#they need a cuttlebone to keep their beak from getting too long

[pinksparklelps]

Birds ?

Love em

Have 2 budgies

My advice ?

Dont get a bird

[is-the-snake-video-cute]

jumping off of the answer you gave to a question about tortoises as pets, would you mind talking about what they need for proper nutrition and why you think they so frequently get improper nutrition? as someone who really wants a pet tortoise, answers from folks like you who know a lot are super important to me since i trust them more than like. the petco information sheet lmao

I think many tortoises don't get proper nutrition because they really need a wide variety, and most people just don't know what to offer them! Safe foods can also vary a lot by species, and a lot of people who buy tortoises without being prepared for them will give them nothing but commercial turtle diets from pet stores. Those commercial diets generally are good supplements, but they won't give a tortoise everything they need, especially for growing juveniles. Also, a lot of people forget to give their tortoises vitamins - herbivore-specific multivitamins can be hard to find but go a long way in keeping a growing tortoise healthy!

The single best thing you can do for your tortoise is provide them a varied, fresh diet! In general, alfafa, aloe vera, carrot and celary greens, and timothy grass are great staples across species, but a wide variety of fresh plants is a must to provide your tortoise with appropriate, balanced nutrition! Fruits are on a case-by-case basis depending on species; they're good treats for Russian tortoises, for example, but are too sugary for sulcatas. Tortoises should also eat a lot as they're growing - I recommend feeding babies and juveniles as much as they'll eat, every day.

I think that, in itself, is a great explanation for why pet tortoises rarely get the proper nutrition they need. It can be tricky to maintain and requires planning - check out ReptiFiles care guides for good lists of safe plants for various tortoise species. I also recommend a good multivitamin, and always make sure your tortoise has a cuttlebone - they're a good source of calcium and will help your tortoise keep their beak trimmed!