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Only likes watercress
Posted: 13/06/2012 by Helena.sid

Hi please can someone give me some advice for some reason Sid has decided he wont eat anything other then watercress. Iv tried him on spring greens, curly kale, cabbage, garden weeds, and iv tried to temp him with a little cucumber but he won't have any of it but as soon as I put watercress in that's all he will eat surely he can't stay healthy just eating watercress. Any ideas what I can do?
Many thanks guys

Re: Only likes watercress
Posted: 14/06/2012 by tortoise7

Try putting just a tiny bit of watercress in the middle of the weeds. It is good that he doesn't want the cabbage spring greens etc as they high in oxulates which means that they inhibit the intake of calcium, that is Ok for emergency food when the weeds are scarce. If he eats the watercress and leaves the rest then I would not feed watercress again, it will be a battle of wills but be determined that you will win., just make sure he drinks. You can try smudging the food with cucumber, that may temp him. Hope this helps
Keep us posted

Re: Only likes watercress
Posted: 14/06/2012 by wizzasmum

Tortoises can be like kids and the only way they can become picky is if they are allowed to be. They won't starve if they refuse to eat what you give them,  so long as they have water at all times. The fact that he happily eats watercress, shows that there is nothing wrong with his appetite and he is just trying it on.

 

Re: Only likes watercress
Posted: 15/06/2012 by alibannani

Ifutu went through a stage of refusing anything other than dandilion and clover flowers. They wont starve themselves and will eat if they're hungry enough. Its good they have a favorite food though it makes giving them powder supplements easier if you know they'll eat all of it.

 

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