Maintain a varied diet when feeding and a Russian tortoise. A varied diet is key to health and nutrition…
You hear this everywhere. However, not all foods create good nutrition for Russian tortoises, and you shouldn’t feed all types of foods to tortoises. Russian tortoises should eat primarily broadleaf weeds, greens and grasses. You can add a vegetable once in a while. However you want to avoid feeding fruits to Russian tortoises. Russian tortoises should not eat fruit.
There are plenty of tortoise species that do and should eat fruit, like the forest tortoise species (Red footed tortoises, yellow footed tortoises, Manouria tortoises and hingeback tortoises). Russian tortoises are a Mediterranean species that requires high fiber, low protein and low sugar. Fruits just are not on the menu for a Russian tortoise.
When Can I Offer My Russian Tortoise Fruit?
That said… A bite of fruit here and there will not kill your tortoise. You can actually disguise medication in a sliver of strawberry if your tortoise has been prescribed medicine from the vet.
You can feed your Russian tortoise the greens associated with many fruits. For example, the tops of strawberries are a good green food for Russian tortoises.
Why Shouldn’t I Give My Russian Tortoise Fruit?
Fruit is very sugary. In large amounts, it can cause severe digestive tract upset, like diarrhea. Large amounts of fruit can actually encourage parasites, like flagellates, in the digestive tract. Fruits can even cause a pH imbalance in the gut.
Too much fruits can even cause kidney problems in a Russian tortoise.
Safe Treats for Russian Tortoise
Instead of fruits, offer your tortoise flowers as a safe treat. There are plenty of flowers that Russian tortoises can eat.
- California Poppy
- Chamomile
- Chinese lantern
- Chrysanthemum
- Day Lilies
- English Daisy
- Evening primrose
- Geranium
- Hibiscus
- Hosta
- Mallow flowers (and leaves)
- Marigold
- Pansy
- Petunia
- Roses
- Violets
- Welsh Poppy
You can even offer spineless cactus as a great treat.
