Diet, Habitat, and Health Tips for Pet Tortoises
A BEGINNER'S CARE GUIDE
HELPING TORTOISES THRIVE
This guide provides general care information for tortoises, with particular relevance to Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassezii) and Mediterranean species such as the Greek Tortoise (Testudo graeca), Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni), Marginated Tortoise (Testudo marginata), and Russian Tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii).
Before caring for any tortoise, always confirm the exact husbandry requirements for your specific species, as needs can vary significantly.
Diet
Just like in people, nutrition plays a crucial role in a tortoise’s health. The majority of health problems in pet tortoises are caused by poor nutrition, most often due to excessive protein and carbohydrates combined with calcium deficiency.
A healthy diet should consist mostly of natural weeds, flowers, and grasses, not just store-bought greens. While most tortoises love dandelions, feeding too many can act as a diuretic and lead to bladder stones. The best practice is to offer a variety of greens. Additionally, dusting meals with a calcium supplement can be especially important in young, growing tortoises and gravid females. Provide clean, fresh water daily and soak your tortoise as appropriate for the species. For instance, it is often surprising to many people that Desert Tortoises need higher humidity because they naturally live in underground burrows. Regular soaking is an easy way for them to maintain proper hydration.
Suitable Plants and Weeds
Ensure wild collected plants are free of pesticides.
Greens: Collards, kale, and turnip greens, alfalfa sprouts, beet greens, romaine and endive lettuce, and chicory
Other plants which are easy to cultivate: turtle vine (creeping inch, Callisia sp.), mother of thousands (Kalanchoe sp.)
Weeds: Clover, dandelion, milk thistle, sow thistle, desert globemallow and plantain weed
Vegetables: Carrots, squash, pumpkin, snap pea pods and cauliflower (in moderation)
Flowers: Hibiscus, marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis), cornflower and nasturtium petals are safe and nutritious.
Grasses: Timothy, bermuda, orchard grass hay and other lawn grasses (not clippings) provide essential roughage.
Cactus: Opuntia cactus pads and flowers (high in water content) for Desert Tortoises
Other Plants: Mulberry and grapevine leaves are also suitable.
Note: This list is not exhaustive but provides a good starting point for a healthy, natural diet.
Foods to Limit — “Tortoise Junk Food”
Like people, tortoises often prefer the least healthy foods! These can be offered occasionally as treats but should not make up a regular part of the diet:
Cabbage, Broccoli, Beans, Spinach, Iceberg or Romain Lettuce, Corn, Fruits (strawberries, apples, sweet peppers), Tomatoes, Cucumbers
Foods that add water content only: cucumber, tomatoes, and iceberg lettuce.
Commercial Pellets
Commercial tortoise pellets can be a helpful dietary supplement—if they’re high quality. It is also sometimes more difficult to get tortoises to accept pellets.
Tips to help your tortoise accept pellets: Soak the pellets in water before feeding and mix them with your tortoise’s usual foods. Pro tip: Soaking the pellets in hibiscus tea or hibiscus-infused water for 3–5 minutes can make them much more appealing.
Up to 80% of a tortoise’s diet can consist of high-quality, low-protein pellets supplemented with grasses, weeds, and flowers.
Always check the guaranteed analysis on the label (Dry matter basis). A good pellet should list a proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and provide complete information on nutrients.
Avoid brands without transparent nutritional information.
Dos and Don’ts of Tortoise Care
Do:
- Provide calcium carbonate supplements regularly especially to young, growing tortoises and gravid females.
- Create an enriched indoor and outdoor environment with space to explore.
- Use UVB/heat lamps to replicate natural light when necessary.
- Ensure all plants and weeds are free of pesticides and fertilizers.
- Schedule a veterinary check-up at least once a year.
- Research whether your species hibernates and consult a veterinarian before doing so. (See our separate guide on tortoise hibernation.)
- Offer fresh drinking and bathing water daily.
Don’t:
- Overfeed: one meal a day or free grazing is plenty.
- Feed only “junk food” items.
- Keep your tortoise indoors year-round. Provide outdoor time with natural sunlight.
- Don’t use hay or straw bedding since it can become moldy with moisture, use shredded paper or dry leaves instead.
- Oil, polish, paint, or drill into the shell (it’s harmful and painful for the tortoise)
Equipment and Enclosure Setup
Provide an environment that encourages natural behavior and maintains proper temperature and humidity.
Essential equipment and features:
- Provide a thermal gradient in your enclosure with a basking area so there are cool and hot zones.
- Give hiding areas, edible plants, ideally habitat items similar to their natural environment to provide environmental enrichment, ventilation.
- Natural substrates to allow for natural behaviors like digging
- Regular cleaning to prevent illness
- Lighting: Basking bulb with emitting UVB units
- Temperature control: Dimming thermostat and thermometer
- Optional: Small heat mat for cooler conditions
A well-cared-for tortoise can live for many decades! With a balanced diet, proper environment, and regular veterinary care, your tortoise will thrive for a lifetime.