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Nutritional Considerations for Grassland, Arid, and Mediterranean Tortoises

I see more and more people asking questions on proper feeding of their pet tortoises.

Creating a proper balanced diet for your tortoise is MUCH more complicated than simply tossing in some iceberg lettuce and cat food. But, by now, we all KNOW that. So what exactly are the GOOD things that a tortoise should eat?

Poor diet can lead to MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease), Pyramiding, internal parasites, renal failure and calcification of the liver. It is very important that your tortoise receive a diet that is balanced in protein, moisture content, and calcium, without an overabundance of calcium oxalates and phosphorus, which blocks calcium absorption.

This is NOT a species specific list. It is important to research what part of the world that your tortoise inhabits in the wild, what types of feed items are available to them, and what eating habits of wild tortoises have been observed. A wide selection of feed items helps to insure a balanced diet.

Please also take into account that the actual amount of protein and nutrients that a specific tortoise needs varies not only from species to species but also tortoise to tortoise. Please observe your tortoise closely for signs of poor health, as this may be an indication that a change in diet is needed.

Grasses- Timothy, Indian rice grass, Bermuda grass, and Orchard grass are just a few. Grasses are a staple for most tortoise species. Very few wild tortoises live on a diet of fruits and vegetables, but rather graze naturally on a diet of grasses and weeds that are high in fiber, low in moisture content and low in protein. ALFALFA: has become to be generally thought of as not a good food. It contains approximately 18% protein.

Fruits- It is best not to feed sugary fruits to tortoises, as they cause a buildup of sugar in the intestinal tract and can lead to intestinal issues. Beneficial bacteria needed for digestion could potentially die off, leaving the tortoise with sterile gut. They may die from a form of toxic shock as a result. If your tortoise is suffering sterile gut, and you have access to the feces from a healthy animal known to have been treated for parasites, sometimes offering the feces to a tortoise to be eaten can help restore the natural fauna to the gut .

Cactus pear is one of the most commonly fed fruits, although others are suitable. I personally prefer to feed cactus pear, orange and papaya only, as other fruits contain a Ca:P ratio that is less than 2:1. This will be discussed more later.

Other Greens and Veggies- There are many other types of greens that tortoises enjoy, such as collard, mustard greens, dandelions, etc. However, most of these contain nutrients and oxalates that can be harmful if given in excess. The same is true with vegetables such as beans, carrots, broccoli, and others. Please refer to the chart below to get more in depth about oxalic acid, and remember, with leafy greens, to check for oxalic acid content.

Vegetable Oxalic Acid (g/100g)

Amaranth 1.09g
Asparagus .13g
Beans, Snap .36g
Beet Leaves .61g
Broccoli .19g
Brussels Sprouts .36g
Cabbage .10g
Carrot .50g
Cassava 1.26g
Cauliflower .15g
Celery .19g
Chicory .21g
Chives 1.48g
Collards .45g
Coriander .01g
Corn, Sweet .01g
Cucumbers .02
Eggplant .19g
Endive .11g
Garlic .36g
Kale .02g
Lettuce .33g
Okra .05g
Onion .05g
Parsley 1.70g
Parsnip .04g
Pea .05g
Pepper .04g
Potato .05g
Purslane 1.31g
Radish .48g
Rutabaga .03g
Spinach .97g
Squash .02g
Sweet Potato .24g
Tomato .05g
Turnip .21g
Turnip Greens .05g
Watercress .31g

Ca:P Ratio- Another very important consideration is the calcium phosphorus ratio, otherwise seen as Ca:P. The proper ratio is to be no less than 2:1. Some experts recommend raising the ratio to 5:1 using proper supplementation, such as pure calcium carbonate. Having a proper ratio in your feed is very important for calcium absorption.

Vegetable Calcium:Phosphorus Ratio

Collards 14.5:1
Spinach, Mustard 7.5:1
Turnip Greens 4.5:1
Lambsquarters 4.3:1
Dill Weed 3.2:1
Beet Greens * 3.0:1
Dandelion Greens 2.8:1
Chinese Cabbage (pak-choi) 2.8:1
Lettuce, Loose leaf 2.7:1
Mustard Greens 2.4:1
Parsley 2.4:1
Kale * 2.4:1
Chicory Greens 2.1:1
Spinach 2.0:1
Watercress 2.0:1
Cabbage 2.0:1
Endive (Escarole) 1.9:1
Celery 1.6:1
Purslane 1.5:1
Cilantro * 1.4:1
Lettuce, Butterhead (Boston, Bibb) 1.4:1
Okra 1.3:1
Swiss Chard 1.1:1
Turnip 1.1:1
Squash (Winter, all varieties) 1.0:1
Green Beans 1.0:1
Lettuce, Romaine 0.8:1
Sweet Potato 0.8:1
Rutabaga 0.8:1
Broccoli 0.7:1
Cucumber (with skin) 0.7:1
Endive, Belgian (Witloof Chicory) 0.7:1
Carrots 0.6:1
Squash (Summer, all varieties) 0.6:1
Brussels Sprouts 0.6:1
Cauliflower 0.5:1
Kohlrabi 0.5:1
Pumpkin 0.5:1
Alfalfa Sprouts 0.5:1
Parsnips 0.5:1
Peppers, Green * 0.5:1
Peppers, Red * 0.5:1
Sweet Potato Leaves 0.4:1
Beets * 0.4:1
Asparagus 0.4:1
Tomato 0.2:1
Corn, White 0.02:1

