Please click on any of the above topics, or look in the dropdown sections for more information on Aldabra, and other tortoises.

What Can I Feed My Tortoise?

Non weed foods are good to give them as a TREAT and should not be a large part of their diet. This corn on the cob is great enrichment for them as they have to think about it rather than just munching on a dandelion one after another and it is very popular and accessible for all sizes!

Warning: If you are going foraging for food, for your tortoise, pick a clean source. Don't get them from right next to the road where debris had splashed up or somewhere that has had pesticides sprayed on it. It is recomended that you rinse the leaves off before giving them to your animal.

Tortoise friendly seeeds can be purchased on sites such as e-bay for you to grow in your own garden. Ribwort grown from seed has proved particularly popular with our animals of all sizes and breeds. And it has the added bonus that it enriches they lives, and saves you time, as they have to forage for themselves.

Get weeds and tortoise friendly plants growing in their pen. Zelda is munching on poppies, using muscles to stretch up and reach, with neck at full extention in a natural manor, rather than just getting a pile of food placed direclty in front of them. Poppies also have the bonus of looking bright and colourful when they flower and are good for the wildlife insects.

Grass, Dandelions and Clover are still favourites and form most of our Aldabras diet.

The smaller 'garden' tortoise probably wont eat as much grass but still love dandelions and clover.

Warning: please make sure that you identify a plant to make sure that it is safe to feed to your tortoise before you give it to them. Also routinely check their pen for what is naturally growing in there. You may not have planted it but natural pollination will still occur and it is better to be safe than sorry.

Recommended book, which will give you a good idea of what you are looking for and what not to feed them

There are other tortoise books available but we have foud this one useful.

Here are some of the plants that grow naturally in the uk and are suitable for all Aldabra, Sulcata and ‘Garden type' tortoises to eat.

Milk Thistle

It is a VERY spikey plant you will need cutters and thick gloves to harvest it but the tortoises love it, despite the spines.

Oxeye Daisy

Found in fields and hedge rows

Horseraddish

Usually found on embankments

Plantain

Easy to grow and good for the tortoises, it has medicial benefits, it is usually found in fields and verges.

Ox Tongue

Another Prickley plant

Buddleia

Grows to a tall bush to provide shade for the tortoises and they can eat it.

It also very popular with butterflies, so good for wildlife.

Mallow

Grows quite easily- just not where you want it to!

Stickyweed

It does what it says -you know you have the right plant when it sticks to your clothes and the dogs ears!

Dandelion

Everyones favourite

Broad Leaf Plantain

Apparently it tastes very good

Thistle

Another one you will need the clippers and thick gloves to harvest.

Elderflower

Can grow into a big tree if not kept under control but it does offer the tortosies good shade. They should not eat a lot of the berries but the birds will help with that before it becomes an issue and the tortoises can have the leaves. Regrows well when trimmed back. Thanks to seed dispersal they can be quite prolific.

Poppies

The Aldabras enjoy both species of poppies and they look bright and cheerful in the pen, offer shade, as well as being good for the insects.

There are many more plant species that you can feed your tortoises, these are just a few to get you started.

Uber Eats delivery for the tortoises!

(other food delivery companies are available!!)

Joke!

Where do tortoise criminals spend their time?
A: In a shell block.