Russian Tortoise feeding habits

Leonardo Dicaprio

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Russian Tortoises are very enthusiastic eaters. The most important thing when feeding your tortoise is to remember that they need a variety of vegetables and fruit. In the wild they like to try new things, one tortoise eats around 200 different kinds of plants a year. My tort eats a mix of kale, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, and mangos. I do not feed him to much mango because its not the best for him but he LOVES it. I highly recommend kale because they seem to love it and it is very good for them. Spinach is probably the worst leafy greens you could give your tort. Although it isn't poisonous it has little to no nutrition in it and its not very tasty. If you have an outside habitat I would recommend plants dandelions those are one of my favorite plants to feed my tort. Russian Tortoises are ver destructive so plants won't last long but it makes them very happy.
 

Tom

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This is not a good first post Leonardo. Sorry. Fruit is not good for them, spinach is fine once in a while, and kale, cabbage, carrots and tomatoes are all foods that should be fed infrequently and only in small quantities.

Welcome to the forum, and I hope we can help you improve your tortoises diet a bit. Please stick around.
 

Tom

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Yvonne G

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Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

It is very refreshing to meet someone so willing to accept constructive criticism.
 

Leonardo Dicaprio

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I am currently using my new laptop which has no photos but as soon as I am able I will get a photo of my sweet tortoise.
 

Yvonne G

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Well thats why I joined the forum, to learn how to take better care of my tortoise.

Were you anywhere near the bad weather yesterday? It happened just a few miles from where my son was. I'm so glad to be living in California (where we only have to worry about earthquakes!!!).
 

Leonardo Dicaprio

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It was extremely close many people I know lost their homes. I actually just moved here from Southern California a year ago. (me and my tort miss the warm weather)
 

Yvonne G

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It was extremely close many people I know lost their homes. I actually just moved here from Southern California a year ago. (me and my tort miss the warm weather)

Oh, don't you worry about that. It will be plenty warm enough for you and your tortoise this summer!!
 

jencabral

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spinach is fine once in a while, and kale, cabbage, carrots and tomatoes are all foods that should be fed infrequently and only in small amounts.
I read that spring mix is ok to feed my RT on a daily basis, but every kind I find in the store has some spinach. Is it ok for him to be eating small amounts of spinach every day?
 

Tom

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I read that spring mix is ok to feed my RT on a daily basis, but every kind I find in the store has some spinach. Is it ok for him to be eating small amounts of spinach every day?
I don't agree. Spring mix isn't toxic or anything, but it doesn't meet the dietary need of your tortoise very well. It is freshly sprouted baby lettuces. Spring mix lacks fiber, lacks calcium, and has a low calcium to phosphorous ratio. It is okay as part of a varied diet, but I wouldn't use it every day, and I would add some sort of amendment to it to make it better for your tortoise. ZooMed Grassland tortoise pellets, "Herbal Hay" from torotoisesupply.com, freshly sprouted grasses, and pieces of re-hydrated horse hay cubes are all good ways to amend your spring mix and other grocery store greens.

No tortoise should be eating spinach every day either.

The best diet for your tortoise is broadleaf weeds. Learn to ID the ones growing near you and figure out which ones are good for him. Some leaves and flowers are also good, like mulberry leaves, grape vine leaves and hibiscus leaves and flowers. Skip the text of this thread and skip down to the list of tortoise foods: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
 

chemprentice

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I don't agree. Spring mix isn't toxic or anything, but it doesn't meet the dietary need of your tortoise very well. It is freshly sprouted baby lettuces. Spring mix lacks fiber, lacks calcium, and has a low calcium to phosphorous ratio. It is okay as part of a varied diet, but I wouldn't use it every day, and I would add some sort of amendment to it to make it better for your tortoise. ZooMed Grassland tortoise pellets, "Herbal Hay" from torotoisesupply.com, freshly sprouted grasses, and pieces of re-hydrated horse hay cubes are all good ways to amend your spring mix and other grocery store greens.

No tortoise should be eating spinach every day either.

The best diet for your tortoise is broadleaf weeds. Learn to ID the ones growing near you and figure out which ones are good for him. Some leaves and flowers are also good, like mulberry leaves, grape vine leaves and hibiscus leaves and flowers. Skip the text of this thread and skip down to the list of tortoise foods: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Hi @Tom, do you think adding spring mix to my greek tort's diet every two months is fine? His diet currently consists of 30% broadleaf weeds (which I'm working on increasing), 30% romaine (which I'm working on cutting back), 15% spring mix, and remaining is miscellaneous foods (hibiscus pedals and leaves, cilantro, basil, red butterleaf lettuce, broadleaf sorrel). I've been having trouble finding a huge variety of weeds; the ones that are a staple to his diet are dandelion, sow thistle, catsear, mallow, chickweed, filaree, and hawkbit.
 

