what to feed pet tortoise

A good and healthy tortoise diet will consist of:

• 50% vegetables
• 25% fruits
• 25% pellets

Full Answer

What is the best food for a pet tortoise?

What to Feed Your Sulcata Tortoise

• Basic Diet of a Sulcata Tortoise. Sulcatas need a high-fiber, low-protein, calcium-rich diet. ...
• Additional Foods. There are many other plants and flowers that can be fed on a regular basis (following the 80%–20% rule) to provide valuable nutrients and variety.
• Toxic Foods. ...
• When to Feed and How Much. ...

What is the best thing to feed a tortoise?

Feed For tortoise: Tortoises prefer plant products either it is natural or canned ones. Fresh vegetables and fruits make 80% of a healthy diet of the tortoise. Kale, cauliflower, green beans, carrots are among the top nutritious foods for your tortoise. You can create diversity in their feed as well by mixing different fruit and veggies ...

What tortoise is best for beginners?

Best Pet Tortoises for Beginners

• Russian Tortoise. Appearance: Russian tortoises have a very simple and appealing look ...
• Hermann Tortoise. Appearance: Hermann tortoises are usually colored olive green, and have a dark brown pattern on top of their shell.
• Box Turtle. ...
• Leopard Tortoise. ...
• Red Footed Tortoise. ...
• Sulcata Tortoise. ...

What is the best tortoise for a pet?

Best Pet Turtles for Beginners

• Red-Eared Sliders. Red-eared sliders, also sometimes called Cumberland sliders, are perhaps the most popular pet turtle.
• Painted Turtles. ...
• Mud Turtles. ...
• Razorback Musk Turtles. ...
• Eastern Box Turtles. ...
• False Map Turtles. ...

What should I feed my tortoise?

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.

Do tortoises need feeding every day?

Healthy tortoises do eat every day but can easily skip a meal or two. On the colder months they do not necessarily eat every day. When tortoises hibernate, they do not eat for weeks as their metabolism slows down significantly.

What veggies can tortoises eat?

Dark, leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, kale, collard, mustard and dandelion greens should make up the bulk of the diet. Other greens to try include: bok choy, red leaf or green leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, water cress, escarole, parsley, turnip greens and green onions.

How can I feed my tortoise at home?

1:255:41Feeding Tortoises Fresh Foods - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn addition to strawberries all of the tortoise love squash here I'm chopping up strings of squash.MoreIn addition to strawberries all of the tortoise love squash here I'm chopping up strings of squash. To give to all the tortoises. And of course for the babies chopping up an extra small pieces.

Can a tortoise eat cucumber?

A tortoise's diet should replicate wild foraging. Choose a variety of leafy greens and grasses to feed your pet. Supplement greens with smaller quantities of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, and carrots, apples, apricots, grapes, melons, peaches, and strawberries.

How often should I bathe my tortoise?

Hatchling and young tortoises should be soaked daily decreasing this to every other day as they grow older. Older juvenile tortoises should be bathed 2-3 times a week and adult tortoises bathed weekly, but more frequently if kept indoors under heat lamps.

What is toxic 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

What can tortoises not eat list?

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 a tortoise eat banana?

They do offer some health benefits, such as a boost of potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. You can feed bananas to a tortoise, and most will enjoy the flavor and texture.

Do tortoises eat carrots?

Greens and vegetables: Vegetables should be about 10-15% of the diet. These can include: grated raw carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, corn on the cob; greens such as collards, dandelions, escarole, romaine, kale.

Do tortoises need water to swim in?

Tortoises cannot swim. At most, they can float and drift, and if they're lucky they'll bump into land. Some species of tortoises can swim poorly, but most will simply sink and drown. While it is sad that so many people throw tortoises into the water believing they're saving a baby turtle, the viral video did help.

Can tortoises eat apples?

Are Apples Bad for Tortoises? 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.

Where do omnivore tortoises live?

Tortoises that are omnivores are often found on the floors of forests and have a much more varied diet than herbivorous tortoises. Foods including fruit and meat are part of an omnivorous tortoises diet but mainly down to necessity rather than choice.

Where does a tortoise come from?

So, we need to find out what part of the world our tortoise has originated from. If your tortoise has come from a more arid and dry biome the food choice will be greatly different from a tortoise that originates from a wetter climate.

Do tortoises have food?

Your tortoise in the wild will follow basic principles. Tortoises live in many places around the world but they all have low nutrition foods in common. Even forest-dwelling tortoises have little food available during peak rain season.

Do tortoises need vitamins?

Many are now taking supplements as modern diets lack what bodies need. Tortoise is no different; they need vital vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy. There are three main supplements that store-bought foods lack vitamin D, calcium, iron, and fiber.

Do tortoises eat fruit?

A herbivorous tortoise generally lives in a part of the world that is grassland or arid habitats and lives in parts of the world that they need to brumate (hibernate) during the colder part of the year. They will eat virtually an all plant-based diet with very little if any fruit in their diet.

List Of Vegetables Tortoises Can Eat

An ailing tortoise can not only slow down your progress, but it might also be the death of it. We have put together a list of vegetables that you can feed your tortoise.

List Of Vegetables To Avoid Altogether

Vegetables are an essential part of a tortoise diet. You need to feed them vegetables to be sure they are receiving enough fiber and vitamins for their bodies.

