Tortoises are popular reptilian pets with a long lifespan and intricate shell patterns. They are described as the reptile version of a dog due to their inquisitive nature and interactive personalities. When it comes to taking the best possible care of your tortoise, diet is an important topic. The secret to keeping your tortoise healthy and happiness comes from the inside and choosing nutritional foods to feed your tortoise will result in better health status.
Some tortoise owners claim celery is a good food for them to eat but is it? According to our research, the answer is yes, but not really. It’s certainly not at the top of the list of things to feed your tortoise.
Is Celery Safe for Tortoises?
Celery itself is not harmful to tortoises and they can eat them in small amounts. The main issue with celery is that it has a strong taste many tortoises will not want to eat. It can also be tough to chew, and small tortoises may struggle to eat celery properly. This can also be a choking hazard so you should be sure you prepare it correctly before feeding it to your tortoise.
Celery is not toxic and is best fed alongside a varied diet full of nutritious veggies and fruit, so you do not have to worry about poisoning them if the tortoise does eat them.
Is Celery Safe for Russian Tortoises?
It is perfectly safe for Russian tortoises! However, it should be fed sparingly, and you should aim to mix the celery with other leafy greens. The leaves are more nutritious than the actual stalks of celery, but both components have high amounts of valuable fiber. Russian tortoises do best on a diet with different fruits, vegetables, insects, and Russian tortoise commercial pellets.
Tortoise Nutrition Info
Tortoises are omnivores and eat a diet of plants, insects, and calcium sources. The diet varies depending on the species of tortoise you are keeping, and it is important to determine the type of tortoise you keep before you begin feeding them certain foods.
Types of Tortoises That Can Eat Celery
All species of tortoise can eat celery. However, not every tortoise will take a liking to it. You can try feed it on its own to see if your tortoise would eat it, otherwise, they will most likely eat it if it’s chopped up into their daily salads.
It is important to know that some species of tortoises should not be fed too many vegetables as it is not the main aspect of their diet. Here is a list to help break down which tortoises can safely consume larger amounts of celery and which species should not.
How to Prepare Celery for Tortoises
Celery can be prepared at home so that your tortoise can safely eat it. The celery should be purchased from an organic store and not picked from a garden or unknown outdoor area as it can potentially contain harmful additives. These additives can be animal urine, pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals.
Conclusion
Celery can make a good snack for many species of tortoises. If it’s prepared properly and fed alongside a healthy diet your tortoise can benefit from the nutrients and fiber that celery contains. If you want to be extra careful, it is best to consult a reptile veterinarian before feeding your tortoise celery. You can also get direct proportion sizes according to the weight and age of your tortoise.
Featured Image Credit by McJapid, Pixabay
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