What is a Preferable Greek Diet!

[mperrier100]

Hi Everyone!
I am a soon to be Greek Tortoise mama, and have been doing a lot of research as of late about Tortoise diets. Some facts are contradictory, and I am landscaping my Tort's enclosure now, so I was hoping someone could give me some advise!
This is the diet list I have put together:

Bulk of diet:
* Collard Greens
* mustard greens
* red leaf lettuce
* green leaf lettuce
* romaine lettuce
* dandelion greens
* hibiscus leaves and flowers
* green onions
* green beans
* zucchini
* frozen mixed vegetables
* timothy hay
* alfalfa
* Kales

10% of Diet:
• Carrots
• Apples (with Skin)
• Berries
• Squashes
• Beans or Peas (with skin)
• Almonds
• Spinach
• Hibiscus (flowers & leaves)
• Geraniums
• Rose Petals
• Pansies
• Beansprouts*
• Corn *
• Celery*

And now, my question is what live plants can I put in my enclosure, that I can buy in a store in NY somewhere (a common species of plant that is good for an enclosure). THX!

 

[ascott]

Romain lettuce
Kale
Mustard greens
Turnip greens
Collard greens
Parsley
Red-leaf lettuce
Green-leaf lettuce
ICEBERG LETTUCE-- this type of lettuce in itself is not bad, it has little nutritional value and some tend to enjoy it too much. They can wait long periods of time to get this tasty lettuce while avoiding other foods in the process.
Cucumber
Strawberries
Carrots
Bananas
Squash
Most Berries and Melons
Timothy Hay
Alfalfa Grass
Bermuda Grass
Dandelion
Most Weeds
Cactus Pads

any of the fruits should be offered mainly as a treat and not as part of their everyday diet,.....

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http://www.turtlestuff.com/ingredients.html

http://www.theodorepayne.org/

http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=179

 

[mperrier100]

Can Greek Tortoises eat worms??? I was reading something online about "tortoises" in general and was wondering.

 

[Phobi]

I would think so, like mealiworms once a week for protien

 

[leonardo the tmnt]

I would think so, like mealiworms once a week for protien

I don't own a Greek but I know they are herbivores and don't eat protein like redfoots or yellowfoots.

 

[Alethea]

Everything I have read said Greeks are herbivores not omnivores and should not eat worms insects or other proteins. They cannot process high levels of protein so it could actually make them sick. I would stick with green leafy food.

 

[mperrier100]

Ok I got it. No worms!

 

[Tom]

The primary diet of any Testudo species should be a wide variety of broadleaf weeds. You can either scrounge them up from various safe sources around you, or you can grow your own. There are literally dozens of commonly seen, easily grown or found species all over the world. I got a great Testudo seed mix from Tyler and Sarah at tortoisesupply.com. You can also find some good stuff here:
http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html?SID=igafbph3bc3rak54248p6tccb5

In my opinion grocery store foods should be a last resort if you just can't find anything better, and there are sooooo many things that are better.

Look into hibiscus, rose of sharon, rose, grape and mulberry tree LEAVES. Look into clover and alfalfa. How about gazania, nasturtiums, pansies, dandelions and a whole bunch of other flowers and their leaves? Young spineless opuntia cactus pads are great too.

Hay and grass is not really suitable food for most Testudo species. Fruit and sugary vegetables, like carrots, should be avoided.

If you must use grocery store foods, endive and escarole are about the best, and should make up a substantial percentage of the diet in my opinion.

Good plants for your tortoise pen include grapevines, rose of sharon bushes, and squash plants like pumpkin, crooked neck squash or cucumber grow fast, that offer good grazing and make excellent shade and cover. Plus the aforementioned clover, alfalfa and Testudo mixes are great plants to have growing in a large outdoor enclosure too.

 

[redbeef]

I've seen people say on here that onion isn't good for them either...not sure if mine would even try to eat it, but I've kept it away from him based on hearing this

 

[wellington]

Romain lettuce
Kale
Mustard greens
Turnip greens
Collard greens
Parsley
Red-leaf lettuce
Green-leaf lettuce
ICEBERG LETTUCE-- this type of lettuce in itself is not bad, it has little nutritional value and some tend to enjoy it too much. They can wait long periods of time to get this tasty lettuce while avoiding other foods in the process.
Cucumber
Strawberries
Carrots
Bananas
Squash
Most Berries and Melons
Timothy Hay
Alfalfa Grass
Bermuda Grass
Dandelion
Most Weeds
Cactus Pads

any of the fruits should be offered mainly as a treat and not as part of their everyday diet,.....

---

http://www.turtlestuff.com/ingredients.html

http://www.theodorepayne.org/

http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=179

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Got an alert the first link in your posted is corrupt by a virus. Can you please check this out and correct or delete the link.
Thanks