Sulcatas should eat a diet of grasses and weeds. Greens, such as lettuces and plant leaves, can be offered as well, but in a smaller percentage. Cabbage falls in the greens category, and technically, tortoises can eat red, green and purple cabbage. However, you should limit how much cabbage your sulcata tortoise eats.
Cabbage containers goitrogens which in high levels can be toxic to tortoises, harming the thyroid glands and liver. Goitrogens can also cause kidney and bladder stones.
How Often Sulcata Tortoises Eat Cabbage
Along with plenty of grass and hay, you can offer cabbage about once a week. Avoid offering cabbage alongside spinach or other high-oxalate foods.
Nutritional Value of Cabbage
Cabbage is packed with vitamins and minerals, making it healthy lettuce. Below you will find the nutritional value of 100 grams of cabbage.
Nutrient | Value |
---|---|
Water | 92.18 g |
Protein | 1.28 g |
Dietary Fiber | 2.5g |
calcium | 40.00 mg |
Phosphorus | 26.00 mg |
sodium | 18.00 mg |
selenium | 0.3 mcg |
Choline | 10.7 mg |
Folate | 43.00 mcg |
Thiamine | 0.061 mg |
Niacin | 0.234 mg |
Riboflavin | 0.040 mg |
Vitamin A | 5.00 mcg |
Beta carotene | 42.00 mcg |
Vitamin B6 | 0.124 mg |
Vitamin C | 36.6 mg |
Vitamin E | 0.15 mg |
Vitamin K | 76.0 mcg |
Benefits of Feeding Cabbage to Tortoises
Although you do not want to feed cabbage more than once a week, sulcata tortoises can eat cabbage. There are several benefits to adding small amounts of cabbage to your sulcata’s diet.
Hydration
You should make sure to always have fresh water available, however your tortoise will get water from the foods it eats. A high percent of cabbage is water, so by offering cabbage to your sulcata, you can help keep your tortoise hydrated.
Fiber
Fiber is one of the most important aspects of a sulcata’s diet. Tortoises get energy from carbohydrates yielded from processing fiber. Fiber is also important to prevent diarrhea, which can cause dehydration.
Protein
Although protein is not typically a major aspect of a sulcata tortoise diet, sulcata’s do need protein. They do not need animal protein, so don’t offer your sulcata a chicken leg or a boiled egg. Sulcata’s are herbivores and consume their protein in plant form.
Proteins offer an energy source. However, it can cause issues when fed regularly. Digesting proteins can produce a lot of urea and uric acid, which require a lot of water to excrete.
Minerals
Cabbage is packed with a lot of minerals, which is important for the overall health. Two of the more important minerals for tortoises are calcium and phosphorus. Cabbage is a great green for a safe calcium to phosphorus ration.
Calcium helps to regular heart, ensure healthy muscle growth, ensure healthy shell growth and facilitate iron utiliazation.
Phosphorus helps facilitate shell and bone growth, healthy kidney function and transfer of genetic material.
Vitamins
Like minerals, vitamins play an essential role in overall health. Cabbage is a good source of vitamin A and Vitamin K.
Vitamin A promotes healthy skin, eyes and reproduction.
Vitamin K is important for blood coagulation.