How Do Tortoises Get Their Food?

Tortoises (Testudinidae) belong to the class of reptiles in the animal kingdom of which more than 250 species exist under the order Chelonia. Like all turtles, a tortoise's natural environment and mode of mobility determines its diet. When tortoises are kept as companion pets or in zoos, they eat a commercial diet that mimics the nutrients in their natural habitat, along with fresh fruits and vegetables.

  1. Misconceptions

    • Unlike the hard back of the tortoise, some turtles have shells that are soft.

      The term "turtle" can include all turtles, but it generally refers to water turtles, which average a life span of about 70 years. Unlike the short, stumpy legs of the tortoise, turtles have webbed feet or fins because they spend the majority of their life in water. Instead of walking to forage for food, turtles swim and travel on the bottom of the body of water they inhabit, foraging on water plants and feeding on snails, fish and insects.

    Tortoise in Depth

    • The only place in the world tortoises do not inhabit is Antarctica.

      Tortoises have a life expectancy of up to 150 years and are equipped to spend their entire life on land. Protected by a hard shell, this family moves on stocky legs, grabbing and digging with strong claws, foraging for shrubs and foliage including cacti. Unlike the turtle, tortoises primarily feed on plants. Because tortoises live in primarily dry environments, they burrow under ground to stay cool in hot temperatures and to sleep safe from predators.

    Considerations

    • While tortoises may live near streams, they do not submerge themselves in water.

      Terrapins spend their life in both water and land, which makes them susceptible to being labeled a tortoise. This family of turtle has an extremely varied diet with lots of options during times of abundance or drought. Like the tortoise, they are omnivores that move on short, stubby legs, foraging for edible plants. However, like turtles, they can also feed on water plants, snails, worms and fish.

    How Pet Tortoises Eat

    • A tortoise's shell is part of its skeletal system that feels pain, too.

      Tortoises kept in domestic environments such as zoos depend on what their caretaker provides for them to eat. Many pet tortoises are fed a pellet diet that is species-fortified to meet their nutritional needs. Live foods such as crickets, grasshoppers, wax worms and meal worms are not necessary for tortoises because they are primarily plant eaters. Tortoises eat fresh vegetables such as leafy greens, carrot tops, yams and tomatoes, with melons and hibiscus flowers as treats. They also eat many other vegetables found at the local grocery store and produce aisle.