Yes, cilantro (commonly referred to as coriander) can be fed to tortoises in moderation as it contains many essential vitamins and minerals that promote their wellbeing.
Cilantro can make a nutritious addition to a tortoise diet, though it should only be given as treats rather than mainstay foods. Be sure to wash cilantro well prior to feeding it to your tortoise!
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Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for reptiles including tortoises. It helps maintain the health of mucous membranes while strengthening immune systems and maintaining good eye health, and may help prevent septicaemia. Hypovitaminosis A causes thin or flaking skin which exposes raw areas which can become susceptible to secondary infections; severe cases could even result in respiratory issues in some instances.
Tortoises in the wild are natural grazers whose diet includes many essential vitamins. Unfortunately, in captivity they may not get all of these essential vitamins due to diet or food quality being the culprit – three major culprits being poor quality pelleted foods, kiwi fruit and dog or cat food that has an inadequate supply of Vitamin A.
Vitamin C
Tortoises in general are omnivorous creatures in their natural environment, eating grasses, flowers and leaves while others such as Red foots and Yellow feets may consume earthworms slugs and snails as well. Supplementing your reptile’s diet with foods high in Vitamin C will significantly benefit their overall health and immunity.
Tortoises must receive adequate amounts of vitamins in their diet in order to protect themselves from nutritional diseases that could result in shell deformities and metabolic bone disease, or too much protein which leads to liver, kidney, or digestive issues.
Cucumbers are packed with Vitamin C, an important water-soluble nutrient which helps strengthen immunity against infections and scurvy. Cucumbers also provide important dietary fibre, potassium and magnesium essential for normal body functioning in reptiles. Strawberry raspberries and oranges contain Vitamin C but it should be removed prior to offering to your tortoise as these fruits contain spray skins which could harm its digestive health.
Calcium
Calcium is essential to tortoises as a major mineral that helps form bones and shells, so its inclusion into their diet should come from either high-quality supplements like Rep-Cal or powdered limestone (calcium carbonate). Regular sprinkles should provide plenty of calcium carbonate.
Tortoises that consume herbivorous plants such as grasses containing high levels of calcium also have access to natural calcium sources in their environment such as limestone/chalky soil.
Studies have determined that an ideal ratio for bone growth is 2:1 calcium to phosphorous, and vitamin D3 helps the body utilize calcium better.
Tortoises fed exclusively on cat/dog food can suffer anatomical shell and skeletal abnormalities and succumb to diseases due to the high protein content and overly abundant amounts of phosphorous relative to calcium present. To combat this issue, providing a well-rounded, nutritious diet would be key.
Iron
Tortoises require iron for healthy blood and bone cells, calcium absorption and binding with phosphorus – two minerals which make up half of bones – which makes up half their structure. Therefore it is crucial that captive tortoises receive the appropriate ratio between calcium to phosphorus by providing them with high quality complete pellet diets (like Nutrobal) combined with fresh fruits and vegetables in their daily diets.
Wild Testudo species feed on vegetation rich in fibre and calcium with minimal protein and phosphorus; unfortunately in captivity this diet is often replaced with grocery greens with an unsuitable ratio.
Oftentimes, this imbalance can lead to fibrous osteodystrophy – soft shelled tortoises with weak bones. To avoid this condition, feed tortoises a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables each week and expose them to direct sunlight regularly for maximum vitamin D absorption.
