How to Feed a Pet Tortoise
Having a tortoise for a pet requires taking care of it properly to keep it healthy. In order to do this, knowing what kind of tortoise you have is essential. Different varieties have different nutritional needs which must be met for the tortoise to stay alert and disease free. It's important to feed the tortoise the correct food and fresh water, along with fresh vegetation every other day or about three times a week.
Items Needed:
- dark green leafy vegetation
- fresh vegetables
- fresh fruit
- calcium powder
- cuttlebones
- fresh water
- Find out what kind of tortoise it is. This is important since different species have different dietary needs. Check with a local pet store, or look online to see if there is a picture of the tortoise that can be used to identify it. Once the specific type is known, look up the diet specifications that the tortoise needs. This is what the tortoise should be fed. Do not feed the tortoise items that are not on the list as this could make the tortoise ill or give it diarrhea.
- Feed the tortoise by choosing items from the list of what it can eat. Most tortoises are vegetarians and eat diets that are about 95 percent fresh vegetables. In particular, dark green leafy vegetation is important. The bulk of what the tortoise is fed should include the leaves from turnips, kale, cabbage, broccoli, collards, mustard, dandelions, bok choy, radishes, legumes and clover. Other fresh vegetables that can be fed in small amounts are peas, cauliflower, squash, green peppers, green beans and spinach. Frozen vegetables can be thawed out and fed in moderation to the tortoise as well.
- Provide the tortoise with food about every other day. Adult tortoises do not need to eat daily and doing so can cause health problems. However, hatchlings must be fed daily while they are growing. In addition to the green leafy vegetation, offer the tortoise other items from the list of things it can eat. Some types, such as the African hingeback, the yellow foot and the red foot tortoises should be given fruit too. These types love grapes, strawberries and raspberries. Desert turtles, including sulcatas, should only eat greens and will become ill if fed fruit. Be familiar with what the specific tortoise can eat and do not vary from the list.
- Sprinkle calcium powder over the greens at feeding time once a week if the tortoise being fed needs a high calcium diet. Providing cuttlebones to chew on can also add extra calcium.
- Give fresh water daily. The tortoise will need this for drinking as well as for bathing.