looks sunken in. She eats (kale, brocoli, carrot, and sometimes apple) but not sure what’s wrong and what can be done to help her.

By: Janie

Janie — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:39:56 +0000

I live in Az and have 2 desert tortoises that were given to me. They were born in captivity. They are appx. 3 years old. My question is can I plant ivy in their enclosure? I have some ivy that I have grown from cuttings I picked up outside a hotel in California. I can’t seem to find anywhere if it is safe or harmful.
Thank you
Janie

Paula responds: There are so many types of ivy that I would need to know the species of the plant, or at least the genus so I can narrow it down. When in doubt, don’t do it!

By: liz from AZ.

liz from AZ. — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:10:14 +0000

Hello tortoise lovers! I have more a few more questions regarding food. I pulled all the weeds around my house and I’m wondering if any of these plants are safe for the tortoise babies:

common name proper name

red spiderling beerhaavia coccenia

common purslane portulaca oleracea

dallisgrass paspalum dilatatum

wild lettuce/prickly lettuce lactuca serrida

butterfly bush (not a weed) buddleja marrubifolia

also, what other types of “mallow” are good for tortoises besides globe mallow? Thank you all so much. You all do such great work. Can people come and visit the Las Vegas sight? Any possible volunteer type work? Thanks again!
Liz

By: Angela

Angela — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:46:22 +0000

Do desert tortoise loose their eyesight as they age ? I have one that seems to not hit his food target and instead consumes alot of dirt and sand. He has been moving the dirt and sand out when he goes to the restroom but I don’t see much of anything else in there? He seems to be really on the older side and I just wanted to know if their eyesight goes like ours does as we age? Please help.

By: R. Duane Sides

R. Duane Sides — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:10:52 +0000

I just donated a tortoise and I cannot find the info form to fill out. Where is it? Can you provide me a link maybe? Thanks, Duane.

Moderator’s note: Desert Tortoise info form or http://www.sandiegozoo.org/desert_tortoise/

By: lizfrom AZ.

lizfrom AZ. — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:41:36 +0000

Hey tortoise blogging experts! I just received some alfalfa and clover seed from mail order. I have the 2 hatchlings and am trying to feed them correctly. I swear, I feel like a new mother Anyway, am I to grow the alfalfa into a plant or have them eat the sprouts? I thought the plant would be higher in protein but want to make sure. Also, the only clover available was red clover. Is this safe or is there a type of desert clover (which seems unavailable to purchase if it exists)? I read that legumes are a great source of protein for hatchlings; do you know which legumes these are? If I could just make them a bean burrito I’d be thrilled !!!!!!! Thank you all so much for your hard work and helpful info. We tortoise lovers are truly grateful.

Liz

By: Angela

Angela — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:20:45 +0000

Hi. I have a captive desert tortoise that was abondoned and now is part of our family. When he came to us he had a broken horn (Haus is a boy). However, the shell around where the horn broke away from appears to have healed and grow a bit, which is great, but my concern is that he has this part of the horn that is broke away from the shell and while does not appear to bother him much, eating and walking and such, what is the chances that his shell will continue to grow and begin to rub and push on the broken horn that is still attached to his neck/throat skin? Or am I simply overly concerned? Looking for a piece of advice here is all. Thank you.

By: liz from AZ.

liz from AZ. — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:42:46 +0000

I’m so grateful you have this blog! I’ve been doing a lot of research regarding which plants are healthy to grow in the backyard (containing the habitat) and which veggies to grow to minimize reliance of “store bought” food. I’ve read opposing views on many of my questions and it’s getting a bit confusing.
Do hatchlings need a higher protein diet than the older tortoises? If so, what besides mulberry leaves, alfalfa sprouts, dichondra, roses (petals & leaves), bermuda grass, grape leaves and spurge should I be feeding the babies?
Do you have any good sources for native seeds?
I’ve read that chard and kale and several other veggies are not good for tortoises! Please let me know what you all believe. We have built our enclosure and are cementing it into the ground this weekend. Yay!!! I have heard that the fencing must be placed at least 8 inches underground (w/cement) so tortoises cannot escape…is this correct?
please send any extra ambiguous info that may be helpful! Thank you so much for your dedication!

