Hermann tortoises receive most of their nutrition both wild and as pets from fresh leafy greens such as kale, dandelion leaves and flowers, mustard greens, collard greens and most nontoxic yard weeds and grasses.
Supermarket produce may be used, however “tortoise seed mixes” should be avoided as these often contain seeds of poisonous plants.
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Leafy Greens
Nothing about tortoise feedings can be more perplexing to new keepers and riddled with misinformation than nutrition, the cornerstone of long term health and good behavior in your shelled friend. Making the appropriate food choices will ensure long-term wellbeing and optimal behavior from your shelled friend.
Hermann’s and Sulcata Tortoises of the Mediterranean region feed on various leaves, plant stems, flowers, and broadleaf weeds that make up approximately 90 percent of their diet in nature.
Tortoises should consume leafy greens like kale to maintain health and development in their bodies, such as immunity, digestion and proper shell and bone development. These nutritious choices can provide the nutrition they require.
Always provide your reptile with organic and clean-grown greens to avoid chemicals that could be detrimental to its health. Chopping them into manageable pieces is best as some varieties may be difficult for it to consume all in one bite. Kale or collard greens should never be the sole source of nutrition due to high concentrations of goitrogens and oxalic acid which could negatively impact thyroid glands, kidneys or livers of tortoises.
Fruits
Hermann tortoises are herbivorous creatures and should be offered a diet consisting of grasses, weeds, flowers and plants from nature as well as dark leafy greens such as typical salad mixes or especially kale for optimal nutrition. Also consider offering commercial tortoise foods like Mazuri LS or Zoo Med Grassland Tortoise Diet in addition to desert plants like prickly pear cacti, mallow, sage or hibiscus flowers/leaves as these will all play important roles.
Hermann tortoises should only be fed fruits when very young as the high sugar content may lead to digestive issues and overeating that could potentially lead to obesity.
If you opt to feed your Hermann tortoise fruit, only offer small pieces of tomato once weekly as a treat. Each tomato slice should not exceed the size of its head. Hermann tortoises have evolved to handle cooler nighttime temperatures without additional heating sources like pads or rocks being provided as heat sources.
Vegetables
As herbivores, tortoises require an assortment of greens and fruits in their diet to obtain essential vitamins and minerals that cannot be obtained via commercially prepared pellets. Leafy vegetables such as kale, collards, mustard or dandelion greens, escarole and turnip greens make an excellent selection for these herbivorous tortoises.
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon) should only comprise 5-10% of your Hermann Tortoise’s diet as they contain oxalic acid which binds with calcium and prevents its absorption, potentially leading to digestive issues and health concerns in hermann tortoises. Too many tomatoes could potentially lead to digestive and health problems for your Hermann Tortoise.
Asparagus (Asparagis aethiopicum) should also be given in moderation as too much can upset the delicate calcium-to-phosphorus balance needed for healthy shell and bone development. Hermann tortoises, like other Mediterranean tortoises, do not typically enjoy eating fruits; hence only offering it in moderation should fruits make up more than 10% of the tortoise’s diet.
Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish bones offer an abundant natural source of calcium for tortoises. You can leave these treats in their enclosure for your tortoise to enjoy nibbling as needed; additionally they’re an effective way to trim its beak!
Hermann tortoises in captivity often become bored and need something stimulating to do; cuttlefish bones provide the ideal surface to trim beaks for improved health.
Cuttlefish are small squid-like creatures with large eyes, fins that encase their bodies, eight sucker-covered arms and white chalky cuttlebones that washed ashore upon death. When harvested they are sold as pet food additives; although this may not be their main purpose since they don’t contain enough protein for significant nutritional value to pets. As alternatives there is Zoo Med’s Tortoise Block or high quality calcium powder like Arcadia Earth Pro-A or Vetark Nutrobal that can simply be dusted onto regular meals.
