California Desert Tortoises

Feeding your California Desert Tortoise

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What they like to eat


  • Various types of sprouts (see below)
  • Apples (remember to remove the seeds as they are poisonous)
  • Banana
  • Broccoli
  • Beets
  • Cabbage
  • Cantaloupe
  • Carrots (cooked or shredded)
  • Corn
  • Cranberry
  • Dark leafy greens
  • Endive
  • Escarole
  • Grapes

  • Green Beans
  • Loquats
  • Mushrooms
  • Mustard Greens
  • Oranges- chopped and skinned
  • Peas
  • Pears
  • Potato- cooked
  • Rice- Cooked
  • Strawberry
  • Sweet Potato
  • Tofu
  • Turnip Greens
  • Zuccini

Edible Plants


  • Nasturtium
  • Prickly Pear Cactus Optunia Ficus-Indica
  • Creeping Charlie Pilea nummularlifolid
  • Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
  • Grapes
  • Aloe Vera Aloe barbadensis
  • Wandering Jew Callisia repens, Zebrina pendula

  • Hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
  • Roses
  • White Clover Trifolium repens
  • Dichondra Dichondra repens
  • Duck Weed
  • St. Augustine
  • Water Hyacinth
  • Strawberry

Sprouts

Sprouted seeds are high in essential vitamins and minerals. Sprouts are easy to grow and a tasty way to increase the intake of necessary vitamins and minerals.

For sprouting you will need a container to hold the sprouts in, a mason jar with a screen top is what I usually use. You can also use a gallon ziploc bag. You will need to punch holes in the bag with a sewing needle this will allow for proper drainage. The sprouts will need to be rinsed twice daily, allowed to drain and placed in a cool dark place to grow. When the sprouts are 3 to 5 days old they are ready to eat.

Tortoises are especially fond of the following sprouts:

The melon seeds are removed from musk melon, honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelon and dried in the sun. Mung Bean, Sunflower, Pinto and the melon seeds need to be soaked in water for 12 hours prior to the twice daily rinsing.

In order to encourage healthy eating habits offer a variety of these foods mixed well.



Water

Drinking and soaking water should be provided for adult tortoises at all times. This can be a shallow container such as a terra cotta saucer ( Like those used under flower pots, approximately 12"X2") that the tortoise can sit in and easily get out of. It is also, helpful if the water container is sunken into the ground. To drink the tortoise often emerses its mouth and nose, swallowing repeatedly for 5-10 minutes.

Tortoises often urinate after eating or drining. It is important to make sure the water dish and feeding area are cleared of any and all waste matter.



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Feeding your Tortoise / teddy@wonderland.com