introducing live food to my adopted tortoise

Question
QUESTION: I recently adopted a tortoise who hasn't had the best care. Mrytle is 5-6 and pyramiding. I don't think he ever had enough uv light or the right food.
I live in central oregon and nights get cold so for summer he is in the backyard in a med sized baby pool with cypress bark and large pieces of bark off a tree stump to hide under. I heavily mist the pool daily and leave water daily to soak. At night I brink the water and hiding sports in and put him in a large tupperware container with cypress bark and heavy misting also.
For the winter I will need to get bigger indoor enclosure with a light.
My question though is I can't no get him to eat live food AT ALL. I took him to a local reptile store and they instructed me to give him spring mix salad greens with squash, mellon, and tomatoes, other fruits as treats occasionally. And offer live bait instead of the boiled egg yolk I had researched online as safe occasionally and my tortoise would eat it willingly..the reptile guy told me to put him in a box with no bedding and just the worms to introduce them to him. I did. And he panicked I think.. peed and pooped all over then went and hid in the corner...how do I get him to eat healthu protien? And if not live what is the safe alternative. Everyone says tortoises love live bait. Not mine.. at all.I put the worms in his habitat and he doesn't even burrow and eat them that way either.. what should I do? I'm really trying to help his health so he can be happy. Cute little guy..

ANSWER: Heather,   I am sending you a general tortoise care sheet which I rarely do but this one is perfect.   http://www.russiantortoise.org/care_sheet.htm.  Unfortunately I do not know what kind of tortoise this is but, never live bait the chances of introducing a parasite is enormous and expensive. The lighting for two major reasons. They are a reptile but they are the most terrestrial being. They need the light for digestion and because they are prone to MBD (metabolic bone disease)Your UVB light is more for that ultra violet that helps them create vitamin D-3 for calcium if you think he was not lighted correctly check his toes you should see bend marks from old breaks. Sad but common. Your UVA light is your basker also ultra violet but all the heat they need. The care sheet has a great set up for them. Stay away from the bark he can eat it with his food and it can cause an obstruction that could be a big problem later. If your tortoise is omnivorous try albacore tuna, boiled chicken breast. What I do is make like a lasagna with bok choy,mustard greens,they love the dandilion greens but mix them with something they get hooked...lol some tuna and some calcium powder. Try different fruits and veggies find out what he likes. Then I freeze it as it starts to freeze i put cuts in it after it is frozen I put it in a baggy. It is much easier and if you can keep a separate smaller enclosure to feed him in and he don't mind it will keep the main one much cleaner. If there you have anymore questions ask....Good Luck, Tina

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QUESTION: So sorry I had to write my question twice because the page didn't load and I left out his breed the second time.. he is a yellow foot tortoise. How do u make the lasagna I'm not sure I understand that..he doesn't seem to picky over his salads.. its the protien I had issues with. I looked at his feet and wellmuch of his legs and feet look scaly and cracked.. I've been soaking him twice a week and putting shell rubon his skin to help heal.. not sure if its from light or not enough NO idea how to care. He was in a glass tank. No light and hardly any moisture poor guy. His personality has changed a lot just since I moved him to an open enclosure and put him outside on warm days.. although sad to say that will stop soon.. temps are are already below 60 today..we have some dandelions in yard but and he does like them.. they will freeze soon. Evrrything does. He loved habiscus flowers but those are done blooming also.. what about banana's. I was told by the reptile guy its a nono but online people say do it... and what about cat food??? I will download the sheet thanks so much. There is so much different care sheets fall different to some extent..stay away from bark just when feeding? The other guy said cypress bark prevents bacteria growth and dirt clogs in the shell.. thanks so much for your help! And I'm skipping spell check because its what screwed the page up last time lol. Sorry for the mistakes. I'm typing on a mobile phone...

Answer
Heather,   These reptiles have been around forever. In the summer outside they will eat carrion(Don't let them) They will also insects, small snakes their biggest thing in spring and summer will be your hibiscus and your dandelions and all kinds of plant life in the fall they eat alot of overipe fruit. This guy is from South America and thats the diet there. People have raised these guys strictly herbivorous and they are lethargic and have confusion they do need protein. Yes rehydrated catfood is fine, like I said a can of albacore tuna, or some boiled breast of chicken chopped. Hard boiled eggs are also very high in protein and they love them. It sounds like you have one who is not picky yea!!!!. What I mean by the lasagna is if you make his food ahead its alot easier. Like I blanch the harder greens and I layer it with some of this and some of that.Your eggs and or chicken,catfood (pick one at a time). The fruit I would buy fresh let it get soft and offer it to them. Its just easier it you make a pan of food and that way you can cut it into servings thaw the day before or early and its easier than making it every day. Bananas are good high in potassium and sugar but not too many. Now as far as the dry skin. He was not given enough humidity and not a big enough bowl to soak in. Unfortunately there is no oils or rubs that are going to do what a daily soak in some tepid water will do give him time he'll come back. Remember though these guys do not have smooooooth skin...lol You'll whip him into shape it might take a season but he will be fine. The shell though there are rubs for. Very important. This is not an exo-skelaton or shell like everyone thinks. This is part of his bone structure his ribcage and invertabral spine. So keep that shell healthy. This is also why your UVB lighting is so important. This reptile guy you keep talking too...If he is working for a petchain I would really like to know and where exactly the info he is giving you is bad info. Bait products are full of parasites and in the wild they can eat whatever may counteract the infestation but its gonna cost you hundreds for a good reptile vet when he gets sick. The fact that you are feeding a loving creature live foods can also make him I wouldn't use the word aggressive but the next time your dangling your finger in front of him and he bites it blame this man. These creatures have been here millions of years and have adapted. (something Darwin didn't notice was the biggest sign of evolution around him in the Galapagos because he was worried about the finches). Anyway not saying he may not pick something up outside but rarely does this happen. I have had my red-foot for almost 11 yrs. Never had a problem. She has his baby pool and loves to be outside when we are. I have an extra room (yes its hers) Sophie is spoiled and has a little pool in there and a sandbox. She knows where her eating area is, but the site I sent you is nice for space and gives your baby all he needs. This man you are talking to sounds like he's trying to feed a wild snapper or something. Please take no more advice from him and if he wants to question my college and over 20 yrs experience in the pet field (exotics)tell him to write me if he is unsure . If he works for a chain they need to know what advice he is giving his customers. I managed large chains and I would fire him. Seriously and I am not one to put down a fellow animal lover but, before he told you this maybe he could have got on his computer and did some research for you. Heather if you have anymore questions not too big or too small just ask.    Good  Luck, Tina