Sulcata tortoises are the world’s third-largest land chelonian, weighing in at 68 kg (150 pounds). These massive tortoises have an incredibly long life expectancy and have become popular pets for collectors around the world.
Sulcata tortoises, being grazers, require a diet primarily composed of grasses, weeds and greens. Furthermore, they require a commercial tortoise pellet with high fiber content for nutritional support.
Mazuri Tortoise Diet
Mazuri Tortoise Diet is a pelleted diet that contains high fiber, an essential nutrient for sulcata tortoises. Additionally, this pellet provides valuable vitamins and minerals to supplement their varied diet of grasses, weeds and greens.
Mazuri diets come in two versions – original and LS (low starch). The LS version contains less corn and soybean than its older counterpart, creating a smaller pellet which can be an excellent additive to a sulcata tortoise’s diet.
Grassland Pellets are a popular pellet that contains long-stem fibers from natural grasses like oat, timothy and alfalfa. Plus they include nutritious dandelion greens and yucca for an all-around healthy choice for sulcata tortoises.
When selecting a pellet for your Sulcata tortoise, look for one with high fiber content and steer clear of commercial pellets that contain too many fruits, vegetables or animal proteins. Sulcata tortoises should not be fed a diet that includes too many of these ingredients.
Grassland pellets are easy to moisten and give your tortoise the opportunity to observe long-stem fibers from natural grasses and plants in the pellet. Plus, they contain yucca which reduces ammonia odor that can develop in tortoises’ digestive tracts; ideal for those dealing with ammonia smells from their reptile’s cage. You can feed Grassland 1-3 times a week as part of an overall varied diet of grasses, weeds or greens.
Zoo Med Grassland
Sulcata tortoises are herbivorous, and can benefit from a nutritious pellet diet. Offering your pet Zoo Med Grassland one to three times each week as part of an overall varied diet of grasses, weeds and greens is an effective way to provide them with a balanced nutrition.
Zoo Med Grassland is a high-fiber pellet free from artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Formulated with natural hays and grasses as well as top-grade vitamins, minerals, probiotics and prebiotics for maximum nutritional benefit, Zoo Med Grassland delivers on its promises!
Grassland Tortoises come in both dry and moistened varieties, so you can pick which is best suited to your tortoise. When feeding baby tortoises or younger ones, moisten the pellets until soft to make them more palatable and easier for them to bite into.
Mazuri tortoise pellets are a popular choice for tortoises due to their high fiber content and suitability for dry land herbivorous species such as sulcata tortoises. The Mazuri diet comes in two formulas – the original and LS.
The original formula contains more corn and soybean than the LS version, while the latter has a more timothy hay base favored by many tortoises. Both diets are high-fiber with no artificial flavors or colors added for convenience.
Lugarti’s Premium Tortoise Food
Lugarti’s Premium Tortoise Food is made with only natural hays and grasses, along with high-quality vitamins, minerals, probiotics and prebiotics. Plus it’s free from corn, bone meal, fructose, BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene), artificial colors and flavors.
Furthermore, they contain a special blend of dried fruits and vegetables to add flavor and nutrition to your tortoise’s diet. Plus, it contains high-quality dl-Ascorbyl phosphate, vitamin E, calcium, and magnesium for optimal nutrition.
Herbivorous tortoises require a nutrient-rich diet to stay healthy, as they require various kinds of grasses and herbs for proper functioning of their bodies. Extensively fertilized meadows are not suitable for these species as they contain too much protein which can lead to various illnesses.
Tortoises in their natural habitat eat grasses and herbs which contain high crude fiber content. Furthermore, they rely on their appendix for digestion, helping them extract essential nutrients from plants. In addition to these foods, tortoises should include dark leafy greens such as collard, mustard, endive or escarole for proper nutrition.