Endive for Russian tortise

[JenniferG]

I have recently got a 4 year old Russian tortise. My problem is I can't find endive or Escarole anywhere here. I feed him Kale, Dandelion leaves, Radicchio, collard greens, mustard greens. I top with flower topper. He doent touch tortise pellets. I don't know how to find endive or Escarole. It his diet ok without them?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hello and welcome! They’re good to add as part of a variety but don’t worry if you can’t find them all the time, check out this thread I made, there’s a link towards the end that might come in handy for some diet ideas

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

Don’t suppose you’d mind adding a photo of his enclosure? Nice to see with new members

 

[RosemaryDW]

Dandelion and radicchio are both close relatives to endive and escarole. You're fine with what you have!

Keep your eye out for the others but don't fuss if you can't find them.

 

[wellington]

Except kale, collards and mustard should not be fed daily, only in moderation even endive. That's why it's important to feed as wide a variety as possible so one thing isn't used more than it should be
To make it easier maybe. Feed one item daily, making it different each day.. Try to seperate the moderation items with safer to feed daily items.

The Tortoise Table - Home

The Tortoise Table plant database and resource site for Tortoise owners

www.thetortoisetable.org.uk

 

[TammyJ]

He is beautiful. Please don't let him roam the floor of your house, it's dangerous for tortoises, even deadly.

 

[Tom]

I have recently got a 4 year old Russian tortise. My problem is I can't find endive or Escarole anywhere here. I feed him Kale, Dandelion leaves, Radicchio, collard greens, mustard greens. I top with flower topper. He doent touch tortise pellets. I don't know how to find endive or Escarole. It his diet ok without them?

That is okay. Best to feed an assortment of weeds, leaves and flowers, and avoid the grocery store altogether. If that is not an option, use an ever changing variety of greens from the store, and add in the correct amendments. Don't forget cilantro and arugula. Carrot tops, celery tops, parsley, and more are all good for some variety.

Flower topper is a good one, but also get some "Food Fixer" from tortoise supply: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/food-fixer-from-tortoisesupply-com.217047/

And also go to kapidolofarms.com and look into the dozens of dried leaf options he has to offer. Get a bunch of those to mix in too. There are so many that you can oder a few at a time, and constantly be trying new ones.

With all these mix-ins, you can also add all the lettuces into your food rotation and give the brassicas a break. Red and green leaf, romaine, butter lettuce, etc... They say lettuce is "bad" for tortoises because it lacks fiber, calcium and nutrition. When you add in these "amendments" you are putting in lots of fiber, calcium and nutrition, and the lettuce becomes an excellent delivery vehicle for all the good stuff because they love eating lettuce. Lettuce isn't actually "bad" for them. It just doesn't meet their nutritional needs by itself, so if a person feeds nothing but lettuce, the tortoise slowly declines. Lettuce with all these things mixed in is an excellent and nutritious diet for a tortoise.