Feeding
Food should consist primarily of natural grown weeds, in particular plantain, dandelion, clover, sowthistle, wild pansies, etc. The percentage of protein and fat in the food should be as low as possible. European fruit can be fed as a treat to Testudo graeca but not more than once a month, or to Testudo hermanni but not more than twice a week. Do not feed tropical fruit such as avocados or bananas. Do not feed any meat, milk or dairy produce. Tortoises will often eat unsatisfactory food. Do not give them the chance. A high protein diet will lead to liver problems, which are incurable.
A weekly pinch of vitamin and mineral supplement, you can use Nutrobal or Vionate, is helpful if the diet is lacking (weeds contain plenty). Do not overdo this. It is possible to overdose.
Excessive quantities of protein are to be avoided and mineral and vitamins levels should be carefully balanced and available in sufficient quantities. In summary, the ideal diet for herbivorous species should consist of the following:-
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Low in fats, oils and protein
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Rich in minerals and vitamins
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High in fibre
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Adequate in water content
Good Foods for Mediterranean Tortoises
updated 26th April 2010
| Bittercress | Lavateria |
| Broadleaf Grasses | Mallows |
| Cat's Ears | Marigold |
| Chickweed | Mustard Greens |
| Chicory | Nasturtium |
| Clovers red and white (toxic if dried) | Nipplewood |
| Couch Grass | Opuntia Ficus Pads |
| Creeping Bell Flower | Plantain |
| Dandelion | Sainfoin |
| Dead Nettles | Salad Cress |
| Endive | Sedum |
| Evening Primrose | Shepherd's Purse |
| Grape Leaves | Sowthistle |
| Hawk Beards | Vetch |
| Hawkbits | Welsh Poppy |
| Hawkweeds | |
| Hedge Mustard | |
| Hibiscus | |
| Honeysuckle flowers | |
| Hosta |
Please bear in mind that too much of one type of food is not good enough, you must provide a good variety on a daily basis with calcium carbonate dusting and vitamins as suggested.
Good Foods for Leopard Tortoises
| Lucerne | |
| Albucalilly Flowers | Mackaya Bella Flowers |
| Aloe Vera (in small amounts) | Mallows |
| Alussum Maritama | Meadow Hay (keep dry) |
| Barleria Obtusa Flowers | Mesembryanthemum |
| Bindweeds (in small amounts) | Mimulas ( luteus & cupreus) |
| Brambles | Mother in Law Tongue |
| Broadleaf Grasses | Mulberry Leaves & Flowers |
| Buffalo Grass | Nettles (especially dead nettles) |
| Bulbina | Nylandtia Spinosa |
| Bushman Grass | Opuntis Ficus |
| Carissa Fruit | Painted Lady |
| Carrot Grass | Papaya Leaves |
| Chickweed | Pelargonium |
| Chinese Lantern Flowers | Petunia |
| Clovers red & white (toxic if dried) | Plantains thin & broad |
| Comfrey | Portulacca |
| Coral Plant Flowers | Prickly Pear |
| Cotylednan Orbiculata FLowers | Ranunculas Leaves |
| Couch Grass | Red Cannas |
| Crassulas | Ready Grass |
| Dandelion | Robinia Leaves |
| Dew Grass | Rye Grass |
| Echeveria | Sowthistle |
| Erica | Thistle (when young) |
| Gazanias | Timothy Hay |
| Grape Leaves | Vetches |
| Graptovena | Violets |
| Hibiscus Leaves and Flowers | Wandering Jew |
| Ifafa Lilly | Watercress (in very small amounts) |
| Kalanchoe | Wild Cherry Leaves |
| Lampranthus | Wild Clematis |
| Lippia | |