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Tortise Foods

Tortoise Food in the UK

Tortoises and tortoises are reptiles that live inside a natural shell that houses their internal body. They are popular animals to keep as pets due to their low maintenance and ease of movement.

Like any other pet, they require regular feeding and care to ensure a long and full life. An average pet tortoise can live for 30-50 years. Hence, they can become integral members of your family on a generational level.

Their longevity depends on the kind of tortoise food you feed them, the cleanliness of their habitat and how regularly you bathe them. If you can tick these boxes, your pet tortoise may even outlive you.

Here at Online Reptile Shop, we provide a variety of tortoise food in the UK. Our online collection is home to tortoise food rich in the vital minerals and vitamins your shelled companions need.

If you have a pet tortoise, we also cater to the needs of the tortoise’s aquatic cousins by providing you with tortoise food and care items.

We are your one-stop for all types of tortoise food. Look through our collections today.

Food List for Your Tortoise

Tortoises are primarily herbivores. Their meals should typically contain about 80% of vegetables. Their diet is predominantly vegetarian, but they can be occasionally fed proteins as well.

Fruits can also serve as tortoise food. However, it’s important to note that fruits are the equivalent of junk food to tortoises. Hence, fruits should only make up about 5% of its diet.

Examples of fruits your tortoise can eat are:

  • Melon

  • Kiwi

  • Oranges

  • Berries

A daily meal plan for a tortoise should consist of fresh vegetables like kale and collard greens. Furthermore, you can include flowers, weeds and grasses in their diet.

You can also share vegetables and fruits consumed by humans with your shell mate.

  • Cucumbers

  • Broccoli

  • Carrots

  • Parsnips

  • Potatoes

  • Pumpkins

Feeding is not exclusive to the inner body of your tortoise; their shells also need to be revitalised and healthy. Calcium plays a vital role in ensuring a strong shell and preventing bone diseases.

We sell zoo med tortoise food and supplements, which you can add or sprinkle on their conventional food to boost their shell growth and immune system. These are available in the form of cuttlefish bones or calcium blocks.

You can put the calcium blocks in the tortoise’s pen to serve as a snack for them to nibble on from time to time.

Best Way to Feed Your Tortoise

Keeping up with the nutritional needs of your tortoise can quickly get complicated. It’s best to buy food formulas that already have these nutrients in the best concentration.

A good example is T Rex tortoise food. Another formula that’s great for your pet tortoise is Komodo tortoise food. You can also mix fresh fruits and veggies while preparing the formula for your tortoise.

The best part is you can buy tortoise food from our online store. We stock both of the previously mentioned food formulas and many more.

Look through our collections to give your tortoise the diet it deserves.

Feeding Your tortoise

We don’t want to exclude the aquatic versions of pet tortoises. In contrast to their terrestrial buddies, tortoises are omnivores.

They live predominantly in a watery habitat and tend to be more active with their movement. However, you can’t entirely rely on feeding tortoise food to your tortoises.

From time to time, pour frozen fish food into their tanks. Furthermore, you can also use live worms and crickets as tortoise food. Due to their active nature, tortoises tend to enjoy hunting for their food as opposed to tortoises.

You can still feed tortoises with conventional vegetables similar to the ones used as tortoise food. Feeding vegetables to tortoises 3-4 times a week is ideal.

Tips to Feed and Clean Your Tortoise

As a general rule, you should feed your tortoise once a day, for 5 days. This means, in any given week, you have to implement 2 starve days. The starving days are important to make sure your tortoise's slow digestive system does its work.

When you buy tortoise food online, it’s important to measure out rations. Dry tortoise food shouldn’t measure more than the size of your tortoise’s shell. Other tips to know include:

Always Clear Away Leftover Foods

When your tortoise finishes eating food, make sure to clear out the leftovers as soon as possible. Removing leftovers reduces the risk of bacteria harbouring in its pen.

Frequency of Bathing

Bathe your tortoise at least 3-4 times a week. Regular baths prevent the accumulation of dirt on their shell.

Bits and pieces of tortoise food can hide in the crevasses of their shells and become breeding grounds for bacteria. During the drier seasons, you may have to bathe your tortoise daily to keep its dry skin hydrated.

Use Warm Water Only

Tortoises are cold-blooded reptiles. Hence, they need warm environments at all times. When you want to bathe your tortoise, it’s best to place it in a bath with lukewarm water. The ideal water temperature should range between 29-35 °C.

Use a Soft Toothbrush or Cotton Wool

After submerging your tortoise in a warm bath, make sure to use a material like cotton wool to clean and remove food particles. Alternatively, an unused, soft toothbrush can also work. The soft bristles won’t irritate your tortoise’s skin.

Do Not Use Soap

As strange as this may sound, don’t use soap to wash your tortoise. These chemical agents may prove harmful to your shell buddy.

Frequently Asked Questions on Tortoise Food

What Vegetables Can Tortoises Eat?

You can feed your tortoise vegetables, flowers, and greens that are especially rich in water. These include yellow bell pepper, kale, mustard, dandelions, mustard, collard greens, cauliflowers and sweet potatoes.

What Should I Not Feed my Tortoise?

Refrain from feeding your tortoise too many fruits as well as excess proteins and fats. A high protein diet can cause a tortoise to outgrow its shell and prove fatal.

Do Tortoises Need to Eat Every Day?

Tortoises that are in good health should eat five days every week. Tortoises do not usually eat every day during the colder months. During winter, they may not feed for weeks while they hibernate because their metabolism slows dramatically.

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