WOW!! It’s so exciting to have a new reptile in our house- and such a striking one at that! This is Sonic-speedy-Speedo- we haven’t decided on a name yet. He came to live with us because no one could find his owners. He is not afraid of anything- very rarely hides in his shell. Even lets the dogs sniff him and he just keeps on walking around the office.
What does he eat? Lots of grasses, hay, leafy greens, and vegetables . NO meat. He also needs a shallow dish of water all the time.
Better of the easily obtainable grocery greens:
Aim for a high Calcium to Phosphorus ratio and low protein diet. When fed in excess, foods high in Oxalates have been implicated in binding minerals including calcium.
Moderation and variety is the key.
Regularly:
Dark Leafy Greens such as: Endive, Watercress,Collard Greens, Kale, Dandelion, Chicory, Escarole, Radicchio, Turnip Greens, Opuntia (smooth or despined)
Occasionally:
Cabbage, Carrots, Carrot Tops, Red Leaf Lettuce, Romaine, Mustard Greens, Alfalfa Hay, Parsley
**** Rarely****:
Swiss Chard, Spinach, Broccoli, Bok choy, Iceberg lettuce, Sweet Potatoes, Sprouts of any kind, Corn, Cucumbers, Beet Greens, Fruit in general.
Never: Rhubarb, Beans of any kind, dog food, pasta (http://africantortoise.com/diet.html)
How big does he get? We are pretty sure he is either a Leopard or Sulcata Tortoise. He will be up to 100 lbs! Hopefully he won’t get much bigger than 60 or 70 lbs.
What type of housing does he need? Right now we have him in a shallow pen just made out of 2x4s. Tortoises don’t really need a high enclosure- they aren’t the best climbers. It’s good for them to have a sandy bottom to their house and 2 different micro-climates. He needs a UVb Bulb if he doesn’t get sunlight daily. One part of his housing should be in the 90’s, the other 75 or so. Our tortoise is very friendly and likes to be out and about with us during the day, cruising the house.
That’s it for now. My border Collie loves having a new creature to watch. He even tries to help him get out of corners my putting his paw on his shell. It’s so funny to watch!
