Because sulcatas are native to the grasslands of Africa, you wouldn’t typically think to offer seaweed. But, sulcata tortoises can eat seaweed. It can actually be a healthy addition to your tortoise’s varied diet.
Feeding the rainbow is a huge benefit to your sulcata tortoise, especially if the rainbow includes all the shades of green. Sulcatas don’t need the orange carrots, red strawberries or purple eggplants. But, sulcata tortoises need a varied diet of grasses, weeds and greens.
Seaweed can be a small percent of the greens you can offer. With the high salt content, you’ll want to limit the amount of seaweed your tortoise eats.
Nutritional Benefits of Seaweed for Tortoise
Seaweed is packed with calcium, protein, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, iodine, sodium, zinc, potassium, fibers and vitamins A, C, K and B.
Adding a pinch of seaweed to your sulcata tortoise’s diet once in a while can add variety and micronutrients that may be lacking in your tortoise’s diet.
How to Feed Sulcata Seaweed?
You can buy organic seaweed flakes or seaweed leaves for your tortoise. When offering dried seaweed, treat it like other dried leaves and weeds. Soak it in water to rehydrate it. Then sprinkle it on Mazuri, Zoo Med Grassland, hay pellets or a plate of fresh greens and grasses.
You can offer tortoises a pinch of seaweed about once a week.
You may find sulcata tortoises will eat seaweed first before going after the other items you’re serving for dinner.
