Hi Mike
For food visit http://www.africantortoise.com/diet.htm
In the wild, these herbivores species primarily on grass. In captivity the
ideal situation for these animals to sustain themselves, is to just allow
them to graze in a well planted chemically untreated area of your yard.
Fruit isn't something that is really native to these animals and can create
all kinds of gastric disturbances. Best to avoid. The only fruit they get in
the wild is the fruit of the opuntia (only in parts of their range and
seasonal).
Because providing a grazing area isn't always possible, its easy to over
rely on wet produce greens and intestinal problems and loose stools are
often encountered. Adding Hay to the diet to will balance this effect.
http://www.OxbowHay.com is a good source of Orchard and Timothy Hay (get the
early cutting or beardless kind). Long term ingestion of the chemicals
commonly sprayed on produce is a health concern. Choose organic greens when
possible or be sure to wash in mild soapy water and rinse well. Remove
plastic and metal wrappers so your torts don't accidentally ingest these.
Nutritious chemical free healthy foods are often freely available in your
yard or vacant lots.
Grasses, Clovers, Grape, Mulberry & Fig leaves, Dandelion, Plantain (the
weed) , Hibiscus (leaves and flowers), Opuntia, Thistles, Chickweed
Better of the easily obtainable grocery greens:
Aim for a high Calcium to Phosphorus ratio and low protein diet. When fed in
excess, foods high in Oxalates have been implicated in binding minerals
including calcium (marked with asterisk*).
Moderation and variety is the key.
- Regularly: Dark Leafy Greens such as:
Endive, *Watercress, Romaine, *Collard Greens, *Kale, Dandelion, Chicory,
Escarole, Radicchio, Turnip Greens, Opuntia (smooth or despined)
- Occasionally:
Cabbage, Squash, Carrots, Carrot Tops, Red Leaf Lettuce, Mustard Greens,
Alfalfa Hay, Parsley
- Rarely: Swiss Chard, Broccoli, Bokchoy, Iceberg lettuce, Sweet Potatoes,
Sprouts of any kind,
Corn, Cucumbers, Beet Greens, Fruit in general.
- Never: Spinach, Rhubarb, Beans of any kind, dog food, pasta
for substrate I use a 50/50 mix of Bed-A_Beast and sand.
-----
Joe(Chiro)
The Russian Tortoise Web Pge
The African Tortoise Web Page
North American Box Turtles
Massachusetts Turtle Rescue, Inc.
