As you can see, watercress is safe for tortoises, so you can add it to your tortoise’s diet. It’s one of those leafy greens that contain a lot of vitamins and can help keep your pet healthy.
Can tortoises have watercress?
Diet & Water
A Hermann’s tortoise’s diet consists of vegetation. Good foods include dandelion, clover, honeysuckle, leafy salads, watercress, curly kale, brussel tops, spring greens, coriander, parsley, rocket, carrot, parsnip, courgette and bell peppers. The bulk of the vegetation should be leafy greens.
Can tortoises eat spinach and watercress?
The mix of leafy greens can contain some spinach here and there. However, the bulk of it should be romaine lettuce, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, and dandelion greens. You can also add bok choy, butter lettuce, red leaf lettuce, escarole, parsley, and watercress for variety.
Can my tortoise eat cress?
Most seed labelled as ‘Mustard and Cress’ (the sort that grows in a matter of days on damp tissue) is actually composed of two plants: Cress (Lepidium sativum) and White Mustard (Brassica hirta), and this is fine to add as a small part of a tortoise’s varied diet.
Can Mediterranean tortoises eat watercress?
Their diet should consist largely of weeds. Suitable weeds include sow thistles, dandelions, milk thistles, plantains, chickweed, dock and bindweed. Other plants and flowers such as sedum, hibiscus, nasturtium and honeysuckle are also suitable. Any plants fed should be free of any pesticides or fertilizer.
Can my sulcata tortoise eat watercress?
See below and provide your Sulcata a fresh, varied correct diet. I can also eat (when in a pinch) endive, watercress, collard greens, kale, chicory, escarole, radicchio, turnip greens and optunia. You can occasionally feed me cabbage, carrots, carrot tops, red leaf lettuce, romain mustard greens and parsley.
Can tortoise eat cucumber?
Food and Water
A tortoise’s diet should replicate wild foraging. Choose a variety of leafy greens and grasses to feed your pet. Supplement greens with smaller quantities of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, and carrots, apples, apricots, grapes, melons, peaches, and strawberries.
What is poisonous to tortoises?
Many common plants are toxic, and keepers must make sure that their herbivorous chelonians are kept away from them.
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Toxicity |
|---|---|---|
| Amaryllis | Amaryllis belladonna | 2 |
| Asparagus Fern | Asparagus sprengerii | 2, 3 |
| Arrowhead Vine | Syngonium podophyllum | 1 |
| Avocado (leaves, seeds) | Persea americana | 2 |
What can tortoises not eat?
Food tortoises can’t eat
- Daffodil (narcissus pseudonarcissus)
- Azalea (Rhododendron species)
- Foxglove (Digitalis species)
- Avocado (Persea species)
- Buttercup (Ranunculus species)
- Auricula (Primula auricula)
- Bean sprouts (various)
- Citrus fruit (Citrus species)
What greens are good for tortoises?
Dark, leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, kale, collard, mustard and dandelion greens should make up the bulk of the diet. Other greens to try include: bok choy, red leaf or green leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, water cress, escarole, parsley, turnip greens and green onions.
What can tortoises eat list?
Food List
- Collard, turnip, rape, and mustard greens.
- Kale, cabbage, kohl rabi, chard.
- Endive, Escarole, green-leaf, red-leaf lettuces.
- Red or curly lettuces.
- Arugula, rocket, ‘corn salad’, ‘lamb’s lettuce’
- Parsley, watercress.
- Carrot or radish tops.
- Sprouts.
Can tortoises eat celery?
Is Celery Safe for Tortoises? Celery itself is not harmful to tortoises and they can eat them in small amounts. The main issue with celery is that it has a strong taste many tortoises will not want to eat. It can also be tough to chew, and small tortoises may struggle to eat celery properly.
Can a tortoise eat spinach?
So although Spinach is not toxic as such, and small amounts are unlikely to cause a tortoise any great damage, given the potential it has to limit calcium intake and cause internal irritation, we do not recommend that people feed it to their tortoises.
Do tortoises need dark at night?
Turtles, tortoises, bearded dragons, iguanas, and chameleons are some common examples of reptiles that need UVB light. This helps prevent animals from developing hypocalcemia (or lack of calcium). UVB lights should be kept on during the day and turned off at night and should be used along with calcium supplements.
How often should you feed a tortoise?
How much and how often should I feed my tortoise? As a general rule, you should offer an amount of food equivalent to the size of your tortoise’s shell. They should be fed once a day, 5 days a week. The 2 starve days can be implemented at any time, in any order.
What garden leaves can tortoises eat?
Big leaves, easily recognisable, and abundant. Dandelions provide a readily accepted treat for reptiles, and offer a fresh source of vitamins thoughout the year. The whole pot can be placed in the enclosure, or it can be grown on the windowsill and stems cut off for feeding. Birds and Mammals also love it.
Can tortoises eat cheese?
Let’s get straight into it! Although technically, turtles can eat cheese, they shouldn’t. Turtles cannot digest dairy, meaning cheese and other dairy products should not be part of their diet, not even as a treat. Feeding turtles cheese can make them sick and lead to serious health complications in the long term!
Can tortoises eat broccoli?
Yes, broccoli is an excellent source of nutrition for tortoises. We highly recommend it as part of their regular diet. That said, turtles shouldn’t overeat broccoli.
Can tortoises eat tomatoes?
Ripe tomatoes are safe to feed many tortoises, but they aren’t necessarily good for them and should only be offered occasionally. Tomato plants and unripe tomatoes are toxic to tortoises and should never be fed.
Can a tortoise eat grapes?
Fruits are ideal treats for your tortoise. While you can feed them grapes, other great options include bananas, strawberries, apples, and pears. It’s best to mix up the fruit that you give them so they can get different nutrients.
Can tortoises eat apples?
Are Apples Bad for Tortoises? No, apples are not bad for your pet tortoise. Moreover, they have many benefits for your pet reptile: it is a fruit rich in antioxidants, fibers, vitamins, and minerals. It has a relatively low content in sugars and calories compared to other more “fattening” fruits.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.