hi i use komodo complete for my tortoise ,do i need to put nutribal on the complete food or has it got enough calcium in it already ? thanx

Hi there, I fear you may not like my reply. I am yet to be convinced that ANY "complete food" is good enough for tortoises. Please do not feel offended as I will later on give positive advice.

Just try to magine the same food every day, same taste, consistency, same deficiencies, same overload of injurious substances...and that being your diet. No, I feel a fresh diet of various naturally grown plant stuffs is what our tortoises deserve. Living plants are what tortoises are designed to deal with biologically and is what we must provide as keepers.

If you visit the Tortoise Table website it is full of advice on procuring and providing the right food for tortoises. If people cannot supply optimum conditions for tortoises then I reckon the wrong animal is being kept. It is worth while checking out various tortoise websites for feeding advice. On ebay  you can readily buy supplies of  seeds from suitable plants for tortoises, that are cheap and easy to grow.

If this provokes a lively debate, then that will be a good thing. I am sure I still have lots to learn...well I hope so!

Regards, David nr York

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, prehaps I should have said I also give them fresh leaves and weeds but as winter is nearing and supplys will soon not be available, I thought I would try them on a complete food that I can get hold of. My 2 live indoors in a tortoise table and will not be hibernating but will still need to eat this was the reason for my question. Also as we have only had them a short time in which they have eaten, but not much I wanted to make sure that they were getting enough fluids to keep them hydrated. 

Dont really want to start a debate just some helpful advice to my original question.

Thanks

Hi
Pre Alpin is good, it comes highly recommended by sources that I would trust. Personally I do just give mine fresh weeds only, but if I had to overwinter or substitute their food, then it would be with the Alpin

Here is a link all about it
http://www.urbantortoise.co.uk/Pre-Alpin-Organic-Cobs(2325813).htm

Just my humble opinion

Jane

hi thanks for your reply,if i change to that food would i still need to put the nutribal on it or do you think there is enough calcium in it already ? just worry they might not be getting enough or to much and grow deformed .

Hmmm good question let me find out

Jane