Greens only
- Thread starter Gertrude
- Start date
Welcome Gertude!
It sounds like you got your tortoise from a knowledgeable breeder; green leaves should be the vast majority of a horsefield’s diet. What kinds of foods are you thinking about? Lots of food references for tortoises are out of date, even from sources that should know better. I often see British owners being referred to vegetables such as carrots, capsicum (sweet pepper), broccoli, and sweet corn; these are not good foods for a horsefield’s. You tortoise shouldn’t have fruit, ever.
Some vegetables are good in moderation or on occasion: summer squash; winter squash/pumpkin; cucumber; sweet potato/yam. The occasional green bean or a few peas. You shouldn’t have much trouble getting a tortoise to eat these, normally. But if you do, you can just great a little onto the regular food and introduce it that way.
It sounds like you got your tortoise from a knowledgeable breeder; green leaves should be the vast majority of a horsefield’s diet. What kinds of foods are you thinking about? Lots of food references for tortoises are out of date, even from sources that should know better. I often see British owners being referred to vegetables such as carrots, capsicum (sweet pepper), broccoli, and sweet corn; these are not good foods for a horsefield’s. You tortoise shouldn’t have fruit, ever.
Some vegetables are good in moderation or on occasion: summer squash; winter squash/pumpkin; cucumber; sweet potato/yam. The occasional green bean or a few peas. You shouldn’t have much trouble getting a tortoise to eat these, normally. But if you do, you can just great a little onto the regular food and introduce it that way.
Chop up the greens and spray them with some water. Grate or mince a tiny amount of the new stuff and mix it in with the old favorites. Over time increase the ratio of old stuff to new.
I agree with Rosemary that your tortoise should never be eating fruit.
