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star tortoise diet care

22 14:26:05

Question
hi,
i hav 2 star tortoises' of about 1.5-2 years.
1)earlier i hav been givin dem cucumber n apple but den i read dat dos r not good for der health.Since den i tried giving them lawn grass but de refuse 2 eat.
Since yesterday I have given them Romaine Lettuce leaves and Coriander leaves for eating and he eats it very well.I also read dat celery, yam and broccoli r good for dem. Now my query is what should be the exact nature of diet which is high in fibre and calcium and a little less in protien, and when and how many times to feed and in what quantiy ??? 4) Can calcium tablet say made by SANDOZ be crushed and given in small quantity on daily basis ? 5) I am told that every day he should be kept in a small tub with little water not going above his head for atleast one hour for him to pass the stool and urine. As today being my second day he does passes stool in about 15 minutes after putting in the tub, about urine I dont know. Does this above procedure required on daily basis or do tortoise pass stool on daily basis and urinate occassionaly. 6) Also I am told that he should be soaked under water every day for say one to two minutes cleaned and dried afterwards, and to apply little bit of oil on its back to keep it shining. Can you be please kind enough to answer to my above queries going point wise and based on the situation which I have provided.

Answer
Sahl, I can not comment on the diet as I am not qualified to do so with a star tort.  I have never had one.  As to the soaking twice weekly would do fine, but DO NOT completely submerge the tortoise!!!!  He can and will drown.  Oil on the shell is not needed, it looks pretty but is not natural so don't worry about it.