Tortoise Diet

Tortoise Diet

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TORTOISE DIET
Acceptable Produce:

(Produce is generally less nutritious than the other foods listed and should only be fed when other foods are unavailable or as an occasional supplement)

  • Beet greens
  • Bok choy
  • Cilantro
  • Collard greens
  • Dandelion greens
  • Endive
  • Green beans
  • Kale
  • Mustard greens
  • Parsley
  • Spinach
  • Snow peas
  • Turnip greens
Growing Plants:
  • Bermuda grass(Tiff)
  • Alfalfa
  • Clover
  • Dichondra
  • Sweet peas
  • Petunias
  • Nasturtium
Native(growing) plants:
  • Cassia (senna)
  • Globe mallow (other mallows)
  • Evening primroses
  • Rock hibiscus
  • Morning glory
  • Honeysuckle
  • Trailing 4 o’clock
  • Buckwheat
  • Spurge
  • Prickly pear pads and fruit
  • Plantain
Native Grasses:
  • Arizona cottontop
  • Bamboo muhly
  • Bush muhly
  • Deer grass
  • Curly mesquite
Other recommended foods:
  • Grape leaves
  • Hibiscus flowers and leaves
  • Mulberry leaves
  • Rose petals
  • Hay (Alfalfa, Bermuda, Timothy or combinations)

A diet composed of an assortment of these plants is nutritionally complete; additional vitamin, calcium or other mineral supplementation is not necessary and may be harmful.  All tortoises must be kept outside, as temperatures permit, to insure adequate exposure to UVB to maintain normal calcium metobolism

This information was provided by Sonora Animal Hospital, 410 W. Simmons Rd., Tucson, AZ 85705, (520)888-8988