- Hays and Grasses. The main sources of a Sulcata tortoises’ diet should be from hays and grasses though it’s important to get the right types for your tortoise’s needs.
- Suitable Greens & Vegetables. When it comes to greens, the top picks to choose from include dandelion greens, turnip greens, kale, and spring mixes.
- Occasional Fruit. The remaining 5% of their diet can be made up of occasional fruit treats such as strawberries, apples, peaches and apricots (with removed pits), and pears.
- Colorful Food. As you prepare your tortoise’s meal, keep in mind that Sulcata tortoises respond well to bright colors, so make sure to add at least one colorful food in ...
- Water Needs. When it comes to water, you can provide a shallow bowl in their enclosure to help hydrate your Sulcata tortoise.
How much should my sulcata eat?
How Much Should a Baby Sulcata Eat? When feeding a baby sulcata tortoise up to six months old, offer about 1/4 cup of grasses, weeds and greens every day. Feed sulcatas between 6 and 12 months old about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food a day. Young juvenile sulcatas can eat about a cup of food a day.
How long can A sulcata tortoise go without eating?
This tortoise can go weeks without food or water, and when it finds a water source it can drink up to 15 percent of its body weight! These reptiles find relief from the desert heat by digging burrows up to 10 feet deep.
What is the best thing to feed a tortoise?
What does a pet tortoise eat?
- Greens. The bulk of a tortoise’s diet should be fresh leafy greens. ...
- Commercial tortoise food. When fresh greens aren’t available, or to supplement your pet’s regular diet, there are many types of excellent commercial tortoise food that provide all the vitamins, minerals, ...
- Treats. ...
- Schedule. ...
- Water. ...
How often should I Feed my tortoise?
With that in mind, here are some of the most common items eaten by tortoises in the wild:
- Fungi
- Millipedes
- Clover
- Alfalfa grass
- Sowthistle grass
- Bermuda grass
- Mulberry leaves
- Hibiscus leaves
- Aloe
- Barley
Do sulcata tortoises need to eat every day?
The Sulcata is the largest of the African mainland tortoise, with specimens easily reaching 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) in carapace length and 80-110 pounds (36-50 kg). Food and Feeding: Adults should be fed three times per week minimum, and hatchlings fed daily. For every feeding, dust food with a calcium supplement.
What can sulcatas not eat?
Never give your sulcata animal-based proteins, including insects, fish or mice. Sulcatas get all of the protein they need from the grasses and other plants in their diet. Avoid legumes, nuts and beans, as they have too much protein for the health of your turtle.
What vegetables can a baby sulcata tortoise eat?
Tortoises are vegetarians. A baby tortoise's diet should consist primarily of leafy plants and green vegetables, although they can eat some flowers and fruits. You should provide a baby tortoise with a balanced diet of grass, hay, and nutrient-dense leafy greens.
What is a tortoise's Favourite food?
Although these species are classed as omnivores, we suggest feeding your tortoise greens, flowers, vegetables and fruits as the main bulk of their diet. You can give them dandelions, mustard greens, or even hibiscus flowers, as well as other leafy greens.
Can sulcatas eat bananas?
Sulcatas haven't evolved to digest the high sugar content usually found in bananas. Instead, it can lead to indigestion and diarrhea. This can limit how many nutrients they're able to absorb from other foods. As such, bananas can be fed to sulcatas but in limited quantities.
Can my sulcata tortoise eat cucumber?
Cucumbers are low in calories, healthy, and safe for tortoises to consume. They don't contain any toxic compounds that could upset your tortoise's digestion. However, cucumber should only be offered in moderation because it mainly contains water and only small amounts of vitamins and minerals.
What does baby sulcata eat?
Dark, leafy greens such as collards, mustard, romaine, and red leaf lettuce are all good choices. Carrot tops and beet greens can be offered, as should a variety of grasses and hays. These foods should make up the majority of the diet for growing tortoises.
What do baby sulcata tortoises need?
Grasses and grass hay are the best diet for the tortoises. While housed indoors it is good to soak them in a shallow water bath to their chin for 15-30 minutes once a week. Dust the greens with a calcium (without vitamin D3) powder a twice a week. Dust the greens with a multivitamin powder for reptiles once a week.
What is the best food for baby tortoise?
Desert tortoises should be fed a combination of grasses, leafy greens, and cactus flowers, with a small amount of fruit. Grassland grazers like leopard tortoises should be fed a variety of grasses and leafy green vegetables. You should not feed them other vegetables, or meat. A strawberry every now and then is ok.
What can tortoises not eat list?
Off-limits vegetables include eggplant, broccoli, chili pepper, alliums, wild mushrooms, and unripe tomatoes. Citrus fruit, avocado, and gooseberry are bad for tortoises. Also, avoid feeding tortoises prickly lettuce and wild lettuce. Certain tortoise species will find that different foods make them unwell.
