Zoos feed their sulcata tortoises a diet that closely mirrors what they would find in their natural environment, such as grasses, vegetables and some fruits. This includes feedings with hay, grasses, vegetables and some fruits.
Fruit should only be offered sparingly as treats, since their high water and sugar content is beyond what sulcata tortoises would typically digest in their environment.
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Grass
Sulcata tortoises are grazing creatures. Hailing from semi-desert environments, these tortoises have evolved to consume large quantities of grasses, weeds, flowers, cacti, succulents and even vegetables!
Diet for Sulcata should consist of pesticide- and herbicide-free grass hay (not alfalfa), sow thistle, clover, mulberry and fig leaves, dandelion roots and edible flowers; limit collard greens, mustard greens, kale and turnip greens with high levels of oxalates such as collard greens mustard greens kale and turnip greens as oxalate content can build up quickly in their system.
Feed sulcatas fruit in only small amounts or none at all to prevent shifting their intestinal pH and destroying beneficial bacteria needed for calcium absorption. Only provide as treats in a pinch!
Hay
A sulcata tortoise should consume at least 70% grass and hay (no alfalfa). Hay is an excellent source of fiber.
Avoid feeding your sulcatas foods that contain calcium oxalates (such as spinach, mustard and turnip greens) as these may obstruct the absorption of essential phosphorus. Fruit should only be given occasionally due to their sugar content.
Baby Sulcata turtles may struggle with chewing the harder stems of dry hay and vegetables, so soaking can make the food more appetizing to them.
Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.) pads
Sulcatas are strong, bold animals with strong personalities that can be fiercely territorial. For this reason they require underground barriers, secure pens, and large outdoor areas where they can defend their territories by ramming and shuffling; flowerpots, steps and dogs must all be avoided for safety.
Fruits may be fed on occasion, while dark leafy greens (including broccoli ) should only be provided in small quantities to tortoises. Whole cactus pads make an excellent source of nutrition and can be purchased at Latin American grocery stores – just remember to remove any spines first!
Greens
Sulcata tortoises are grazing tortoises, so in captivity they require access to an abundance of grasses and hay. Their diet should consist of pesticide- and herbicide-free timothy or oat hays, clover, cheatgrass, dandelion flowers (often overlooked by pet owners), edible plants like nasturtiums, hibiscuss and rose petals – in other words everything needed for grazing tortoises!
Leafy vegetables should make up an integral part of a balanced diet, including collard greens, turnip greens, bok choy and kale. Avoid feeding too much protein-rich sulcatas alfalfa as this could lead to pyramiding of carapace and kidney failure.
Fruits
Sulcata tortoises are notoriously voracious eaters. They will consume anything they find appealing — including dangerous objects like steps and steps of any height; human hair as well as plant clippings from both pets and plants alike.
Your sulcata needs a variety of grasses, leafy vegetables and cacti/succulents in their enclosure to receive all the vitamins and minerals they require for healthy development and to avoid medical conditions like shell distortion and kidney problems. A nutritious diet also can help them avoid medical issues like shell distortion and kidney issues that might arise as a result.
An important thing to keep in mind about sulcata tortoises is their inability to digest large amounts of fruit in their diets, due to its acids and sugars that change the pH balance in their digestive tract and kill off beneficial bacteria that help them extract nourishment from their food sources.
Flowers
Sulcata tortoises require a diet high in calcium to prevent bone deformities and other health complications from low calcium levels. Be wary of foods high in oxalic acid such as broccoli, mustard greens or spinach as these contain too much oxalic acid to be beneficial to their diets.
Make sure that any potentially hazardous objects, including steps, dogs, raccoons and children are kept out of your tortoise’s area. Steps, dogs, raccoons and children should all be monitored closely as potential threats. A safe enclosure with low hummocks, smooth rocks and pieces of wood as well as edible plants such as weeds should also be included for optimal care of this special creature.
Commercial foods
Many pet owners feed their tortoises commercial food designed for reptiles. Such products often contain too much protein and chemicals which should not be exposed to.
Sulcatas in captivity require very little water; they get most of their fluid requirements through food alone. However, shallow bowls filled with fresh water need to be provided daily in order for these reptiles to thrive in captivity.
Keep sulcatas away from stairs and other potentially harmful objects they might climb upon, including staircases. They require hiding places such as low hummocks, rocks, pieces of wood and clumps of weeds in their enclosures for optimal care.
