What Do Tortoises Eat? (Tortoise Diet)

A healthy tortoise diet should be very high in fiber, rich in calcium, and very low in protein and fats.

1. Dark Leafy Greens (The Staple): This should make up 80% of their diet. Excellent choices include:

   • Dandelion leaves and flowers (their absolute favorite!)
   • Mustard greens
   • Turnip greens
   • Kale and Collard greens
   • Grasses and hay (especially for large species like the Sulcata tortoise).

2. Vegetables (10-15%):

   • Carrots, squash, pumpkin, and bell peppers provide good vitamins.

Fruits should be given as a rare treat only (less than 5% of their diet). While they love strawberries, apples, and melon, a tortoise's digestive system is not designed to process large amounts of sugar. Too much fruit will cause severe stomach problems and parasite overgrowth.

Never feed a tortoise:

• Meat or Dog/Cat Food: Their kidneys cannot process high protein, and it will cause shell deformities (pyramiding) and death.
• Iceberg Lettuce: It has almost zero nutritional value; it is basically just crunchy water.
• Toxic Plants: Avoid onion, garlic, avocado, and citrus fruits.