Should a tortoise diet include more than just vegetables

[Washingtonpost77]

Hi. I currently own a pancake tortoise. I have been feeding him mainly been leafy vegetables. I also have a hatchling tortoise who eats the same diet. I just wanted to know if I should add some pellets or Mazuri tortoise food to their diet for health reasons.

Thanks

 

[Tom]

Hi. I currently own a pancake tortoise. I have been feeding him mainly been leafy vegetables. I also have a hatchling tortoise who eats the same diet. I just wanted to know if I should add some pellets or Mazuri tortoise food to their diet for health reasons.

Thanks

Here is a list of things they should be eating:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food

ZooMed grassland pellets are a good way to amend the grocery store greens and make them better. Mazuri is a good all around supplement that will ensure they are getting everything they need.

 

[Washingtonpost77]

I just bought some Mazuri pellets today. Is it okay to switch the diet from Leafy greens to feeding them Mazuri pellets only. Thanks

 

[Jodie]

No it is not. Tortoises need a varied diet. They need some of as many different things as you can provide. Broccoli is good for you, but if you eat nothing but broccoli, you will get sick.

 

[Tom]

I just bought some Mazuri pellets today. Is it okay to switch the diet from Leafy greens to feeding them Mazuri pellets only. Thanks

What Jodie said...

 

[Washingtonpost77]

I am just worried that if they eat just leafy greens that they will be always Hungary and not grow. My hatchling eats a variety of grocery store leafy greens but has not grown much. I have had him for about six months now.

 

[Jodie]

They shouldn't eat "just" anything. Feed some weeds, some leaves, some grocery greens if you have to, some Mazuri, some grassland tortoise food, some cactus, some pumpkin, ..... All the stuff in the list above.

 

[JoesMum]

I am just worried that if they eat just leafy greens that they will be always Hungary and not grow. My hatchling eats a variety of grocery store leafy greens but has not grown much. I have had him for about six months now.

Your tort is an extreme vegan. It doesn't eat meat. It doesn't need carbs to fill it up like a human does. It has a low protein diet.

Big animals like cows, horses and elephants grow pretty well on such a diet. You have been given good advice.

Torts don't do much quickly, including growing. Like everything some grow quicker than others. To grow healthy is more important than to grow quickly.

 

[Tom]

I am just worried that if they eat just leafy greens that they will be always Hungary and not grow. My hatchling eats a variety of grocery store leafy greens but has not grown much. I have had him for about six months now.

What species is your hatchling? What was the source? Dry start or well hydrated? How are you housing and heating it?

 

[BrianWI]

No it is not. Tortoises need a varied diet. They need some of as many different things as you can provide. Broccoli is good for you, but if you eat nothing but broccoli, you will get sick.

You never had it with cheese sauce then!

 

[Jodie]

You never had it with cheese sauce then!

Still going to make you sick eventually.

 

[BrianWI]

Still going to make you sick eventually.

Nope. Cheese is medicine.

 

[Jodie]

Nope. Cheese is medicine.

My husband would agree. At least adding cheese to the broccoli would get you a few addition nutrients than just broccoli, so it would help in this instance.

 

[BrianWI]

It contains Vitamin Cheese!

 

[TammyJ]

I am just worried that if they eat just leafy greens that they will be always Hungary and not grow. My hatchling eats a variety of grocery store leafy greens but has not grown much. I have had him for about six months now.

Tom asked a few good questions. We need to know more.
My comment here is that if you have had your hatchling for six months and only fed him "grocery store greens" I would definitely be worried about his nutrition and growth up to this point. You can read, of course you can, so just read the tortoise diet sheets and follow them for a varied and healthy diet for that particular type of tortoise.

 

[Big Ol Tortoise]

Here is a list of things they should be eating:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food

ZooMed grassland pellets are a good way to amend the grocery store greens and make them better. Mazuri is a good all around supplement that will ensure they are getting everything they need.

Will this work for red foots?

 

[dmmj]

Will this work for red foots?

RF's can eat the above but they also need animal protein and fruits and vegetables

 

[Big Ol Tortoise]

RF's can eat the above but they also need animal protein and fruits and vegetables

I'm aware of the animal protein fruits and vegetables. I'm wanting to start planting foods for the RF I'm going to be getting.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

I just bought some Mazuri pellets today. Is it okay to switch the diet from Leafy greens to feeding them Mazuri pellets only. Thanks

Mazuri is ment to be only 20% of their diet . I feed aLittle less to be on the safe side but their your torts do what you think is best !

 

[MasterSplinter]

is this common mallow? it seems like it but i would like to double check because i have a ton of it in my backyard