Sulcata tortoises are natural herbivores that require a high-fiber grass-based diet for survival, though they may consume other fruits and vegetables from time to time. Therefore, it is important to know which foods they can safely ingest as well as those to avoid.
Diets that focus on leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce (no iceberg!), collard greens, kale and escarole should form the cornerstone of their diets. Cruciferous vegetables high in oxalates should also be avoided.
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Vegetables
Sulcata tortoises, also known as African spurred tortoises, can benefit from eating an assortment of leafy green vegetables like kale, collard greens and dandelion greens as well as squash carrots and sweet potatoes. When feeding these tortoises foods that contain high levels of oxalates (spinach and parsley are particularly harmful) should be avoided.
Fruit should only make up a small part of their diet because its sugars and acids can alter their intestinal pH and kill beneficial bacteria that serve them well.
Many sulcata owners choose to supplement their pet’s diet with commercial tortoise pellets that contain healthy mixtures of dried grasses, vegetables, and fruits. Furthermore, some owners sprinkle their pet’s salad twice weekly with calcium powder or use multivitamin products with calcium and vitamin D to combat health issues associated with low calcium levels such as shell rot. This approach may also prevent health complications like skin conditions associated with poor calcium levels in their daily regiment.
Fruits
Sulcata tortoises or African Spurred Tortoises can eat fruits and vegetables, though only in small amounts; fruits and vegetables shouldn’t account for more than 30% of their diet.
Assuring your Sulcata tortoise has all of the vitamins and minerals it needs is crucial. While grass, leafy greens, vegetables and some fruit should all be provided, other treats should include carrot tops, radish tops, and hibiscus flowers as they contain high sugar levels that won’t harm them in small doses.
Avoid giving your Sulcata turtle animal proteins such as meat, fish or insects as their diet already provides sufficient proteins from plants they eat; feeding too much animal protein could cause kidney or gout issues and contribute to gout or kidney failure. Furthermore, processed human foods tend to contain too much sugar, salt and fat which could exacerbate these health conditions further.
Grass
The Sulcata Tortoise is one of the largest terrestrial tortoises. Reaching 24–30 inches in carapace length and 80-110 pounds in weight, its shell features distinctively textured surface features with curved margins that differentiates it from other turtle species. Mating sulcata tortoises can be noisy affairs as males groan loudly while trying to gain female favor – usually by battering into her with their shells to win her affections.
Tortoises have evolved to survive in Africa’s Sahel region, one of the driest parts of the planet. To conserve water, they utilize moist soil or puddles as sources for soaking while burrowing to find areas with higher moisture content.
Tortoises need access to grass or hay free of pesticides and herbicides in order to stay properly hydrated; Timothy hay and orchard hay are great examples. Some tortoises may also eat other grasses like Bermuda grass or lawn fescue (Festuca arundinacea), though vegetables and other foods must also be included as these contain oxalic acid which interferes with calcium absorption; it’s best if dark leafy greens such as spinach are avoided completely from their diet in order to achieve proper hydration.
Clover
Sulcata tortoises are grazing animals that require access to grasses and hay at least 90% of the time, including pesticide- and herbicide-free grasses and hay that include cheat grass, clover, edible flowers such as nasturtiums, geraniums, hibiscus blooms and rose petals; shrubs; or edible fruits (cheat grass, clover) to feed on. Avoid feeding too much alfalfa hay which contains high amounts of oxalates that could lead to bladder stone formation or kidney failure – these tortoise care requirements must be strictly observed!
As other tortoises do, Sahelian tortoises have evolved to thrive in dry environments and need access to an expansive area in which to roam and feed on grassy fields or browse on vegetation. An outdoor garden with plenty of shaded areas, hiding spots, and shallow pools of water would provide them with everything they require for optimal wellbeing.
