Sulcata tortoises hailing from the Sahara desert have an ideal environment in which they thrive: dry grasslands. Although they do enjoy eating vegetables and fruit, it is wise to limit their protein consumption for optimal results.
Diets for pet hedgehogs should consist of meadow or fescue grass hay (not alfalfa), sow thistle, clover and dandelions as well as edible flowers; dark green lettuce such as romaine (no iceberg); as well as paddles from cacti or fruit from prickly pear plants.
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Dark Leafy Greens
Sulcata tortoises are native herbivores and require a diet similar to their wild habitat. When kept as pets, this includes grasses and vegetables with occasional fruits as treats.
Dark leafy greens such as collards and kale provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber essential to good health and digestion. Chopping them up into small pieces for easier consumption will facilitate optimal absorption.
Carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and broccoli are also nutritious choices to add to the tortoise’s diet – these should account for no more than 10%.
Sunflower seeds make an excellent addition to a tortoise’s diet as they offer nutritional value, enrichment and stimulation. But be mindful of overindulgence and ensure a balanced diet by offering in moderation; any toxic parts should first be removed before feeding them to an reptile.
Carrots
Carrots can be an integral part of a Sulcata tortoise’s diet in small doses. Not only are these veggies high in fiber and 87 percent water content, they’ll help ensure their hydration.
Sulcata should not eat solely grasses and herbs as their diet. A variety of grasses, herbs, vegetables and even fruit should be provided as nutrition to their Sulcata companions.
Your Sulcata should receive most of its nutrition from grass. This could include course grass hay, sow thistle, clover, dandelion, edible flowers or even some cacti paddles like prickly pear.
Avoid feeding your Sulcata too much alfalfa hay, as this contains excessive levels of oxalates which could prevent him from digesting enough calcium for optimal health. Instead, choose timothy or orchard hay which contains significantly fewer oxalates while still offering plenty of essential calcium compared to alfalfa.
Sweet Potatoes
Sulcata tortoises are natural herbivores, living off grasses and greens in their wild environment. When kept as captive pets, however, their diet should include grass hay along with leafy vegetables that should comprise 10-15% of its diet – such as grated raw carrots or winter squash; sweet potatoes should also be incorporated. When offering your Sulcata an eggshell diet plan it must not include Nightshade family vegetables which can be toxic to them.
Baby Sulcata pets require softer food than adult versions as their jaws may not be strong enough to chew harder hay and weeds. Provide your sulcata with spring mix greens, collard greens, kale, turnip greens and squash along with some soaked timothy hay or grass for best results. Avoid giving them any oxalated vegetables that could inhibit calcium absorption as these could prevent the body from receiving essential vitamins.
Squash
Squash and pumpkin can be fed to sulcata tortoises safely, but too frequent consumption could put strain on their delicate digestive systems. Squash contains high concentrations of natural sugar which could put undue stress on their delicate bodies.
Sulcata tortoises found in the wild feed on various grasses and hays. They also enjoy snacking on a wide range of fruits; however, its consumption should be restricted due to its high sugar content; avoid fruit with pits such as watermelons and grapes for best results.
Sulcata tortoises should also be fed dandelion greens, kale, spring green mixes and collard greens as these foods contain high concentrations of calcium; offer them several times each week along with powdered multivitamin supplements to meet all nutritional requirements.
Dandelion Greens
Though safe for sulcata tortoises, dandelion greens contain high levels of oxalates which may interfere with calcium absorption, so should only be fed in small amounts. Other grocery store greens such as spring mix, kale or collard greens make excellent alternatives.
As a rule, grasses and hay should constitute the mainstay of a captive Sulcata tortoise’s diet, with pesticide- and herbicide-free varieties such as lawn fescue, cheatgrass and clover being among the ideal choices. Baby tortoises should soak dry hay before feeding it as their jaws may not have the strength needed to chew through hard woody stems. Prickly pear cacti pads (Opuntia) make a delicious and nutritious treat – provided their spines have been removed before feeding!