Paula responds: Good for you for being so proactive in finding out what’s best for your tortoises! You’re correct: there isn’t a lot of straightforward information available, so I applaud you for digging around to learn as much as you can. I am going to send your questions on to our nutritionist to see how complete an answer I can get for you because we are still trying to figure it all out as well.

There are numerous hatchling nutrition studies underway, not just here at the DTCC but with other organizations and agencies that work with desert tortoises, so we hope it won’t be long before we have a solid base of nutritional information about the little guys. I can tell you that we have not found a good source for native seeds yet, but we are actively working with the Springs Preserve here in Las Vegas to learn how to collect seeds from native plants that naturally grow here at the DTCC.

Chard and kale and supermarket veggies are okay to feed to your tortoises, but they are certainly not our top choice since you don’t see much of them growing in the desert! We are going to compile a list of foods that are good for the little guys, and I will post it in the near future. In the meantime, know that you are doing a great job with the tortoises and their enclosure. The footer on your enclosure should be at least 6 inches in the ground, but if that same enclosure is going to hold the tortoises even as adults, then you should go down 12 inches to be safe, and you will want the walls to be at least 3 blocks high to make sure adults can’t climb on each other’s backs and escape (we have seen it happen!).

Also, please remember that females can store sperms for many years so this means that even if you separate your males from your females after the first clutch hatches (that will be 15 years from now if you only have hatchlings right now), those females can still make babies for years afterward, so please make sure to keep them apart as they enter their teenage years.

And one more thing … for those of you who have hatchlings, the best thing you can do for their health is to allow them to hibernate! I know it’s scary, but they will be stronger and healthier, and they will have a better start to life if you allow them this very important down time that their bodies require.

Good luck and check back to our blogs for a hatchling nutrition update soon!

By: mike in ariz

mike in ariz — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:55:59 +0000

Paula—hello and great site! I have several d.torti and am in a quandry as to grocery store diet. My tortoises, including a Horsefelds live in seperate 25×25 enclosures. They can not run free in the yard or they will become dog toys!! So feeding them is at best a challenge. They are avoracious and can wipe out new plantings in one day. Not to mention trying to deal with plants and this horrendous desert heat! I have a limited amount of “natural or planted” vegetation in the pens. I am forced to feed grocery store food. My vet says NO FRUIT! I use spring mix. I have spent many $’s over the last 4 years-thats ok—but–can I give them anything else besides radicchio,kale, curley endive?? How about zuchinni, bok choy, carrots—please—-you tell me. I struggle mightily with this issue. Anxious to hear and thank you in advance. Mike

Paula responds: Sounds like you’re doing a great job in trying to get your tortoises the best food possible. Here are some grocery produce ideas you can try: broccoli, dandelion greens, watercress, parsley, mustard greens, carrots, collards, kale, alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts, alfalfa or alfalfa hay, clover, and Bermuda grass hay. You can also try these in moderation: stringbeans, zucchini, peas, cabbage, and tomatoes.

Keep giving your tortoises a varied diet and do your best to keep planting native forage. You may want to plant seeds in pots away from your tortoises, let them grow to a good size and then either replant them in the tortoise enclosure, or just dig a hole and put the whole pot in the ground. You will have to replant your native forage every couple of years as the tortoises devour it, so you may want to keep a supply growing outside the enclosures all the time!

By: New Owners From Arizona

New Owners From Arizona — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:11:34 +0000

Alright we will do that asap. We will continue to give them water, build them a habitat, and feed them more nutritious foods (they’re already picky eaters!). Thank you so much. When we’re done we’ll attach a pic for your viewing pleasure