Tortoises eat anything you put in front of them
But they can’t eat everything even when it comes to fruits
Question is – Can Tortoises Eat Raisins?
Raisins are completely fine to give to your tortoise but this should be done in moderation
However there are other fruits your tortoise should avoid
We explain how to feed your tortoise properly and keep him/her happy and healthy and what fruits you should avoid feeding
Do tortoises eat raisins?
Raisins are not natural foods that tortoises eat in the wild, so you shouldn’t give them too much at once.
If you do decide to feed them, limit yourself to only a few pieces per week.
Remember while eating fruits, like grapes, tortoises, like the Russian tortoise, can consume them; however, Mediterranean turtles cannot eat fruit.
In short – It’s best to give your tortoise raisins in moderation
So now that we have answered the question – Can tortoises eat raisins?
Let’s look at what you should avoid giving your tortoise
Which fruits shouldn’t you give your tortoises?
Tortoises do not eat citrus based fruits because they contain high levels of citric acid.
Citrus fruits cause digestive issues in tortoises.
Beyond citrus fruits, you need to be careful about how much fruit you give them, as too much sugar can lead to similar problems.
This is the case with raisins, bananas, apples, and other fruits high in sugar.
What kind of diet is good for tortoises?
Tortoises thrive on a variety of leafy green vegetables, such as kale, dandelion greens, collards, and chard.
They also love broccoli, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, and brussels sprouts.
Grapes should make up about 10% of their diet, while the rest should be a commercial turtle food.
Turtles should get access to commercial turtle food at all times.
They should also be fed grapes and vegetables about once per day.
Tortoises love these treats.
The best treats for your pet tortoise are fruit.
They love kiwi, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, oranges, apples, pears, peaches, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and other fruits.
These are great treats for your pet tortoise because they are nutritious and delicious.
Do remember to always give in moderation
What other popular treats have been used for tortoises?
Feed fruits to your tortoise.
They love grapes, bananas, strawberries, apples, and pears.
Mix up the types of fruit that you feed your tortoise.
Make sure that it does not exceed 10% of its total diet.
Too many fruits can cause your tortoise to consume too much sugar, which can negatively affect its digestive tract.
Avoid these foods when feeding your tortoise
Tortoises shouldn’t eat a wide variety of foods.
They do not require a lot of nutrition, so we only recommend feeding them a small amount of high quality food once per week.
Here are some of the most common problem foods that tortoises might consume.
Frozen vegetables
Tortoises love eating frozen veggies, especially peas.
But while this sounds great, it isn’t very nutritious because frozen vegetables contain fewer vitamins than fresh ones.
And since tortoises get full after eating, they aren’t getting enough nutrition to stay healthy.
Tortoises aren’t meant to eat only vegetables; they also require protein sources.
So, if your tortoise isn’t eating fresh produce, they’re not getting the nutrition they need.
Canned vegetables
Tortoises love fresh fruits and veggies.
They can eat some canned ones, but they really prefer fresh.
Another problem is they also have tons of sodium that your tortoise can’t handle
Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential for our bodies’ optimal function, but we know how much easier it would be if we just kept some around.
Dairy products
Tortoises are lactose intolerant which means they can’t process dairy which is why they will get sick if you do
Tortoises love milk just like humans do, so if you feed them dairy products, they will get very ill.
Giving them too much dairy can cause death, although even a small amount of dairy will make your tortoise feel terrible.
Celery
While celery won’t kill your tortoises, it’s a poor choice of vegetable to give them. celery provides your tortoise with little energy and too much sodium.
Furthermore, celery seeds can be a diuretic.
It’s a lose-lose-lose for tortoises, so choose a better food for them.
Bread
The problem with bread is everything that people put in it.
Bread contains preservatives which can actually harm your tortoise
More worse than that is bread can cause your tortoise to grow too quickly for their shell which can ultimately kill your tortoise
Keep your tortoise away from bread!
Wrapping Up
It’s okay to give your tortoise raisins. It’s not a problem
You just have to give in moderation
Too much can cause your tortoise to become sick
That goes with any fruits and vegetables
When deciding what fruits to give your tortoise, try mixing it up as much as possible to provide him with more nutrition and variety.
