Diet of sulcata tortoises should consist of up to 75% grasses and hays (in combination with some vegetables), while high protein foods like beans, nuts and legumes should be limited or avoided entirely.
Timothy hay is an ideal food choice for sulcata tortoises as its low protein content makes digestion easy. Prickly pear cactus pads can also be provided, provided their spines have been removed first.
Contents
Grass
Sulcata tortoises need a variety of hay and grass in their diet. Commercial tortoise chows tend to contain too much protein which may cause shell distortion or kidney problems in young sulcata tortoises.
Timothy hay is an ideal starter hay, but shouldn’t be the sole food provided to your tortoise. With its high fiber and low protein content, but difficult digestibility for young tortoises. Second and third cut timothy hay may be easier for their digestive systems; however it still may contain too many woody stems for them.
Additional hay options to experiment with for tortoises include sow thistle, alfalfa, fescue and ryegrass. You could also try wheatgrass clumps or some small amounts of kale as part of their daily diet – in order to provide their bodies with all of the essential vitamins and minerals they require for good health.
Veggies
Geochelone sulcata tortoises (Geochelone sulcata) are one of the largest continental turtle species and require a diet consisting mainly of grazing food to remain healthy. Avoid offering commercial tortoise chows rich in sugar, corn and soy as these foods can pose many health issues; alternative options could include spring mix including fescue and ryegrass as well as kale collard greens sow thistle turnip greens dandelion greens as well as offering prickly pear cacti pads – providing all spines are removed first!
Baby Sulcata tortoises have difficulty chewing woodier dry stems of grasses, so soaking them in water makes them more palatable and helps digestion. Hay is their main food source with vegetables and fruits providing additional nutrition.
Fruits
Sulcata tortoises are grazing animals that benefit greatly from accessing an assortment of grasses and hays in captivity, including course mixed grass hays, timothy, orchard alfalfa (but not oat hay due to higher levels of oxalates), clover sow thistle, dandelion flowers as well as edible flowers. These should make up about 90% of their diet.
Vegetables and other plants should make up 20% of a tortoise’s diet, though these should only be fed occasionally as treats. They tend to be high in sugar without providing adequate nutrition compared to natural food sources and fiber sources – sulcata tortoises should consume lots of grasses and greens! Certain vegetables may also contain too much protein for their diet and should be avoided altogether.
Nuts
Sulcata tortoises are herbivorous creatures and require a varied diet of plant matter. A proper sulcata diet includes at least 80% grasses and greens such as kale, collards, turnip greens, turnip top greens, dandelion leaves (with no grape ivy!), clover sow thistle bramble (no prickly ones!) wild weeds found throughout your yard or garden and any wild plants found throughout.
Timothy, meadow or oat hay should also be provided; too much alfalfa can contain high oxalates which may contribute to kidney stone formation in their bladder, renal failure and decrease in lifespan. Grated carrot tops may occasionally be given, although not as part of a regular diet; Rep-Cal powdered calcium carbonate should be added for extra calcium content in their diets.
Eggs
Sulcata tortoises found in the wild consume an array of greens, flowers and plants from nature as well as grass and hay to maintain a balanced diet – this should be replicated at home wherever possible.
Alfalfa should only be fed occasionally as its high protein content can lead to shell distortion and other issues in sulcatas.
Sulcata tortoises should consume an array of foods including mixed grass hay, sow thistle, clover, dandelion leaves, edible flowers (hibiscus and rose petals), as well as dark green lettuce such as romaine or escarole leaves and spineless cactus pads – not forgetting carrots and sweet potatoes as delicious treats!
Cucumber should only be offered in small doses as treats, since its composition consists primarily of water content that could lead to dehydration and other health concerns. Other fruits such as melons and berries should also be offered occasionally in small amounts as treats.
