List of what to feed Russian tortoises

[thetortoiseguy]

Lettuce
Tomato(as an occasional treat)
Broccoli
Komodo pellets
Cucumber (occational)
Hibiscus (flowers and leaves)
Hosta
Sedum
Mulberry leaves
Hen and Chicks
Ice Plants
Prickly pear flowers, fruit and pads (burn the spines off)
Dandelion
Plantain (not the banana type fruit....the weed plantago major)
Mallow (flowers and leaves)
Henbit
Rose (flowers and leaves....make sure no systemic pesticides were used)
Chrysanthemum flowers
Cornflowers Plagiobothrys ssp
Forsythia (flowers and leaves)
Dayflower Commelina diffusa (flowers and leaves)
Californian Poppy escholzia
Chia Salvia hispanica
stores:
Romaine lettuce (fed on occasion)
Red and green leaf lettuce (fed on occasion)
Endive
Escarole
Radicchio
Chicory
Turnip greens
Mustard greens
Kale
Collards
Spring Mix (mixed salad greens)
cabbage (fed on occasion)

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi 'Guy', and welcome to the Forum!!

Nice list, but I wish you hadn't made lettuce the very first item. New and inexperienced keepers see that as the first thing and may tune in to only feeding lettuce.

A nice variety is what is called for. No 'one' thing is better than another, but variety is key.

 

[stinax182]

i thought brocolli was bad for them?

 

[Yvonne G]

Anything on that list might be 'bad' for them if fed to the exclusion of other foods. Broccoli is a goitrogen and shouldn't be fed too much or too often, but is ok once in a while.

 

[thetortoiseguy]

I do feed him different foods

 

[Yvonne G]

I do feed him different foods

My comment was mainly to help educate new keepers who don't know better.

 

[thetortoiseguy]

I've had my tort a year and a half but he is now 4 years old

 

[thetortoiseguy]

MY Top 7 of foods for Russians

My top 7 foods:

Komodo tortoise diet
Lettuce
Tomato
Broccoli
Rocket lettuce
Dandilions
Clovers

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Don't feed tomato and broccoli to them a lot only as a treat every once in a while

 

[hunterk997]

MY Top 7 of foods for Russians

I'm not familiar with komodo pellet?

 

[wellington]

RE: MY Top 7 of foods for Russians

These two are on the "Do not feed" list
Broccoli. http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/plants_19.asp?catID=622
Tomato http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/plants_19.asp?catID=448
As for your lettuce, what kind are you talking about?

 

[thetortoiseguy]

You can feed them occasionally but not to much

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These are Komodo pellets for any tortoise

 

[hunterk997]

You can feed them occasionally but not to much

---

These are Komodo pellets for any tortoise

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Ah, they appear to be the colored type pellets. Those are not recommended. Mazuri and grassland formula I hear are good.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Clarice:

In the UK, quite a few keepers use the Kamodo Dragon pellets. For them in the UK it is similar to the Mazuri here in the U.S. for us.

 

[Tom]

Tortoiseguy, I appreciate you enthusiasm, but we don't know you, or who you are, or what qualifies you to be giving advice. Four of the first five items on your list are items that I would recommend people NOT feed, at least not in large quantities or very often.

You mentioned one tortoise that you've had for 1.5 years. Is there more than that? From what I have seen you should be here to learn, not to teach. I don't mean to be harsh, but like Yvonne said, I don't want some new person reading your advise and thinking lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes are a great russian diet.