Tortoises love eating fruits and vegetables
It’s actually really good for them and should be included in their diets
Now a question tortoise owners may ask about a particular fruit is – Can Tortoises Eat Kiwi?
The answer to that is..
Yes! Tortoises do actually eat kiwis.
In the wild, fruit would normally make up a very minor amount of a tortoise’s diet.
However, they are opportunistic eaters, and kiwi is in no way toxic or dangerous.
Is Kiwi Good For Tortoises?
Fruit is sometimes described as junk food for tortoises, and in some situations, this description isn’t entirely incorrect.
Tortoises have trouble processing fruit sugars, which can lead to everything from minor stomach irritation to long-term health problems.
Tortoises do not require much nutrition, but they do benefit from eating fruits.
They also appreciate being fed insects.
Even animals that are known to eat fruit in the wild, such the Red and Yellow-footed Tortoises, shouldn’t really have more than 5% of their diet made up of fruit.
Kiwi is safe, and that is a crucial fact to remember.
But only occasionally, as a treat, should you give some to your tort!
The best way to feed kiwis to your tortoise
Kiwifruits are a type of berry that grows on vines.
They are usually green and yellow in color.
Kiwifruits are also known as “Chinese gooseberries.”
So how do you feed it to your tort?
Well,
Simply cut up the kiwi and give it to your tortoise to check if they enjoy it or not.
You shouldn’t be concerned at all because the skin and seeds are completely safe.
Tortoises love kiwis, but they shouldn’t eat too many because they aren’t good for them.
Kiwifruits contain high levels of vitamin C, which helps protect against heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Tortoises thrive when fed a diet rich in protein and fiber.
They require high levels of calcium to maintain strong bones and teeth.
Add vitamin D supplements if needed.
Try to mimic what your tortoise eats in the wild as closely as possible.
Tortoises live off vegetation, so they don’t have much trouble finding food.
So what should you feed your tortoise?
Let’s find out
What you should feed your tortoise?
Additionally, there are some excellent commercial feeds available that offer a fair selection of the nutrition that tortoises require, making it a little bit simpler to feed them and make sure they’re getting the proper nutrients.
Every day you should use a combination of commercial pallets, small fresh plant fragments, and, when available, tiny fresh fruit and vegetable fragments to bring some variety to your tortoise.
Tortoises eat a variety of plants and insects, so knowing what types of vegetation and bugs are native to your location is essential to feeding your pet properly.
The Mediterranean region’s tortoises are divided into two groups:
those who reside there and those who would have access to more fresh fruit in temperatures with more humidity.
The following are a few of the typical tortoise species that are frequently maintained as pets and require a lot of plants in their diets:
- African Sulcata
- Hermann’s tortoise
- Egyptian tortoise
- Horsfield’s (Russian) tortoise
- Indian Star tortoise
- Leopard tortoise
The following tortoises would consume certain fruits in the wild and profit from them in captivity and these include
- Yellow-Footed tortoise
- Red-Footed tortoise
- Elongated tortoises
The best recommendation I can give you if you have a species that isn’t on our list is to look at what they would consume in the wild.
Feeding your tortoise plants (List of safe plants they can eat)
Tortoises love plants and flowers, so you should find out what your pet likes and provide him or her with plenty of those.
The best thing about feeding plants is that you can simply produce a ton of tasty plants at home, and Sam may even be found in your yard or nearby.
Offering your hard-shelled companion any of the following plants should be safe for tortoises:
- Chicory
- Hibiscus
- Dandelions
- Plantain
- Chickweed
- Clover
- Aloe vera (can tortoise eat aloe vera?)
- Brambles (remove thorns)
- Forget-me-nots
- Mulberry
- Mustard leaves
- Evening primrose
- Dock leaves
List Of Veggies Your Tort Can Eat
Tortoises love vegetables because they provide a wide variety of nutrients.
Here’s a list of vegetables you can offer your tortoise
Whether your pet will love it or not is something you’ll find out!
- Broccoli
- Pumpkin
- Kale
- Collard greens
- Romaine lettuce
- Red cabbage
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Cauliflower
- Parsnip
Fruits for Your Tortoise to Eat
Given their high sugar content, fruits should only be consumed occasionally.
Nevertheless, certain tortoises adore particular fruits to the hilt.
In moderation, the following fruits are completely safe and delicious:
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Squashes
- Grapes
- Pear
- Apple
- Watermelon
- Peaches
- Figs
- Papaya
- Kiwi
- Cherries
- Banana
We know what you can feed your tortoise
But what’s important also is what you should avoid giving your tort
Let’s look at what you should avoid giving your tortoise
What you shouldn’t feed your tortoise
Tortoises are herbivores, meaning they eat only plant matter.
They do not consume meat, fish, eggs, dairy, or anything else that contains animal protein.
Always err on the side of caution if you’re not sure about something.
There are hardly many foods that you must avoid.
Here’s a list fruits, food and veggies you shouldn’t be giving to your tortoise
- Citrus fruits
- Chili Peppers
- Parts of nightshade plants
- Avocado
- Rhubarb
- Bread
- Yogurt
- Beans
Plants you should not give your tortoise
- Morning glories
- Tiger Lily
- Hydrangea
- Ivy/Poison Ivy
- Mistletoe
- Rhododendron
- Holly
- Azalea
- Buttercups
- Yew
- Foxglove
- Hemlock
- Bleeding Heart
Does the Redfoot Tortoise Eat Kiwi?
In South American tropical woods, redfoot tortoises are a natural species.
In their natural environment, they undoubtedly encounter a wide variety of fruits, including avocado, grapefruits, bananas, mangoes, and others, like grapefruits.
Although kiwi is usually not something they would encounter, it is still entirely safe for them to consume, so you might want to try a small slice.
The food that tortoises would scavenge in their native habitats would have an impact on the tiny variations in their diet.
Is Kiwi Safe for Russian Tortoises?
Russian tortoises, commonly known as Horsefields, have a diet in the wild that is almost completely made up of high-fiber, low-protein green vegetation, in contrast to red-foot tortoises.
Kiwis aren’t just good for snacking; they also contain nutrients that can improve your vision.
Although they are less accustomed to eating fruit, a small amount of kiwi every now and then won’t hurt.
Wrapping Up
Kiwis aren’t poisonous or hazardous in any manner in small amounts, but fruits in general aren’t bad for tortoises.
I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you should give your tort some kiwi or other fruit from time to time.
A modest amount shouldn’t have any negative effects on their health, which is crucial to remember.
