Marginated tortoises should eat mostly weeds, grasses and leafy greens, with very little fruit. They are grazers from the rocky hillsides of Greece, so they need a high-fiber, low-sugar diet.
Everyday Foods
- Dandelion greens and flowers
- Plantain weed, clover and chickweed
- Mulberry, hibiscus and grape leaves
- Endive, escarole and radicchio
- Safe lawn grasses and grass hay
Occasional Foods
- Collard, mustard and turnip greens
- Spineless prickly pear pads
- Squash and bell pepper in small amounts
Foods to Limit or Avoid
- Fruit: Only a rare small piece.
- Spinach, beet greens and chard: High in oxalates.
- Beans, grains, dairy and animal protein: Not suited to a plant eater.
- Anything treated with pesticides.
Calcium and Light
Lightly dust food with calcium a few times a week and provide sunshine or UVB lighting. Our calcium guide has details. For a related species see the Hermann’s tortoise food list.
Bottom Line
Stick to varied weeds and grasses, add calcium and UVB, and keep sweets rare. Call a reptile vet if your tortoise stops eating or its shell looks soft.
General information only, not veterinary advice.
