As a tortoise owner, we bet your search history is full of good questions…

Can I give my tortoise a leftover strawberry?
Is my amaryllis plant toxic for my tortoise?
What should I feed my red-footed tortoise?

As animal experts, we’re here to help. Find the answers to these queries and more below.

1. What components should be in my tortoise’s daily diet?

While there are some nuances in nutrition requirements for different species, all tortoises’ diets should include these four things:

Water: Plenty of clean water to drink is essential for a healthy reptile. Hydration is key for their cells to function and for other bodily processes like skin shedding.

Protein: Protein is a critical part of tortoise’s ability to build muscle and form important enzymes and antibodies. Feeding a pelleted diet with balanced protein, along with essential nutrients and proper habitat humidity, helps to prevent conditions like pyramiding.

Energy: Tortoises may be slow-moving, but they still need energy (a.k.a. calories) to thrive! However, excess energy from starch or sugar can result in obesity and digestive upset. The key is to provide the right amount of energy from the right balance of nutrients (including protein, fat and carbohydrates like starch and sugar).

Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D₃ are vital for preventing metabolic bone disease. Antioxidants, vitamin E and vitamin A also should be included in your pet’s diet to support their immune system and eye health.

Nutrition can be complicated, but feeding Mazuri® makes it simpler. Just choose one of our diet options based on your animal’s life stage and species:

Mazuri Tortoise Diet: A traditional tortoise food formulated with tropical tortoise species and species with higher protein requirements in mind.

Best for: Tropical and omnivorous tortoises including Burmese, Indian star, elongated and red-footed species.

Mazuri Tortoise LS Diet:A low starch (LS) pelleted diet designed to deliver important vitamins and minerals with low starch, high fiber and lower protein compared to the Mazuri Tortoise Diet. Excitedly, this diet is now available in two sizes, with one for our bigger buddies (giant tortoise species).

Best for: Herbivorous, grassland and desert species including Aldabra, African Spurred/Sulcata, Desert, Egyptian, Galapagos, Gopher, Greek, Leopard, Pancake or Radiated species.

Mazuri Juvenile Tortoise Diet: A low-starch, high-fiber tortoise food with more protein for young and baby tortoises up to one year of age. Designed for growing animals and tinier mouths, the food particles are smaller and easier to eat.

Best for: Baby and young tortoises of most species, including Burmese, Indian star, elongated, red-footed, Aldabra, African spurred and sulcata, Russian, desert, Egyptian, Galápagos, gopher, Greek, leopard, pancake and radiated tortoises.

2. What should I feed my tortoise to avoid pyramiding?

If you’re a tortoise owner or enthusiast, you’ve probably heard of pyramiding. It’s a disorder that occurs in reptiles, including tortoises, when keratin is built up in their shell. That means individual bones grow upward into hump-like shapes, resulting in a weak and abnormally bumpy shell. And that’s not all — pyramiding can lead to other health issues, like respiratory problems, mobility issues, reproductive limitations and is one sign of metabolic bone disease.

The good news is there are steps you can take as a pet owner to ensure you are feeding the proper nutrition. Too much protein can cause the shell to grow faster and greater than the animal’s body can handle. Feeding a species-appropriate pelleted diet, like one of Mazuri’s tortoise diets, is a simple way to help ensure your tortoise gets the right amount of protein.

3. What does a balanced tortoise diet look like?

The key to a healthy diet is balance. When feeding tortoises and other reptiles, a general rule of thumb is their total diet should consist of no more than 5% fruit and 20% vegetables. Produce from the grocery store is typically higher in sugar and lower in fiber, so it’s important snacks are fed in addition to a pelleted diet, not instead of it. Mazuri Reptile Diets are formulated to feed with snacks, so tortoises receive variety, great taste and proper nutrition with every bite.

You also can give them an occasional treat! Keep scrolling to find out which snacks are safe for your tortoise.

4. Can tortoises eat…?

With so many dos and don’ts in animal nutrition, it can be challenging to know which fruits are safe for your pet! Consider this your go-to guide next time you’re considering feeding leftovers from the kitchen:

Safe:

Can tortoises eat bananas? Yes, in very small quantities as an occasional treat.

Can tortoises eat cucumbers? Yes, it helps with hydration! Tip: If your tortoise needs medication, it can be hidden in the cucumber as a tasty treat.

Can tortoises eat grapes? Yes! Tortoises can eat a few grapes as a sweet treat.

Can tortoises eat strawberries? Yes, in small quantities as an occasional treat (fun fact: tortoises can see the red color of the berries well!).

Can tortoises eat watermelon? Yes, as an occasional treat.

Not Safe:

Can tortoises eat rhubarb? No! Rhubarb is toxic to tortoises, with the potential to lead to health problems.

Can tortoises eat onions? No! Tortoises should not eat onions or any related foods like garlic and shallots.

Can tortoises eat avocados? No! All parts of the avocado, including the skin and flesh, are toxic to tortoises.

5. What plants are toxic for tortoises?

It’s no wonder pet parents worry about their animals — there are many household plants that are toxic to tortoises. Some of the most common toxic plants to avoid are:

• • Amaryllis

  • Lily

  • Creeping Charlie

  • Cyclamen

  • Daffodil

  • Dianthus and Carnations

  • Hydrangea

  • Iris

  • Ivy

  • Oleander

  • Philodendrons

  • Ranunculus

 

The best way to prevent your tortoise eating anything they shouldn’t is knowledge! Learn what plants you have in your garden or potted inside, so you can take action accordingly. If you’re unsure if a plant is toxic, this plant database can be a helpful tool.

Have more tortoise feeding questions? Here are four steps you can take to build the perfect diet for your reptile friends.