Russian tortoises are herbivores, and their diet should closely reflect that found in nature. Romaine lettuce, collard greens, radicchio, mustard greens, turnip greens, kale and chicory make good options for providing a varied and complete diet for Russian tortoises.
They should also receive two calcium supplements per week; these could come in the form of powder made from calf bone meal.
Contents
1. Hay
Russian tortoises are herbivores, so their diet should include grasses, hays, leafy greens and vegetables in order to replicate what they would find in nature.
Timothy or Alfalfa hay are an integral component of Russian tortoise diets, providing essential dietary fiber that aids their slow digestive systems.
Russian tortoises can also benefit from feeding on plant material such as strawberries, daisies, hostas, roses and hibiscus weeds and flowers that they can either consume directly or incorporate into their daily hay supply.
2. Grass
Grass is a perfect food choice for Russian tortoises as it closely resembles their natural diet. Additionally, its combination of low nutrient levels and fiber makes for an ideal diet to support proper digestive functioning in tortoises.
Timothy and Orchard Grass Hay should be provided to your tortoise as part of its habitat enclosure, as it contains high fiber content as well as an ideal calcium/phosphorus ratio which is vital to its overall health.
Your tortoise’s natural diet consists of herbaceous and succulent vegetation such as grasses, twigs, flowers and some fruits – this should comprise most of their diet in captivity.
3. Vegetables
Russian tortoises are herbivores, so their ideal diet consists of dark green vegetables and grass such as kale, collards, endive, escarole, beet greens, watercress and dandelion leaves.
Vegetables provide your pet with many essential nutrients, but be wary about adding too many to their diet.
Iceberg lettuce, bok choy, all grains, breads and pasta with added sugar or starches should all be avoided as well as fruits that contain high levels of starches or sugars.
Tortoises should avoid vegetables with high concentrations of oxalates as these may hinder calcium absorption, particularly spinach or other leafy greens with high oxalate content.
4. Fruits
Russian tortoises are herbivores and should be fed a wide range of plants, fruits, vegetables, and weeds in captivity. A diet rich in dark leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, endive, mustard greens carrot tops spring mix turnip greens kale collard greens chicory should also be provided as sources of nourishment.
Fruits such as figs, apples, bananas, and strawberries should be provided as treats occasionally but should make up no more than 10% of your tortoise’s diet. Due to their high sugar content and potential risk of an intestinal bacterial bloom in their gut.
Fruits may also contain high concentrations of oxalates which are harmful to tortoises. Rhubarb is another plant to avoid as its high concentration of oxalates could lead to kidney problems or even failure in tortoises.
5. Meat
Tortoises require protein for survival, though in small amounts. Instead, they should focus on eating a wide range of vegetables and grasses to stay healthy.
Meat should only make up a very small part of their diet due to the sugar it contains, while too many fruits may lead to intestinal bacteria blooms causing diarrhea and other medical issues.
Tortoises are herbivores and thus do not consume meat as part of their natural diet, making them highly sensitive to any potential toxins found in their food – this includes substances such as oxalic acid, phytic acid and purines which could harm them.
