Desert tortoises are herbivores and enjoy snacking on grasses, leaves and flowers as well as eating cacti (such as the prickly pear).
Hatchlings should be kept in an outdoor enclosure with shade to avoid overheating, since they cook and dehydrate quickly. Glass aquariums should not be placed near hatchlings as this could break them.
Contents
Grass
Desert tortoises rely heavily on grass for sustenance, though other plants that grow close to the ground like clover, phacelia, mallows and primroses also form part of their diet. According to research published in Herpetologica, both native and non-native grasses provide quality nutrition for desert tortoises.
Tortoises dig into sand and dirt to escape the sun’s heat during the day, using their hinged lower plastron to cover their carapace. Their domed shells allow them to store water for later consumption in their bladder, helping them survive dry desert conditions.
About 85% of a tortoise’s diet should consist of grasses, wild plants and dark leafy vegetables such as collards or spinach with high concentrations of oxalates to inhibit calcium absorption or goitrogens to suppress iodine absorption. Commercial pellet food like cat or dog food, bread with soy or animal proteins should not be fed directly. Limit vegetables high in oxalates like collards and spinach which inhibit calcium absorption as these contain goitrogens which inhibit iodine absorption.
Leaves
Desert tortoises are herbivorous animals and consume various plants from across the desert environment, serving as important seed dispersers in disseminating native vegetation throughout their territory.
Baby tortoises need food rich in proteins as they grow quickly. Their soft shells need time to harden. Without sufficient protein intake, growth may become stunted and life expectancies reduced significantly.
Adult tortoises must receive 85 percent of their diet in the form of grass. This should ideally be grown within their enclosures (see the Care of Hatchling Desert Tortoises section), but if this is not feasible then provide high quality grasses like bermuda, clover or low growing deer grass, bamboo muhly, curly mesquite or Arizona cottontop as an alternative option. In addition to grass, dark leafy greens like romaine lettuce, kale collard greens turnip greens and watercress should also be provided.
Fruit
Desert tortoises feed their digestive systems with water-rich cacti and fruits such as melons or berries that contain high fiber levels; seeds should be removed to avoid potential choking hazards for these turtles. They also consume opuntia cacti (prickly pear cactus pads) that contain vitamins, minerals, and water for their daily needs.
Fruit should only make up a small part of your tortoise’s diet. Offer a variety of fruits and vegetables. Foods high in oxalic acid content such as collard greens, parsley, spinach should be avoided because these substances bind calcium preventing absorption by your tortoise. Also try not to offer foods high in protein such as meat or pinkie mice diets and dairy products as these could also impede calcium absorption.
Insects
Desert tortoises are slow-growing reptiles that reach 15 inches when adult. Males can be identified by a bony protrusion on their plastron (bottom shell).
Tortoises should consume 85 percent of their diet through grasses and dark leafy vegetables like bermuda grass, clover leaves and alfalfa hays. Edible garden and shrubbery plants such as opuntia cacti pads (prickly pears) flowers mallow shrubs native shrubs may also be added for variety.
Approximately 15% of your turtle’s diet should include carrots, green beans and turnips mixed in a salad with alfalfa pellets (rabbit chow) and calcium supplements. Avoid feeding sweet fruits such as bananas and corn which contain too much sugar; these items could lead to intestinal parasites. Always offer food in shallow dishes in order to prevent your turtle from intaking gravel, sand or dirt that could cause constipation.
Minerals
Diet of Desert Tortoises can vary widely depending on their environment. However, their basic requirements remain constant: A healthy desert tortoise needs grass (ideally Bermuda or native species such as Curly Mesquite, Bamboo Muhly Deer Mesquite or Arizona Cottontop Grass ) as well as leafy greens for nutrition; fruit and vegetables as well as supplements with calcium vitamin D3 and Phosphorus for proper growth are important ingredients of their diets.
Avoid feeding your turtle animal proteins such as pinkie mice, crickets or mealworms, cat or dog food, monkey biscuits and vegetables high in oxalic acid (which binds calcium and prevents absorption), as they could interfere with proper calcium absorption. By supplementing its diet with ReptiCal 2-3 times weekly it will provide all essential vitamins and minerals needed.