What is poisonous to tortoises?
Many common plants are toxic, and keepers must make sure that their herbivorous chelonians are kept away from them....Common NameBotanical NameToxicityAmaryllisAmaryllis belladonna2Asparagus FernAsparagus sprengerii2, 3Arrowhead VineSyngonium podophyllum1Avocado (leaves, seeds)Persea americana256 more rows
Can sulcata tortoises eat apples?
No, apples are not bad for your pet tortoise. Moreover, they have many benefits for your pet reptile: it is a fruit rich in antioxidants, fibers, vitamins, and minerals. It has a relatively low content in sugars and calories compared to other more “fattening” fruits.
What can tortoises not eat?
Food tortoises can't eatDaffodil (narcissus pseudonarcissus)Azalea (Rhododendron species)Foxglove (Digitalis species)Avocado (Persea species)Buttercup (Ranunculus species)Auricula (Primula auricula)Bean sprouts (various)Citrus fruit (Citrus species)More items...•
Can sulcatas eat apples?
No, apples are not bad for your pet tortoise. Moreover, they have many benefits for your pet reptile: it is a fruit rich in antioxidants, fibers, vitamins, and minerals. It has a relatively low content in sugars and calories compared to other more “fattening” fruits.
Can sulcatas eat tomatoes?
Mediterranean or desert tortoises, such as the sulcata or Hermann's tortoise, eat primarily grasses and other plants. Because of this, their digestive tract doesn't tolerate fruits, like the tomato, particularly well. Most of these tortoises should eat tomatoes extremely rarely or not at all.
Can sulcata tortoises have watermelon?
While watermelon is safe for the fruit-eating tortoise, there are limits to how often you should feed it to them. Some experts recommended giving watermelon about once a month as a special treat mixed with greens and other acceptable fruits for a balanced diet.
What do sulcatas eat?
In the wild, sulcatas will eat plants found growing in calcium-rich so il, thereby getting the calcium from that. Often they'll eat bits of soil that contains calcium while eating plant roots. They also seek out and eat bleached bones and desert-dwelling snail shells to supplement themselves.
What is the best grass for sulcatas?
1 / 2. Another good grass option in the wintertime is Mazuri Tortoise Diet, a dried grass pellet type food that sulcatas love. You can simply put these pellets in a dish and spray them lightly to soften them up for younger sulcatas if you wish.
How big do sulcatas get?
Sulcatas grow to over 180lbs! To learn more about them before adopting one, check out this article https://pethelpful.com/reptiles-amphibians/Caring-...
What do you feed a dandelion?
Chopped grass dampened with water :) You can also feed him a smaller bit of chopped dandelion greens, ribwort plantain, dandelion flowers and white mulberry leaves. His main diet should consist of grass
What plants can be fed on a regular basis?
Some of these safe foods are listed below. African Violet Saintpaulia. Air Plant Tillandsia.
Can you feed a sulcata a fruit?
To see a complete list, please visit The Tortoise Table. Never feed your sulcata most fruits or vegetables as they have too much water, vitamins, and/or sugars for the sulcata to digest properly!
Can a sulcata eat pumpkin?
Pumpkin is okay as a special treat along with yellow zucchini, grape leaves, and watermelon rinds. Absolutely do not feed your sulcata dog or cat food (yes this happens). While wild sulcatas may occasionally eat carrion, they are herbivores and only need vegetation to thrive. Their bodies cannot break down proteins.
What do sulcata tortoises eat?
Sulcata tortoises are herbivorous, which means that they will eat fruits, vegetables, and plants. A well-balanced diet for a pet sulcata tortoise will be mainly based on pellets, with the occasional fruits and vegetables.
Why do sulcata tortoises eat everything?
This means that they will eat everything that they can in the fastest time possible because they don’t know when they will have the chance to eat again. Even if you feed them regularly they will not abandon this mentality.
How long can a sulcata tortoise go without food?
And if it ever happens that you forget to feed your tortoise once, don’t worry. In the wild sulcata tortoises can go weeks without eating. So your tortoise won’t be affected at all.
Why are fruits not good for tortoises?
Most fruits are good to eat, but there are some that aren’t good for tortoises due to the high amount of phosphorus or citric acid that they contain. Citric acid irritates the stomach of a tortoise, and phosphorus blocks the absorption of calcium shock is essential for a healthy bone structure and shell.
Why do baby tortoises eat so much?
Out of all the age groups, baby tortoises need to eat the most often. This is because they need a lot of energy to grow. When tortoises are at this stage in life they experience the fastest growth rate. And to be able to grow so fast they will need a lot of energy that they will get from eating.
How to feed a tortoise?