List Of Fruits Tortoises Can Eat

In the wild, a tortoise’s typical diet is made up primarily of leafy greens and grasses. Tortoises cannot survive purely on fruit and should never be fed anything but fruit.

List of Legumes and Grains Tortoises Can Or Cannot Eat

Legumes and grains cannot be often be found in the staple diets of pet tortoises. In fact, all legumes and grains are prohibited food for tortoises. Most reptiles have a hard time digesting or getting the nutrients from legumes, grains, etc. These foods are not suitable for them at all.

What Tortoises Eat

Despite the fact that tortoises don’t usually eat meat there are quite a lot of different types of food that they can eat. So to make things simpler I will divide them into 5 categories:

What to Feed Your Tortoise

Now that we discussed what a tortoise should and shouldn’t eat, let’s quickly cover how much of each category it should eat.

How to Properly Feed Your Tortoise

Over the years I’ve read about countless methods of feeding tortoises. But out of all of them, two stood out the most, being the most used and the most efficient. And they are the 15 minutes method and the size of the head method.

Tortoise Feeding Schedule

The first thing that you have to take into consideration when thinking about how often you have to feed your tortoise, or when making a feeding schedule, is the age of the tortoise. Baby tortoises need a different amount of food than juveniles, and juveniles need a different amount of food than adult tortoises.

Final Thoughts

While tortoises can eat a lot of things, not all of them can be good for them.

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What do tortoises eat?

Most of the tortoise's diet should come from vegetables such as zucchini, beetroot, turnip, lettuce, spinach, celery, cabbage and watercress. Others such as carrots, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and pumpkins should be given only occasionally and in small proportions, as excessive intake can cause health problems.

What is the best way to care for a tortoise?

Housing a pet tortoise - the terrarium . Proper accommodation is also an essential part of caring for a pet tortoise. Enclosures or tanks for tortoises are known as terrariums. The terrarium for a tortoise must be large enough for them to move in freely, allowing them enough space for activity.

How big of a terrarium do tortoises need?

They require a terrarium of at least 2 square meters in area. Marginated tortoise ( Testudo marginata ): this species also beings to the groups of Mediterranean tortoises and is easily available in captivity, making for a good pet. It measures up to 30 cm in length and its diet is herbivorous. They require a lot of light during ...

Why are wild tortoises declining?

Wild tortoise populations across the world have been falling steadily due to unethical hunting practices, habitat loss and, unfortunately, the illegal pet trade. In fact, the exotic animal trade has led to an increased demand for turtles and tortoises as pets. Poachers and illegal trading have contributed to population declines, ...

How big is a Russian tortoise?

Russian tortoise ( Testudo horsfieldii ): the Russian tortoise is among the smaller tortoises, measuring only about 20 cm. Russian tortoises are often trapped and taken from their original habitats making them a vulnerable species according to the IUCN. So, make sure you only get an individual bred in captivity.

How much light do tortoises need?

These lamps allow the tortoise to have the approximately 10-12 hours of light it needs daily. They also help to maintain the temperature of the terrarium. The ideal temperature for most tortoises is between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius during the day, with a 5-10 ºC decease during the night.

What is the characteristic of a tortoise?

Another key characteristic that defines tortoises is the hard shell on their backs that protects them from predators. Choosing a pet tortoise requires a lot of research. Since they live for so long, deciding to keep a pet tortoise means committing to a providing it lifelong care.

What do tortoises eat?

On a daily basis, your tortoise’s diet should be approximately 80% vegetables, mainly greens. They are partial to things like mustard greens, collard greens, and dandelion greens. They can also have foods like sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and cauliflower.

What is the most important thing to take care of a tortoise?

Shell Care . The most important aspect of shell care is providing adequate calcium in the diet. However, shells are part of your tortoise’s skeletal system, so it’s important to check it over for cracks and other injuries. Any shell damage should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

Why is my tortoise puffy?

If your tortoise begins to look swollen or puffy or you notice pasty or liquidy stools, then they may be malnourished. If you believe your tortoise may be malnourished, then they should be evaluated by a veterinarian. You will need to give the vet detailed information on your tortoise’s diet so they can help you make adjustments and rule out diseases causing malabsorption of nutrients.

What is brumation in tortoises?

Brumation is a form of dormancy that is not true hibernation but is a period of torpor. Not all tortoises experience brumation, so check on the needs of your tortoise’s species. During brumation, activity levels and metabolism drop significantly, but your tortoise may be stimulated to come out for some sun and maybe a snack during warm days.

How old are tortoises?

The oldest recorded lifespan of a tortoise was an Aldabra tortoise named Adwaita that lived to around 255 years old. Harriet, a Galapagos giant tortoise, was believed to have been brought from the Galapagos Islands by Charles Darwin and lived to be approximately 175 years old.

What is the best substrate for a tortoise?

Coco coir, peat, and soil are all acceptable. Reptile substrate bark and mulch and coconut husk chips are all good substrates if your preference is something chunkier. For outdoor enclosures, your tortoise needs grassy areas and will likely enjoy having areas with dirt as well. Bermuda and Fescue grasses are recommended but not required. Make sure whatever grass or weeds are growing in the space are safe if your tortoise eats them.

Do you need a heat lamp for a tortoise enclosure?

Ideally, you should have a light and a heat lamp, not one lamp for both jobs. The enclosure should have UV lighting in the majority of the enclosure, but the heat should be concentrated in one space, so your tortoise has the ability to go into and out of the space as needed.