Sulcata tortoises eat a lot and they require a varied diet to be healthy. Now, the majority of a sulcata tortoise diet should be grasses, but you can supplement with greens and lettuces. Instead of buying lettuce from the grocery store, buy organic lettuce seeds and plant them at home.
Arugula Seeds
Arugula, also called rucola and rocket, is a safe lettuce for tortoises. Although, arugula is a safe lettuce for sulcatas, it is a goitrogenic plant, so feed it in moderation with grasses, weeds and other plants. Arugula tolerates hot and dry conditions, making them easy to grow.
Buttercrunch Lettuce Seeds
Buttercrunch lettuce is a crispy lettuce that is easy to grow but slow to bolt. Buttercrunch lettuce is a great filler lettuce to keep your sulcata tortoise’s diet varied.
Escarole Seeds
Escarole is a safe lettuce for sulcata tortoises. It’s in the family with Endive and is a great moderation feed item for tortoises.
Frisee Seeds
Endive curly frisée is a healthy lettuce to feed to sulcata tortoises in moderation along with a varied diet. Frisée is a cool season crop and grows best with temperatures in the 60s.
Italian Dandelion Seeds
Italian dandelion is a type of chicory lettuce and is different than dandelion weeds. The leaves and flowers are great for sulcata tortoises because they are high in calcium, low in protein and phosphorous. Although, you do not want to feed the roots, as the roots are high in starch and sugars.
Kale Seeds
Kale is high in calcium and it contains half the oxalic acid of dandelions. Kale is safe for sulcata tortoises to eat, but you want to avoid feeding it with other lettuces that are high in goitrogens, like arugula, as it can interfere with iodine uptake, potentially causing thyroid problems.
Mustard Greens Seeds
Mustard greens are packed with fiber as well as vitamins K, A and C. Mustards also contain a lot of proteins. Where mustard greens are safe for sulcata tortoises to eat, you want to limit how much they eat. Mustard greens can still be a safe yet occasional additive to a varied diet.
Radicchio Seeds
Radicchio is a favorite among many sulcata tortoises. it has a crisp leaf and a bright purple color. Feed radicchio in moderation as a part of a varied diet.
Red Leaf Lettuce Seeds
Red leaf lettuce is also known as Lollo Rosso. It is a good filler green for sulcata tortoises, but you want to feed red leaf lettuce to tortoises in moderation. It is high in water, about 92.9%, making it a slight source of hydration in the hotter months. But, there are plenty of substitute weeds and greens that are more nutritious. Red leaf lettuce prefers cooler weather between 60-65-dregees.
Romaine Lettuce Seeds
Romaine lettuce is a great filler lettuce that is high in water. Romaine lettuce makes a better lettuce to feed sulcata tortoises when compared to iceberg lettuce. Romaine lettuce contains some amounts of vitamins A, C and E, as well as more calcium and fiber than iceberg lettuce.