The simplest way to put this method into practice is to find a small container, like a medicine cup, a shot glass, or a bottle cap. This container has to be approximately the same size as the head of your tortoise, without the neck. Then you fill that container to the top, and then you feed the food inside the container to your tortoise. And that’s all.
Can you overfeed a tortoise?
One of its biggest disadvantages is that you can easily overfeed your tortoise, and this can lead to two serious problems, one is pyramiding, and the other is an unbalanced diet. Like all animals tortoises have their preferences, and if you present them with different types of food they will instantly go for the tastiest one each time, and the tastiest option doesn’t always contain all the necessary nutrients.
What is a tortoise's diet?
Generally speaking, a tortoise’s diet is going to be made up of mostly leaves and various plants.
What can pet tortoises eat?
All species of tortoises need to eat a variety of plants, though exactly what each species needs for a healthy life in captivity varies widely. To show this variety, we’ve selected a few popular or well-known breeds below and given a brief overview.
How often should your tortoise eat?
The general rule seems to be feeding at least once a day for babies and younger torts. You can also feed your tortoise every other day or even three times a week, but this all depends on your particular tortoise and the amount of nutrients in their meals.
What Does a Happy Tortoise or Turtle Look Like?
A scared tortoise is recognizable. They obviously show fear by hiding or running away. But what about happy feelings? Tortoises don’t jump up and down, laugh, or smile, so how do we know they’re happy?
What foods are NOT safe for tortoises?
Tortoises, with all their tough outer bits, are actually quite sensitive on the inside. They need a balanced diet with a wide variety of vegetation. But there are some things no tortoise should ever eat.
What Emotions or Feelings Do Tortoises and Turtles Feel?
Torts have a wide range of emotions, just like you do. While humans haven’t figured out all of the things tortoises and turtles think and feel, we have figured out a few.
How do tortoises show affection?
They may walk toward you or pace the enclosure to get your attention. Tortoises may touch their nose to your hand or arm to show affection. This is a common behavior in the wild and is a social behavior. A tortoise or turtle roaming the house or garden may show affection by following you around.
What is the best bedding for a baby sulcata tortoise?
Sulcata Tortoise Bedding. A mixture of earth and sand is preferred for a baby Sulcata when housed indoors. There are some other substrates that will suffice if you are unable to obtain that mix: cypress mulch, aspen mulch, and orchid bark.
How much does a sulcata tortoise cost?
Sulcata Tortoise Price. These tortoises usually cost between $100 and $200 if purchased from a pet shop. It is possible to find them for free from people looking to rehome. Because they are very popular, and have lifespans of over 100 years, there are many tortoises available for rehoming.
What is the most popular pet tortoise in 2020?
July 7, 2020 Johnathan David. The Sulcata Tortoise is the most popular pet tortoise in the world. Also known as African Spurred Tortoises they are loved for their unique personalities – many say they behave similar to dogs. If you want a tortoise with a fun and courageous personality then look no further. Sulcata Tortoises can be housed indoors ...
Why are African spurred tortoises called African spurred tortoises?
Their other common name, the African Spurred Tortoise, is because of the two or three spurs located on their thighs. They also have very prominent overlapping and large scales on their front and back legs. The top of their shell is oval in shape and has several well-defined grooves.
Is a sulcata a good pet?
They can form relationships with their owner, recognize them and have unique personalities. The Sulcata is a curious and docile tortoise that makes a great pet – even for households with young children.
Where do tortoises get their calcium?
In the wild, these tortoises receive calcium from roots, soil, bone pieces, and snail shells.
Where did the tortoise originate?
This tortoise originates from the deserts of Africa.
How hot does a sulcata tortoise need to be?
Sulcata tortoises need hot temperatures to stay healthy and active. They can handle outdoor temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, as long as they have access to a shady spot where they can go if they need to cool off.
What is the behavior of a sulcata tortoise?
Sulcata Tortoise Behavior and Temperament. Sulcata tortoises are quiet like all other tortoises, and they are big and slow. They also tend to be curious creatures, sometimes to their detriment. They can easily get stuck in spaces that are too small for them, as well as flip themselves over and be unable to right themselves.
What is the largest tortoise in the world?
The sulcata tortoise ( Geochelone sulcata ), also known as the African spurred tortoise, is one of the largest tortoise species in the world. It has a brown to yellow shell and very thick, yellowish-brown skin, along with pointed scales—or spurs—on its legs. Native to arid and semiarid regions of Africa, these tortoises can adapt ...
Why do sulcata tortoises have a flaky shell?
And like other tortoises and turtles, shell rot is a common problem. This is usually caused by a fungal infection that leads to a flaky, dry shell.
How cold should a tortoise be at night?
At night, temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit are typically fine. Don't let the enclosure get too cold, or your tortoise might stop eating and be more susceptible to illness.
