Tortoises should primarily consume dark leafy greens and other nutritious vegetation with plenty of calcium content, along with occasional treats like fruits.
Tortoises are typically herbivorous animals; however, some species do consume small amounts of animal matter as food sources. Tortoises primarily consume leaves, grasses and fungi for sustenance.
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Leafy Greens
Tortoises found in the wild feed on various leaves, grasses, and edible weeds throughout their day – homegrown leafy greens may provide more nutrition than commercially available ‘complete tortoise food’ due to their higher nutritional content.
Tortoises are mostly herbivorous animals; however, certain species will feed on insects and slugs when in the wild. As pet tortoises require 90% green food diets for optimal health and well-being.
Diets of children should prioritize dark leafy vegetables like dandelions, watercress, flat-leaved parsley and bok-choy; collard greens; collard romaine (not iceberg); kale; turnip; turnip greens as the basis of their diets; shredded carrots squash or sweet potatoes should make up no more than 10%.
Fruit can be added as an occasional treat for tortoises, but should never exceed 30% of their meal. Too much fruit consumption could lead to vitamin deficiencies and other health problems in tortoises.
Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish are a type of cephalopod related to octopuses, squid, and nautilus in terms of genetic makeup and appearance modification abilities. Cuttlefish possess this trait in order to adapt their appearance according to their surroundings or attract potential mates.
Cuttlefish lay their eggs on rocks, seaweed and other surfaces – typically around 100-300 eggs at one time from each female. After egg laying occurs, cuttlefish go through senescence where their body deteriorates further and they become inactive and no longer active.
As captive tortoises are generally not wild tortoises, their diet must meet specific nutritonal requirements – especially since many foods that would normally be consumed (dandelion leaves and flowers, hibiscus leaves/flowers/grape leaves) do not qualify as suitable food sources.
One way of supplementing the diet of your iteku tortoise with extra calcium is offering them a cuttlefish. Its rough surface will help trim off their beak while simultaneously providing them with essential extra calcium. We suggest Sepia’s cuttlebone which is 100% natural or the Penn Plax E2 which may not be, yet still provides extra calcium through less brittle materials without needing to remove its hard backing prior to boiling.
Fruits
Tortoises in the wild feed on leaves, flowers, vegetables and fruits as well as fungus and sometimes animal material; pet tortoises can be fed similar diets too.
Tortoises kept as captive pets require a balanced diet consisting of leafy greens and other vegetables, fruit and commercial foods in order to lead a healthy life. By following such an eating regime, their nutritional needs will be fulfilled and life can continue as normal.
Tortoises enjoy eating fruits like apples, melons and strawberries; however, fruits should only form part of their diet due to containing too much sugar which could pose health concerns for their tortoise owners.
As iteku tortoise pets mature, they require an abundance of calcium in their diets. Wild tortoises would naturally obtain this element from sunlight but since pet tortoises spend most of their time indoors it is crucial that good quality calcium powder be added as part of their regular routine and it is recommended giving a vitamin D3 supplement for optimal bone development and health.
Pellets
Tortoises in the wild graze on an array of leafy vegetation, providing them with essential vitamins and minerals needed for healthy growth and bone development. Commercial complete tortoise diets aim to mimic this natural diet with various long and coarse vegetable cobs and weeds supplemented with vitamins and minerals for maximum balance of important components.
These prepared foods should be used as supplements to a diet consisting of fresh vegetables, fruit and water. Manufacturers offer pellets or cobs scented to attract tortoises; others provide dried grass products which can come in handy during colder seasons when your tortoise can no longer graze outdoors.
This low-starch diet is specifically tailored to herbivorous tortoises and lizards found in desert environments or grasslands, such as Aldabra tortoises (Alabra, African Spurred/Sulcata tortoise, leopard tortoises), Greek red/yellow Footed Tortoises, red/Yellow Footed Radiated Tortoises as well as Chuckwalla and Uromastyx Lizards; additionally it can also provide additional protein sources to iguanas or bearded dragons as an additional protein source.
