Tortoises typically feed on leaves, grasses, sow thistle and dandelion leaves, low-fat proteins and occasional berries.
Fruit should only be given in small doses as too much can cause nutritional deficiency if consumed regularly, giving as a treat only. Also make sure your tortoise has access to calcium through feeding it a calcium powder supplement.
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Lettuce
Tortoises require a wide variety of green foods in order to obtain all of the vitamins and minerals they require for good health. Feeding Amish deer tongue lettuce or Speckled Bibb may help them do just this, or create a treasure hunt by placing two different kinds of food together and seeing which they prefer!
Tortoises are herbivores, feeding on leaves, flowers, and vegetables. Therefore, their diet should consist primarily of leafy greens such as alfalfa sprouts, kale, turnip greens, mustard greens, dandelions, hibiscus flowers, romaine lettuce (not iceberg lettuce) and Chinese cabbage; additionally they should have access to an assortment of bell peppers, tomatoes and strawberries for variety.
Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish are a type of invertebrate marine animal known for its remarkable camouflage abilities. Utilizing pigmented cells called chromatophores to adapt its colors and textures accordingly. By contracting or expanding them as needed, cuttlefish can alter its surroundings to appear lighter or darker on its skin surface.
Cuttlebones can be purchased from most pet stores and should be left in tortoises’ enclosures for them to nibble on as a source of calcium, helping prevent beak overgrowth.
Experienced tortoise keepers often utilize calcium supplements such as Reptavite, Nutrobal or Rep-cal. These supplements have a low Ca:P ratio and offer an extensive array of trace minerals – making them often an easier and better solution than standard bone meal which contains phosphorous.
Fruits
As tortoises are predominantly herbivorous animals, their diet should consist of 90% greens. A diet including collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, endive and escarole is optimal, all high in lutein and flavonoids essential to maintaining tortoise health. Commercial tortoise food or high quality reptile pellets with increased fiber levels specifically tailored for tortoises should also be given in combination with fresh food as a supplement; beware general reptile pellets as they could contain ingredients which cause digestive issues.
Fruits can make an excellent addition to the tortoise’s diet, yet should comprise no more than 10% of their overall food consumption. They offer valuable sources of vitamins and minerals while providing some much-needed fiber.
Meat
Tortoises are generally herbivorous creatures. While some animal protein is necessary for essential amino acid delivery, too much animal protein could lead to metabolic issues in your pet.
Reptile specialists recommend providing their tortoises with protein through natural foods like leafy greens and desert plants such as prickly pear cacti, globe mallow and mulberry trees as their main sources of nutrition. Also available from reptile specialists is food specifically tailored to tortoises (e.g. Mazuri LS Tortoise Diet or Zoo Med Grassland Turtle Food), which may be mixed in with fresh veggies, fruits or weeds to provide optimal care.
Tortoises should avoid foods derived from bulbs, roots and seeds like rhubarb, foxglove and yams which can be toxic or at the very least irritating to their digestive systems.
Nuts
Addition of nuts to a tortoise’s diet is an excellent way to increase protein consumption. Furthermore, they’re full of calcium – another key element for their wellbeing – yet should only be given sparingly due to being high in carbohydrates.
Tortoises, being herbivorous animals, primarily feed on grasses and weeds. As such, they enjoy munching dandelion leaves and clover but will also consume hibiscus flowers, sow thistles, spineless cacti such as Opuntia ficus-indica or mission cacti.
As part of their natural diet, tortoises need supplemental foods at night and morning. Be mindful when feeding greens though as some contain high concentrations of oxalic acid that binds calcium instead of being absorbed causing potential skeletal issues in tortoises.
