Temporary Indoor Housing for an Active Tortoise

GROWING FOOD

The tortoise is a vegetarian, but it is not practical to duplicate the wildflower diet of the wild tortoise and the average back yard does not provide an adequate diet. Therefore, you should make a con­scious effort to ensure proper nutrition from other sources, particularly for young tortoises.

Tortoises naturally forage, so providing growing food is important. Common Ber­muda grass is preferred. Tortoises usually do not eat hybrid Bermuda grass. Plant a patch of at least 9 square feet. Keep grass as short as you can without its burning. Long grass can cause choking. Transplant dandelions throughout the grass, as they are one of the most nutritious plants you can offer. The yard must be free of weed and pest killers. See Page ii for securing Information Sheet #13, Transplanting Dandelions and #19, Growing Dandelions from Seed.


Figure 23. Flowers are an important part
of the tortoise diet.

Ornamentals. Some of the ornamentals that tortoises eat include gazania, Mexican evening primrose, verbena, ivy geranium, hollyhock, rose petals, Hall’s honeysuckle, young grape leaves, desert willow flowers, petunia, and the young pads of spineless cactus, Opuntia ficus indica. Hefty cactus starts producing these young pads are available free from Tortoise Group. See Page ii for securing Information Sheet #12, Planting Prickly Pear and #21, Plants to Grow for Tortoises.

Poisonous plants include Chinaberry tree (Melia sp.) leaves and fruit, tomato plants, rhubarb leaves, and oleander.

MegaDiet

MegaDiet is Tortoise Group’s name for Zeigler Brothers’ tortoise diet mix. Using MegaDiet and growing food simplifies work, saves time, and provides a nutritionally complete diet. MegaDiet is an inexpensive, easy-to-use tortoise chow.


Figure 24. MegaDiet dry pellets require a
shady location during the day. Bring in
MegaDiet at night - cockroaches love it!

MegaDiet is not a supplement. It is a complete food formulated for tortoises by nutrition specialists at the Smithsonian Institution National Zoo. In addition to the growing plants we recommend, offering this all-in-one food ensures that your tortoise receives all the needed nutrients and fiber. With Mega­Diet, no vegetables are needed. Adding supplements can be harmful, not helpful.


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