There are different types of tortoise pellets. Some are healthier than others, and some are easier to find than others. So when looking for a good pellet food for your Russian tortoise, compare the options.
Common Pellet Food for Tortoises
Whether you’re shopping your local pet store or Amazon, you’ll find many different types of pellets for tortoises. It’s important to compare them all to the nutritionally needs of your tortoise. For example, you don’t want a pellet with animal protein, fruits or veggies for a Russian tortoise, as these ingredients are better suited for omnivorous tortoises like Red Foot Tortoises.
For Russian tortoises, look at Mazuri, ZooMed Grassland or Lugarti tortoise pellets. Fluker’s tortoise pellets is a commonly found pellet at pet stores, although it may not be the best for a pet Russian tortoise. Rep-Cal tortoise pellet food is another pelleted diet that you’ll find at pet stores, but this is another that may not be the best for your tortoise.
How to Choose a Tortoise Pellet Food
When choosing a tortoise pellet for a Russian tortoise, check the guaranteed analysis and top ingredients.
Look for a pellet food that high in fiber, low in protein and low in fat. Always check the label, as the ingredients can change, altering the guaranteed analysis.
Guaranteed Analysis
Here is the current analysis for common tortoise pellets. Because the proteins, fats and fibers are listed in min and max percentages, the exact amounts can vary below or above the percentages.
| Mazuri | Mazuri L/S | Grassland | Lugarti | Fluker’s | |
| Crude protein (min) | 15.0% | 12.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 15.0% |
| Crude fat (min) | 3.0% | 4.0% | 2.0% | 2.7% | 3.0% |
| Crude fiber (max) | 18.0% | 18.0% | 26.0% | 32.0% | 18.0% |
| Moisture (max) | 12.5% | 12.0% | 13.0% | ||
| Ash (max) | 8.0% | 9.0% | 10.0% | 9.5% | |
| Calcium (min) | 0.9% | 1.0% | |||
| Calcium (max) | 1.3% | ||||
| Phosphorus (min) | 0.4% | 0.2% | |||
| Sodium (max) | 0.3% | 0.5% |
Top 5 Ingredients
It’s also important to take into account the top ingredients. Unfortunately, the top ingredients can be deceiving. For example, the original Mazuri does not have ideal, healthy ingredients, but it is one of the better pellet foods for tortoises.
| Mazuri | Mazuri L/S | Grassland | Lugarti | Fluker’s | |
| 1 | Ground soybean hull | Ground timothy hay | Suncured oat hay | Timothy hay | Soybean hulls |
| 2 | Ground corn | Ground soybean hulls | Suncured timothy hay | Rye grass | Corn |
| 3 | Dehulled soybean meal | Dehulled soybean meal | Soybean hulls | Oat hay | Oats |
| 4 | Ground oats | Dried plain beet pulp | Wheat middlings | Alfalfa hay | Wheat middlings |
| 5 | Wheat middlings | Oat hulls | Suncured alfalfa hay | Rice bran | Soybean Meal |
