i have Baby "Gopher Tortoise" Can anybody help me to find out what should i feed them?

Question

as now cucumber is thier only dite, plz help me fast, i saw these Tourtoise in the market in steel cage, and they were in very bad condition, so decided to bring them home as the shopkeeper knew nothing about them, sofar they r doing fine but i need to know if i can feed them somthin else. plz HELP

as now cucumber is thier only dite, plz help me fast, i saw these Tourtoise in the market in steel cage, and they were in very bad condition, so decided to bring them home as the shopkeeper knew nothing about them, sofar they r doing fine but i need to know if i can feed them somthin else. plz HELP
to view them check the folder name TORTOISE
http://photos.yahoo.com/hi_kamaran plz

Answer 1

Grasses and other plants make up the bulk of their diet, although the tortoises will eat an occasional insect or road kill. I'd feed em chopped green, leafy veggies like romaine lettuce, squash, and cabbage, etc, and avoid iceberg lettuce, Make sure also that you have the proper temperature by getting a basking lamp, and that you either get the tortoise a little bit of time every day to spend in the sun or you invest in a UVB lamp. Without UVB rays they cannot absorb and use vitamin d3 and can develop soft-shell or metabolic bone disease. Be careful, it's an endangered species! Message me with any more questions you may have and good luck!

Answer 2

Gopher Tortoise Diet

Answer 3

Baby Gopher Tortoise

Answer 4

Are you sure they are Gopher Tortoises?They are endangered and you need a permit to keep them.They look like baby Sulcatas to me.All tortoises are herbivores.Cucumbers do not have the nutrients they need.Offer them all types of leafy greens(EXCEPT SPINACH),finely shredded carrot,alfalfa pellets,dandelion greens and flowers,prickly pear cactus pads(needles removed),apple and grass.First you need to find out what kind they are.I would suggest going to a pet store,or even a zoo to have them identified.If they are Gophers,you will either have to apply for a permit to keep them ,or surrender them to wildlife officials(this may be best for the tortoises,as they will get the proper care.)
Update! I have viewed your profile and see that you live in Pakistan.It is possible that these are baby Russian tortoises,as they are native to Pakistan.You can feed them on indigenous grasses and weeds as well as the aforementioned greens.They will also eat flowers.Try to find out for sure,though,so you can give them the best possible care.Good luck

Answer 5

1. How did you ID them? To me, they look more like a Marginated tortoise (http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/world_of_turtles/Marginated_Tortoises_-_Testudo_marginata/index.html) or Travancore tortoise (http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/world_of_turtles/Forestens_Tortoises_(a.k.a._Sulawesi_or_Travancore_Tortoises)_-_Indotestudo_forstenii/index.html) more than a Gopher tortoise (http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/world_of_turtles/Gopher_Tortoises_-_Gopherus_polyphemus/index.html)

Notice that the Gopher tortoise's shell tends to wrap around smoothely without much of a flared margin (edge). Marginated tortoises are also more common in stores and such than the very endangered and very protected Gopher tortoise.

2. Gopher tortoises are HARD for people to raise right. They need a rather specialized diet (lots of dry roughage, very little fruits or vegetables), lots of heat, dry climate, and HUGE pens with places to dig nice and deep.

You can learn more about the Gopher tortoise at http://www.tortoise.org

3. General tortoise diet guidelines can be found here: http://www.petdoc.ws/TortDiet.html

4. Marginated tortoise care can be found here: http://www.pettortoise.co.uk/tortoise_care_sheet.php and other places on-line.

Answer 6

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RE:
i have Baby "Gopher Tortoise" Can anybody help me to find out what should i feed them?
as now cucumber is thier only dite, plz help me fast, i saw these Tourtoise in the market in steel cage, and they were in very bad condition, so decided to bring them home as the shopkeeper knew nothing about them, sofar they r doing fine but i need to know if i can feed them somthin else. plz HELP