Fruit Calcium:Phosphorus Ratio

 
Papaya 4.8:1
Orange 2.9:1
Lime 1.8:1
Raspberries 1.8:1
Lemon (no peel) 1.6:1
Blackberries 1.5:1
Grapefruit, White 1.5:1
Grapefruit, Pink and Red 1.2:1
Tangerine 1.2:1
Pineapple 1.0:1
Pear 1.0:1
Apple (with skin) 1.0:1
Mango 0.9:1
Watermelon 0.9:1
Cherries, Sweet 0.8:1
Grapes 0.8:1
Cranberries 0.8:1
Casaba Melon 0.7:1
Apricot 0.7:1
Kiwi 0.7:1
Strawberries 0.7:1
Cantaloupe 0.6:1
Honeydew Melon 0.6:1
Blueberries 0.6:1
Persimmon 0.5:1
Raisins 0.5:1
Peach * 0.4:1
Plum 0.4:1
Nectarine 0.3:1
Banana 0.3:1

Protein levels

Most grassland tortoises require foods that are low both in proteins and fats. Some species need more protein than others, namely those that are omnivorous versus those that are herbivores, such as many forest species.

Vegetable Protein and Fat table (g/100g)

Vegetable Protein Fat
Asparagus 3g Less than 1g
Aubergine 1g Less than 1g
Beans 9g Less than 1g
Beetroot 2g Less than 1g
Broccoli 3g Less than 1g
Brussels Sprouts 3g 1.4g
Cabbage (average) 1g Less than 1g
Carrot 0.5g Less than 1g
Cauliflower 3g Less than 1g
Celery 0.5g Less than 1g
Chicory 0.6g Less than 1g
Courgette 2g Less than 1g
Cucumber 0.5 Less than 1g
Fennel 1g Less than 1g
Gherkins 1g Less than 1g
Gourd 1.5g Less than 1g
Leek 1.6g Less than 1g
Lettuce (average) 0.7g Less than 1g
Marrow 0.5g Less than 1g
Mushroom 2g Less than 1g
Okra 2.4g 1g
Onion 0.7g Less than 1g
Onion, Spring 2g Less than 1g
Parsnip 1.5g 2.3g
Peas 7g 1g
Peppers 1g Less than 1g
Potato 1.6g Less than 1g
Pumpkin 0.5g Less than 1g
Radish 0.7g Less than 1g
Spinach 2g Less than 1g
Swede 0.5g Less than 1g
Sweet corn 2.5g 1.5g
Tomatoes 2g 1g
Turnip 0.8g Less than 1g
Watercress 3g 1g
Yam 2g Less than 1g

A word on sprouts- Many sprouts can contain toxins that are very bad for tortoises. These toxins are lost from the plant as it matures. Bottom line - Sprouts should be avoided.

Lettuces- Lettuce, all types, is mainly composed of water. Iceberg lettuce is the biggest culprit, but other varieties are not really any better. There are very few nutrients and good things in lettuces. In my opinion, and that of countless others, they are not worth the tummy space. Feed your tortoise something else that it can benefit from. A lot of times you will see Romaine lettuce suggested as a food source. In my opinion, the fact that Romaine lettuce has a Ca:P ratio of 0.8:1 rules it out as a good food. Remember that phosphorus blocks calcium. Unless you are ready to aggressively supplement calcium, find a better food choice. For many grassland or arid species, lettuce contains too much water.

Vitamin supplements– There are a LOT of supplements available in the pet industry. Some of these supplements can cause serious health problems. One of these is the vitamin A supplements. It is very important for a chelonian to receive enough vitamin A, however, it is also very easy to overdose a tortoise on vitamin A. It is best for this nutrient to be provided through a balanced diet rather than supplementation. Vitamin D3 supplementations, over time, can cause hardening of the liver and death. Again, it is best that your tort receive it’s vitamin D from natural sources, such as sunlight, or proper UVA/UVB lighting.

If you choose to supplement your tortoise, I suggest using a broad spectrum vitamin, such as Centrum (yes, for people.) Our drugs are regulated by the FDA; we KNOW what is in them. Another choice is RepCal, which has a reputation of providing good quality calcium supplements for our scaled friends. Also an option is pure calcium carbonate, available at most health food stores.

As you can see, there are a lot of considerations in planning your tortoise's complete diet, Every food item that you can feed a tortoise has it's drawbacks, and too much of anything can be a bad thing. This is why it is best to feed a wide variety of foods instead of focusing on one item. There are many more plants that are wonderful food items. I have included some links to sites that list more food plants and their nutritional values and drawbacks. If you were only to visit one of these sites, it should be The World Chelonian Trust, where you will find many species specific care articles and nutritional analyses. Good Luck and Good Eating!

*In some countries, foods may be known by other names. Alternate food names indicated by asterisk.

Peppers (bell)* - Capsicum
Beet Greens* - Beetroot Greens/leaves
Cilantro* - Coriander
Romaine Lettuce* - Cos Lettuce
Cantaloupe* - Rock Melon
Beets* - Beetroot
Kale* - Curly Kale

I also have a page with an extensive list of known edible plants. Another great site to visit, that contains detailed nutritional information is Nutrient Analysis of Replacement Turtle and Tortoise Foods from the World Chelonian Trust. There is also the Sulcata Station and The Tortoise Trust.

I know that all of this information can be very difficult for a new or prospective tortoise owner to take in all at once. Getting a tortoise is a lifetime and very detailed commitment. If at any time I can be of any help, or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at kyryah@hotmail.com and I will do my best to assist you. The only stupid question is the one that you don't ask, and in the end, compromises the life and health of your tortoise.