Zoo database

Giant tortoises

Aldabrachelys gigantea/Chelonoidis niger

Natural diet Giant tortoises

Fruits
Grasses
Leaves

The natural diet of giant tortoises consists mainly of low-growing vegetation such as grasses, herbs, and shrubs. During the dry season, they may also consume cactus pads and fruits. They drink large amounts of water whenever available, but can go for long periods without water.

Feeding advice Giant tortoises

Feed quantity per day

2-5% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 200 kg and eats 5% of its body weight, it will get

200 x 0.05 = 10 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

10% Concentrates
90% Leafy and cabbage vegetables

Proportions (fresh product)

0.1 x 10 kg = 1000 g concentrates
0.9 x 10 kg = 9000 g leafy and cabbage vegetables

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Variety of other vegetables

Browse

Not recommended

Fruits

Sweet vegetables

Additional advice

Feed according to the “Feed quantity per day” for 2-3 times per week.
Feed high fiber products/ vegetables in the diet (read more about differences between vegetables).
Avoid high protein and fat in the diet, as it can cause the tortoise to outgrow its shell.
Tortoises require adequate calcium which can be supplemented through concentrates.
Feeding fruits might lead to might lead to gastro-intestinal disturbances because of the high sugar level and low fiber level in cultivated fruits compared to wild fruits (read more about nutritional values of (wild) fruits and vegetables).
Foraging behavior can be stimulated by dispersing the food throughout the enclosure (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

Metabolic bone disease
Respiratory disease
Shell softening
Obesity

Species within this group

Aldabra tortoises
Galapagos tortoise

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

DK Leaf-eater S

Reptilix Schildpad

Tortoise Diet

Testudo Adult herbs

Claudia van den Hoorn

Manager Customer Service & Sales Support