Tortoise food
Tortoise food needs to match the species — most pet tortoises are herbivorous grazers that do best on a high-fibre, low-protein diet based on leafy weeds and a smaller amount of a proper tortoise pellet, rather than the fruit-heavy diet many new owners assume is correct.
What most pet tortoises actually need
Most tortoises commonly kept as pets in the UK, including Mediterranean species such as Hermann's and spur-thighed tortoises, are grazing herbivores that in the wild eat mostly weeds and flowers rather than fruit or vegetables from a supermarket shelf. A high-fibre, relatively low-protein, low-sugar diet reflects that far better than a bowl of chopped fruit.
Species does matter here — a tropical or omnivorous tortoise species has different needs to a Mediterranean grazer, so it is worth knowing exactly what species you have before settling on a feeding routine, rather than assuming all tortoises eat the same way.
Where pellets and supplements fit in
A good-quality commercial tortoise pellet, rehydrated as directed, is a useful way to fill in nutritional gaps that fresh weeds and plants alone do not always cover, particularly outside the summer months when good grazing is harder to come by.
A calcium supplement, often with added vitamin D3, is important for shell and bone health and is typically dusted onto food a few times a week rather than given daily. Getting the balance right matters, and a vet with reptile experience or a specialist source is worth consulting if you are unsure.
Common mistakes worth avoiding
Fruit is one of the most common mistakes — many new owners offer it generously because tortoises often enjoy the taste, but it is far higher in sugar than a tortoise's digestive system is built for and should be an occasional treat at most, not a regular feature.
Feeding the same one or two plants repeatedly, rather than a genuine variety of safe weeds and leaves, is another common gap. Variety matters for a herbivorous grazer in the same way it does for any animal whose diet in the wild would naturally include dozens of different plants.
From the range
The tortoise pellets and calcium supplements shown here are chosen to support a herbivorous grazing diet, used alongside fresh weeds and leafy plants rather than as a complete replacement for them.
If you are setting up a diet for a tortoise for the first time, or are unsure of the exact species you have, it is worth checking with a specialist source or an exotics-experienced vet before settling on a routine, since getting it wrong early on affects shell and bone development.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Tetra Reptomin Sticks
Complete Tetra ReptoMin dry sticks for water turtles, with calcium and phosphorus
£4.98
Tetra ReptoMin
Floating stick food for water turtles, with 39% protein and added calcium for shell growth
£9.06
Supa Turtle Food Super
A freeze-dried shrimp and tubifex food for turtles, alongside fresh food
From£5.99
Komodo Tortoise Food Dandelion
A complete holistic tortoise diet in dandelion flavour, high in fibre
From£7.29
Komodo Tortoise Food Fruit Flower Flavour
A fruit and flower flavoured tortoise diet, high in fibre with a calcium-forward mineral ratio
From£7.29
Komodo Aspen Bed Terrain
A 6-litre aspen bedding for snakes, built to hold its shape when burrowed into
£6.79
Komodo Habitat Moss
1.5L of ready-hydrated natural sphagnum moss for reptile humidity and shedding
From£7.29
Komodo Ceramic Lamp & Bracket
A ceramic lamp holder and mounting bracket for bulbs up to 200w, 172cm cable
£24.99
Exo Terra Intense Basking Spot
A focused-beam basking bulb for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, in a range of wattages
From£9.39
Exo Terra Infrared Basking Spot
A red-glass infrared heat bulb that can run overnight without disturbing a reptile
From£11.39
Hagen Exo Terra Daylight Basking Spot
A broad-spectrum daylight basking bulb, providing heat and light for a terrarium
From£8.39
Common questions
- Can tortoises eat fruit?
- Only occasionally and in small amounts for most Mediterranean species. Fruit is much higher in sugar than the weeds and plants tortoises naturally graze on, and a diet too heavy in fruit can cause digestive and health problems over time.
- Do tortoises need a calcium supplement?
- Most do, particularly those kept indoors or without regular natural sunlight, since calcium and vitamin D3 are important for healthy shell and bone growth. It is typically dusted onto food a few times a week rather than given every day.
- What weeds can I feed my tortoise?
- Common safe options for Mediterranean species include dandelion, plantain, clover and sow thistle, offered as a varied mix rather than the same one or two plants repeatedly. Always make sure anything picked has not been treated with pesticides or weedkillers.
- How do I know what species of tortoise I have?
- If you are unsure, a specialist reptile source or an exotics-experienced vet can help identify the species from appearance and origin. Getting this right matters because different tortoise species have genuinely different dietary and environmental needs.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.