Russian tortoises require a varied diet of weeds, leaves and flowers to be healthy. You want to feed high-fiber greens and broadleaf weeds. But, instead of buying safe greens from the grocery store every week, buy organic lettuce seeds and plant them at home.
Arugula Seeds
Arugula, also called rucola and rocket, is a safe lettuce for tortoises. Although, arugula is a safe lettuce for Russian tortoises, it is a goitrogenic plant, so feed it in moderation with weeds and other plants. Arugula tolerates hot and dry conditions, making them easy to grow.
Buttercrunch Lettuce Seeds
Buttercrunch lettuce is a crispy lettuce that is easy to grow but slow to bolt. Buttercrunch lettuce is a great filler lettuce to keep your tortoise’s diet varied.
Escarole Seeds
Escarole is a safe lettuce for Russian tortoises. It’s in the family with Endive and is a great moderation feed item for tortoises.
Frisee Seeds
Endive curly frisée is a healthy lettuce to feed to Russian tortoises in moderation along with a varied diet. Frisée is a cool season crop and grows best with temperatures in the 60s.
Italian Dandelion Seeds
Italian dandelion is a type of chicory lettuce and is different than dandelion weeds. The leaves and flowers are great for Russian tortoises because they are high in calcium, low in protein and phosphorous. Although, you do not want to feed the roots, as the roots are high in starch and sugars.
Kale Seeds
Kale is high in calcium and it contains half the oxalic acid of dandelions. Kale is safe for tortoises to eat, but you want to avoid feeding it with other lettuces that are high in goitrogens, like arugula, as it can interfere with iodine uptake, potentially causing thyroid problems.
Mustard Greens Seeds
Mustard greens are packed with fiber as well as vitamins K, A and C. Mustards also contain a lot of proteins. Where mustard greens are safe for Russian tortoises to eat, you want to limit how much they eat. Mustard greens can still be a safe when offered as an occasional additive.
Radicchio Seeds
Radicchio is a favorite among many tortoises. it has a crisp leaf and a bright purple color. Feed radicchio in moderation.
Red Leaf Lettuce Seeds
Red leaf lettuce is also known as Lollo Rosso. It is a good filler lettuce for Russian tortoises, but you want to feed red leaf lettuce to tortoises in moderation. It is high in water, about 92.9%, making it a slight source of hydration in the hotter months. But, there are plenty of other weeds and greens that are more nutritious. Red leaf lettuce prefers cooler weather between 60-65-dregees.
Romaine Lettuce Seeds
Romaine lettuce is a great filler lettuce that is high in water. Romaine lettuce makes a better lettuce to feed Russian tortoises when compared to iceberg lettuce. Romaine lettuce contains some amounts of vitamins A, C and E, as well as more calcium and fiber than iceberg lettuce. Romaine lettuce is great to feed in the hotter months to ensure hydration, but it isn’t the best staple food as it is less nutritious when compared to other lettuces. It’s only a step above iceberg lettuce.
