The Diet of the Red-Footed Tortoise

Red-footed tortoises are a popular turtle for beginning reptile keepers. They are an imported species from South America, but there are a growing number of red-footed tortoise breeders in the United States. An important part of learning to care for the red-footed tortoise appropriately is learning about its diet.

  1. Features

    • The diet of the red-footed tortoise is largely herbivorous. In the wild, red-footed tortoises are known to eat small amounts of animal matter in the from of carrion. When these tortoises are kept in captivity, they need a steady diet of fruit, vegetables, flowers, greens that are high in calcium and a very small amount of animal protein.

    Diet

    • Some greens that are good for red-footed tortoises include collard greens, mustard and dandelion, with watercress, romaine and kale mixed in for variety. Zucchini, mango, melon and grated carrots can make good treats, while most vegetable needs can be taken care of with a thawed frozen vegetable mix. Pinky mice or a high-quality dog food can be used to provide the tortoise with animal protein.

    Warnings

    • Do not feed a red-footed tortoise too many cruciferous vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli can cause a dietary deficiency if the tortoise consumes them too regularly. Similarly, spinach should only be fed to the red-footed tortoise once in a while, as it can leach calcium from the animal's body.

    Considerations

    • Tortoises need calcium in order to build up their bones and their carapace. This is especially important for younger animals as well as for the production of eggs. To ensure that your red-footed tortoise is getting enough calcium, dust its food with powdered calcium on a regular basis. Use calcium with vitamin D3 added to it if the tortoise is being kept in an indoor enclosure, but it is not necessary if it is being kept outdoors.

    Time Frame

    • Hatchlings need to be fed every day, and calcium should be sprinkled into their food every other day. At the age of one year, red-footed tortoises can be fed every other day and their food should have calcium in it two times a week. After they have turned two years old, they can be fed weekly and given a pinch of calcium whenever they are fed.