Hatchlings

Hi all, I thought as it is Hatchling time I thought I would talk a little about feeding. Firstly, how much food do they need ? You need to feed them once or twice a day with a whole variety of food so that they don't get finnicky in the future. I have listed in a previous blog what food to give and if you bought a hatchling from me then you will also have been given a care sheet  with a list of foods as well. So, cut up the food nice and small and mix together ;I give about 8 different foods at any given time so that they do not get used to only one or 2 and always put natural weeds in if possible at every feed. Of course there will be foods that they may not like just like  us but doing it this way will ensure a varied diet. I also give mine nastursians and mallow flowers to try. Always put the food just a little way from under the lamp as they need the uva/uvb  to metabolise it.As they are so small it is hard to know how much to give and there will be some left over but just have a look at the palm of your hand when your fingers are bent up and that little well is about how much. You can give a litle again late afternoon before the lamp goes off. What you MUST NOT do is feed all day long as they will eat it and you will get a tortoise with a pyramid carapace.....What you want is a healthy tortoise who grows slowly.....I know we all want to feed lots and lots because we love them and want to make them happy but you will have a very happy tortoise if you feed how I have said ...........