Whether or not sulcata tortoises can eat spinach is a commonly asked question among sulcata keepers. Many people think they need to pull out each spinach leaf from a carton of spring mix. Others feel that a leaf here and there is fine.
Generally speaking, sulcata tortoises should have a diet primarily of grass, but greens can make up about 10-20% of a sulcata tortoise diet. For the most part, the greens offered should be leaves and weeds, but there are safe grocery store lettuces that you can feed a sulcata tortoise.
Darker lettuces, like kale and spinach, tend to be packed with the most nutrients, BUT darker lettuces also contain higher amounts of oxalates.
What are Oxalates?
The liver produces small amounts of oxalates, but when looking at the oxalates in greens, they are naturally occurring.
Oxalates are a natural substance in many foods that provide the plant protection against predators. Oxalates are an anti-nutrient that steals nutrients from the body once consumed. When eaten in small amounts, the body will flush out the oxalates. When consumed in large amounts, oxalates can become overly concentrated and crystallize.
Oxalates in excess can cause health problems in the kidneys or gallbladder. Oxalates can also interfere with iron and calcium absorption.
Spinach is among the many foods that are high in oxalates.
Benefits of Spinach
Spinach is usually not a popular lettuce to feed tortoises. You’ll find a lot of mixed opinions online and with breeders.
When fed in small amounts as a part of a varied diet, sulcata tortoises can eat spinach.
Spinach is Packed with Vitamins and Minerals
- Vitamin A: Spinach is high in carotenoids, which the body can turn into vitamin A, which promotes normal vision, a healthy immune system and healthy reproduction. It also helps promote healthy heart, lungs and kidneys.
- Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant that promotes skin and immune health.
- Vitamin K: Promotes Osteocalc production, which stabilizes calcium in bones
- Iron: Spinach is an excellent source of iron, which helps create hemoglobin, which brings oxygen to the body’s tissues.
- Calcium: Essential for bone health and a crucial signaling molecule for your nervous system, heart and muscles.
Spinach also contains potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, thiamine and vitamins K1, B6, B9 and E.
