The Redfoot tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria) is a popular pet known for its vibrant colors, manageable size, and engaging personality. Native to the tropical forests of South America and some Caribbean islands, these omnivorous tortoises require a carefully balanced diet to thrive in captivity. This guide provides comprehensive information on creating an optimal diet for your Redfoot tortoise, covering essential nutrients, appropriate food choices, and supplementation.
Understanding the Redfoot Tortoise's Natural Diet
Redfoot tortoises are scavengers by nature, inhabiting tropical forests with high humidity and plentiful rainfall. Their wild diet is highly varied, consisting of approximately 90% plant matter and 10% animal matter. This includes fruits, flowers, leaves, grasses, vegetables, proteins, and mushrooms. Their adaptability allows them to consume a wide range of food sources, including carrion, which is one reason they consume more water than desert species.
Key Dietary Components
A balanced diet for a Redfoot tortoise should consist of the following:
- 55% Fruits, Flowers, and Leaves: These provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- 35% Grasses and Vegetables: These offer fiber and additional nutrients.
- 10% Proteins and Mushrooms: These are crucial for growth and overall health, especially for younger tortoises.
Recommended Food Choices
Fruits, Flowers, and Leaves
- Apples
- Bananas
- Berries
- Cactus pads and fruit
- Figs
- Mangoes
- Melons
- Papaya
- Tomatoes
- Collard greens
- Dandelion greens and flowers
- Grape leaves
- Hibiscus leaves and flowers
- Kale
- Romaine lettuce (in moderation)
- Spring mix
- Turnip greens
Grasses and Vegetables
- Hay
- Mazuri Tortoise Diet
- Repashy Grassland Grazer
- Arcadia Optimized52
- Bell peppers
- Carrots
- Peas
- Squash
- Sweet potato
Proteins
- Bloodworms
- Chicks (pre-killed)
- Darkling beetles
- Discoid roaches
- Dubia roaches
- Earthworms
- Eggs (hard-boiled)
- Grasshoppers/locusts
- Hornworms
- Mice (pre-killed)
- Mealworms
- Mushrooms (edible)
- Silkworms
- Snails (captive-bred only)
- Superworms
- Wet cat food
- Reptilinks (omnivore blends)
- Arcadia OmniGold
Feeding Schedule and Quantity
Young, growing Redfoot tortoises should be fed as much as they can eat daily. As they approach adulthood, reduce the frequency to every other day to prevent obesity.
Foods to Avoid or Limit
- Iceberg Lettuce and Head Lettuces: These contain very few vitamins and minerals.
- Spinach: Feed sparingly due to oxalates that bind dietary calcium.
- Cruciferous Vegetables (Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts): Offer in small amounts as they contain iodine binders that can cause deficiencies.
- Grains and Grain-Based Diets: Avoid due to their acidifying effect, high phytate content, and potential impact on calcium metabolism.
- Toxic Plants: Ensure that any plants in the enclosure are non-toxic. A useful resource is The Tortoise Table, which provides information on safe plants.
Importance of Variety
The key to a balanced diet for Redfoot tortoises is variety. They enjoy a diverse diet in the wild, so providing as many different kinds of foods as possible is essential.
Read also: Feeding Aldabra Tortoises
Supplements
- Calcium: Supplement the diet with calcium powder, especially for young tortoises. Sprinkle calcium powder with Vitamins for Herbivores over their food. A cuttlebone should also be available in the enclosure.
- Multivitamins: Use a multivitamin supplement, such as Reptivite, 2-3 times weekly.
- Repashy Superveggie: Sprinkle food with this supplement powder to ensure they receive the right nutrients.
- Probiotics: Consider using probiotics to support healthy gut flora.
- Hibiscus Flowers (Roselle) and Cactus Powder (Opuntia): These can be beneficial additions to the diet.
Water and Hydration
Water is crucial for all animals, and Redfoot tortoises are no exception. Provide a shallow dish of clean water that the tortoise can easily enter and exit. This dish should be cleaned and disinfected daily, especially after the tortoise defecates in it. Soaking the tortoise in shallow, warm water for 15-30 minutes 2-3 times a week can also help maintain hydration.
Enclosure and Feeding Environment
- Food Presentation: Always offer food on a plate or tray to prevent the tortoise from ingesting substrate.
- Outdoor Enclosures: Plant edible shrubs and plants in the enclosure to provide shade, shelter, and food.
- Indoor Enclosures: Remove droppings daily and replace substrates 1-2 times monthly. Disinfect the enclosure monthly with a dilute bleach solution, rinsing thoroughly afterward.
Considerations for Captive-Bred vs. Wild-Caught Tortoises
Captive-bred Redfoot tortoises are generally smaller than their wild counterparts and may exhibit pronounced scutes on their carapace. Wild-caught tortoises tend to be larger with smoother carapaces. Regardless of their origin, providing a varied and nutritious diet is essential for their health and well-being.
Specific Dietary Recommendations
- Protein Sources: Adult Red Foot tortoises are often fed protein including hard boiled eggs, even pinkie mice, as they do need a higher protein level then most species of tortoise once they are larger.
- Pelleted Foods: Supplement your tortoise’s diet with pelleted foods such as Mazuri tortoise diet for Red-footed tortoises or Zoo Med Natural Forest Tortoise Food.
- Calcium Supplementation: Red-footed tortoises need their diet regularly supplemented with appropriate vitamins and minerals. A calcium carbonate powder such as ReptiCal should be put on their food 2-3 times weekly.
Read also: Feeding Your Tortoise: A Complete Guide
Read also: Feeding Your Desert Tortoise