What can baby tortoises eat?
James Craig
Published Jan 22, 2026
Tortoises like a variety of plant-based foods. Produce: Depending on the species of your tortoise, about 80% of your pet tortoise's daily diet should be fresh vegetables like kale, dandelions, mustard and collard greens. For fun, toss in a little green or yellow bell pepper, sweet potato, squash or cauliflower.
Can baby tortoises eat carrots?
Vegetables should be about 10-15% of the diet. These can include: grated raw carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, corn on the cob; greens such as collards, dandelions, escarole, romaine, kale.
What fruit can baby tortoises eat?
Fruit eating tortoises can eat melon, raspberries, blackberries and grapes. You can also offer sweet desert apple, in sliced small amounts.
How often do you feed a baby tortoise?
The general rule seems to be feeding at least once a day for babies and younger torts. You can also feed your tortoise every other day or even three times a week, but this all depends on your particular tortoise and the amount of nutrients in their meals.
Do baby tortoises eat lettuce?
Do not feed any greens, fruits or veggies to your tortoise that you would not eat yourself! All food should be thoroughly washed before offering it to your pet. The most important consideration in feeding a tortoise is to always offer a variety of greens, vegetables and fruits.
26 related questions foundCan baby tortoises eat cucumber?
Can Baby Tortoises Eat Cucumber? Young tortoises can be fed cucumbers, but only as an occasional treat. The bulk of a baby tortoise's diet should consist of leafy greens, such as collards, kales, and lettuce.
Can baby tortoises eat strawberries?
Both adult and baby tortoises can eat strawberries. However, they should be fed in moderation as when fed in excess they will cause loose stool and also may result in tortoise beak decay when fed regularly.
Can tortoise eat cucumber?
Cucumber can be offered to help with hydration, or prescribed medication can be hidden within it and offered to the tortoise as a tasty treat. The leaves and flowers of the Cucumber plant may be fed in small amounts to all species. Tortoises easily become addicted to store-bought diets so avoid long term use.
Do baby tortoises drink water?
Provide drinking water.
Be sure to provide your tortoise with a shallow bowl of water for drinking. Change the water regularly to keep it fresh. Don't be too alarmed if your tortoise doesn't seem to drink much.
Can baby tortoises eat spinach?
Your tortoise can have occasional small bits of spinach without trouble. You'll need to make sure that you don't give them too much, however, to prevent possible calcium absorption issues.
Can baby tortoise eat apple?
No, apples are not bad for your pet tortoise. Moreover, they have many benefits for your pet reptile: it is a fruit rich in antioxidants, fibers, vitamins, and minerals. It has a relatively low content in sugars and calories compared to other more “fattening” fruits.
What is poisonous to tortoises?
And some plants that are poisonous to your tortoise:
Lupins, Daffodils, Hydrangea, Lily of the valley, Foxglove, Mistletoe, Rhododendron, Narcissus, Rhubarb, Hellebores, Crocus, Bleeding heart, Ragwort, Azalea, Vinca, Hypericum, Peony, Lobelia, Aconite, Tobacco plant & Euphorbia's.
How do I feed my baby turtle?
Simply take your turtle and place it into a bowl of water and add 2 to 4 pellets of food to the water. Give your baby turtle some time to eat, about 20 minutes is enough time. Then simple put it back in its habitat. Be sure to scrub your hands with warm soapy water after handling your turtle.
Can tortoise eat iceberg lettuce?
Iceberg lettuce provides little nutrition and should be avoided entirely. Foods should be served on a dish or feeding platform to prevent ingestion of gravel or sand, which can cause gastrointestinal irritation or impaction. Many tortoises will eat foods that are not part of a healthy diet.
Can tortoises eat cooked veg?
You can feed cooked vegetables but it does reduce the nutrients slightly, generally things should be given raw or lightly cooked, but it won't hurt to feed cooked veg if you have leftovers that are listed below as safe that were going to go in the bin.
Can tortoise eat green beans?
Basic Vegetables
Use leafy greens such as spinach and cabbage along with peas, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes and bell peppers. Most hard vegetables are acceptable as tortoises like the crunch factor as they chew.
Can baby tortoises eat celery?
Is Celery Safe for Tortoises? Celery itself is not harmful to tortoises and they can eat them in small amounts.
How fast do baby tortoises grow?
Their growth rate will vary greatly based on their diet, enclosure, and environment. Healthy tortoises will reach seven inches at one year old and gain five to ten pounds each year. They are very slow growers and won't reach their adult size until 15 to 20 years old.
Can baby tortoises eat watermelon?
Can you feed a tortoise watermelon? Yes, you can feed watermelons and other fruits to tortoises. However, you should always consider the category of your tortoise before feeding the fruits. Some tortoises can eat fruits without issues while others can have health issues when they eat fruits.
Can tortoises eat raw broccoli?
Yes, broccoli is an excellent source of nutrition for tortoises. We highly recommend it as part of their regular diet. That said, turtles shouldn't overeat broccoli.
Can tortoises have blueberries?
Unless your tortoise is one of the fruit-eating species, the berries of this shrub should not be fed. The leaves of Blueberry are said to contain tannins and have some diuretic properties, so although a small amount in the diet would do no harm we don't recommend feeding the leaves in any quantity.
Can tortoises eat zucchini?
Courgette/zucchini can occasionally be fed to a tortoise if they like it, as long as it forms part of a varied diet. Since this vegetable lacks nutritional value, it should be fed in conjunction with other more nutritional vegetables.
Can tortoises eat pineapple?
Pineapple leaves are okay but should be fed rarely since they have bromelain that can cause the tortoises' mouth to swell. Tortoises can also eat canned pineapple, but it is advisable to feed fresh pineapple as it is more nutritious than canned pineapple.
Can tortoises have grapes?
Fruits are ideal treats for your tortoise. While you can feed them grapes, other great options include bananas, strawberries, apples, and pears. It's best to mix up the fruit that you give them so they can get different nutrients.
Can I feed my tortoise dandelions?
Dandelions are a firm favourite with tortoises, and although they can be quite high in oxalates (with the older leaves having the highest content), and they also have mild diuretic properties, it is perfectly safe to feed them as part of a wider, varied diet.