What is the disease of a tortoise?
Metabolic bone disease is another serious ailment among tortoises and other reptiles. 2 When the animal's phosphorous-to-calcium ratio is out of balance, it can lead to softening and weakening of its bones. This disease can cause deformities and eventually death if not treated properly.
What foods should I avoid for tortoise?
Avoid foods high in oxalates, such as spinach, mustard and beet greens, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower. Your tortoise will nibble on the grasses and weeds in its environment throughout the day, and you should offer a salad of other leafy greens and vegetables every one to two days.
What to feed a tortoise?
Feed a mixture of dark leafy greens and offer grasses and grass hay. Commercial pelleted grass diets (Zoomed Grassland Tortoise diet) can be soaked in water and also fed. Keep fruits limited to occasional treats. Grasses and grass hay are the best diet for the tortoises. While housed indoors it is good to soak them in a shallow water bath to their chin for 15-30 minutes once a week. Dust the greens with a calcium (without vitamin D3) powder a twice a week. Dust the greens with a multivitamin powder for reptiles once a week.
What to use to house a tortoise?
The following information will help in providing proper care for young tortoises until they are big enough to do well outside. A glass aquarium, plastic tub or trough, or other enclosures are often used to house young tortoises indoors. Substrates that can be used include aspen pellets, alfalfa pellets, or dirt.
Why do sulcatas dig in the desert?
Sulcatas dig long elaborate burrows in the wild to avoid the extremes of heat and cold of the Sahara Desert. They can actually undermine the foundation of houses and block walls if their burrows extend deep enough underneath these structures. Adult sulcata tortoises can push through chain link fence unless it has been deeply rooted into the ground and secured with stakes or a concrete foundation.
How much space do sulcatas need?
Adult sulcatas need a lot of space, at least 100 sq ft of floor space per adult tortoise . They can be kept as breeding trios of one adult male and up to four adult female tortoises, but there may be fighting depending on the individual personality.
How to keep tortoises from pyramiding?
A hiding area needs to be provided. I recommend using hollowed out wood logs. Shell pyramiding is a common problem in growing tortoises. Recent research show this condition has less to do with the diet and is much more associated with humidity in their environment. Indoor tortoise enclosures are often very dry due to the dry air in most homes along with heat lamps on the cage. In the wild tortoises spend much time in burrows underground where humidity levels are much higher. Humidity problems can often be resolved by soaking the wooden hide log in water 1-2 times a week. The evaporation will increase humidity in the hiding area and decrease chances of shell pyramiding.
Why are my tortoises so dry?
Indoor tortoise enclosures are often very dry due to the dry air in most homes along with heat lamps on the cage. In the wild tortoises spend much time in burrows underground where humidity levels are much higher. Humidity problems can often be resolved by soaking the wooden hide log in water 1-2 times a week.
Why do you keep a young tortoise indoors?
Young tortoises are often kept indoors for the first few years to minimize risks of escape or harm from cats, birds, and dogs. There are some important things that need to be done to keep your tortoise healthy while housed indoors.
What do sulcata tortoises eat?
As desert tortoises, they get most of their water from succulents and cacti. They also eat fibrous grass and weeds. Occasionally, they do eat fruits and blossoms.
What to feed a sulcata?
Feed pet sulcata a mix of dark leafy greens such as red leaf and romaine lettuce (or any of the darker lettuce, avoid iceberg lettuce as their nutritional content is low), mustard, and collard greens. Also, offer carrot tops and beet greens.
What to feed a mauri tortoise?
Feed babies and juvenile spring mix with leafy greens such as dark lettuce, turnip greens, collard greens, and kale. These tortoises need more protein than other tortoises. You can supplement their diet with Mazuri tortoise diet which is high in protein as compared to other tortoise diets.
What kind of greens should I feed my tortoise?
Provide these tortoises with spring mixes. (Mix the spring mixes with leafy greens). Leafy greens that I recommend include dark lettuces (such as romaine and red leaf lettuce), kale, turnip greens, and collard greens. Remember to vary their diet.
How big do red footed tortoises get?
The red-footed tortoise is a south American tortoise. These small tortoises ate popular pets all over the world. While the length of an average adult red-footed tortoise is 12 inches, they can grow to be over 16 inches. Their shells, limbs, and heads are covered in dark red spots which gives them their common name.
How big do sulcata tortoises get?
While these species are massive, growing up to almost 3 feet and weighing up to 100 pounds, pet sulcata tortoises are easy to care for.
What do sulcatas eat?
They also need to feed on grasses, weeds, and hay. I recommend a diet of alfalfa, timothy hay, and feed store grasses for adult sulcatas. For juveniles, I recommend a mix of spring mixes and several leafy vegetables. Ensure that these foods up to about 80 percent of the tortoise’s diet.