Tom

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Hi @Tom, do you think adding spring mix to my greek tort's diet every two months is fine? His diet currently consists of 30% broadleaf weeds (which I'm working on increasing), 30% romaine (which I'm working on cutting back), 15% spring mix, and remaining is miscellaneous foods (hibiscus pedals and leaves, cilantro, basil, red butterleaf lettuce, broadleaf sorrel). I've been having trouble finding a huge variety of weeds; the ones that are a staple to his diet are dandelion, sow thistle, catsear, mallow, chickweed, filaree, and hawkbit.
I think all of that sounds great.
 

LeeB60

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Russian Tortoises are very enthusiastic eaters. The most important thing when feeding your tortoise is to remember that they need a variety of vegetables and fruit. In the wild they like to try new things, one tortoise eats around 200 different kinds of plants a year. My tort eats a mix of kale, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, and mangos. I do not feed him to much mango because its not the best for him but he LOVES it. I highly recommend kale because they seem to love it and it is very good for them. Spinach is probably the worst leafy greens you could give your tort. Although it isn't poisonous it has little to no nutrition in it and its not very tasty. If you have an outside habitat I would recommend plants dandelions those are one of my favorite plants to feed my tort. Russian Tortoises are ver destructive so plants won't last long but it makes them very happy.
My tort won't eat kale. He loves yellow peppers though. I've tried to find variety for him, but it's a small town. He likes red lettuce and romaine and will eat a little dandelion. I Googled a lot but now I'm worried because several of them I've read say all kinds of different stuff about what to feed them. Substrate I'm confused about. He is inside and he just kind of hangs out in the spare bedroom except for it night. Can you give me any advice on what's the best foods to feed him and not to feed him? Thank you
 

LeeB60

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Location (City and/or State)
Neola Ut
Russian Tortoises are very enthusiastic eaters. The most important thing when feeding your tortoise is to remember that they need a variety of vegetables and fruit. In the wild they like to try new things, one tortoise eats around 200 different kinds of plants a year. My tort eats a mix of kale, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, and mangos. I do not feed him to much mango because its not the best for him but he LOVES it. I highly recommend kale because they seem to love it and it is very good for them. Spinach is probably the worst leafy greens you could give your tort. Although it isn't poisonous it has little to no nutrition in it and its not very tasty. If you have an outside habitat I would recommend plants dandelions those are one of my favorite plants to feed my tort. Russian Tortoises are ver destructive so plants won't last long but it makes them very happy.
Thank you for your advice my tour really likes yellow pepper and he likes collards. I heard that the yellow pepper isn't good for him but he loves them. I try to give him a variety but I'm very limited here. We can't water our Lawns right now so I have no dandelions just the leaves. He is in an inside enclosure I am in the process of ordering one online that I can take in and out that I think he'll like better. He also likes broccoli and carrots I hope they're okay for him. I've done a lot of Googling and this is the best place I've ever found I trust everybody here. I just want dude to be happy. Could I also ask what kind of substrate you use?
 

MenagerieGrl

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My tort won't eat kale. He loves yellow peppers though. I've tried to find variety for him, but it's a small town. He likes red lettuce and romaine and will eat a little dandelion. I Googled a lot but now I'm worried because several of them I've read say all kinds of different stuff about what to feed them. Substrate I'm confused about. He is inside and he just kind of hangs out in the spare bedroom except for it night. Can you give me any advice on what's the best foods to feed him and not to feed him? Thank you
From another Tread:
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
 

MenagerieGrl

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Thank you for your advice my tour really likes yellow pepper and he likes collards. I heard that the yellow pepper isn't good for him but he loves them. I try to give him a variety but I'm very limited here. We can't water our Lawns right now so I have no dandelions just the leaves. He is in an inside enclosure I am in the process of ordering one online that I can take in and out that I think he'll like better. He also likes broccoli and carrots I hope they're okay for him. I've done a lot of Googling and this is the best place I've ever found I trust everybody here. I just want dude to be happy. Could I also ask what kind of substrate you use?
As far as substrate, Coconut Coir, or Fine Orchid Bark. Both are great for helping to keep humidity's up with sufficient water added.
 
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