It is crucial to give your Horsefield the correct food and nutrients. This and housing are the two biggest factors that will contribute to your pets health and success. I have added below a buyers guide of the best food, seeds and vitamins you can buy online as well as a list of food to give him and what you need to avoid.
Food & Diet Information
Review the information below for best practices!
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Ultimate Diet Buyer Guide
Product Description Click For Price Zoo Med Grassland Natural Tortoise Food
#1 Best bet for food because it is specifically designed for the Horsefield tortoise and its Testudo Genus. It's formulated just for them with the correct vitamins, minerals and fiber. All natural with no artificial colors or preservatives and mainly consists of their favorite, Dandelion and Yucca. 
Komodo Dandelion Flavour Food
I recommend this because Dandelion is one of their top favorites and Komodo is a trusted provider. It receives 4 stars because although it is a excellent food source, you need many different types of food including fresh. A big heath secret for them is having as many different types of food as possible. Add this to your food arsenal! ProRep Tortoise Feed Growing Kit
A large part of their diet needs to be locally grown plants, flowers and shrubs so this is the perfect kit to do so. Grow as large of variety as you can to feed them with. Zoo Med Tortoise Calcium Block
This block ensures your tortoise gets their required calcium (they need a lot). Place this block in the pen and let your tortoise chew on it. In addition to calcium, this block keeps their beck from over growing and provides a great source of vegetables and cactus!
Horsefield Tortoise Food list
| Food List | ||
|---|---|---|
| Endive | Henbit | Kale |
| Escarole | Chrysanthemum flowers | Collard greens |
| Grass (Bermuda, Rye, Alfalfa, Blue grass, Fescue) | White (Dutch) clover | Turnip greens |
| Radicchio | Rose leaves and pedals | Pear cactus, feed him the pads (called nopales) |
| Green leaf lettuce | Sow thistle | Aloe vera |
| Chicory | Plantains | Artichoke |
| Pumpkin | Clover | Celery |
| Hibiscus flower and leaf | Plantagos | Cucumber |
| Hosta | Wild Mustard greens | Sweet peppers |
| Sedum | Most broad leaf weeds | Violet |
| Mulberry leaves | Grape leaves | Watercress |
| Dandelion (one of their favorite!) | Japanese waxleaf | Mazuri Tortoise Diet ® (exception to the pellet rule) |
| Mallow | Ficus leaves |
Use Sparingly:
| Sparingly Food List | ||
|---|---|---|
| Romaine lettuce | Chard | Shredded sweet potatoes |
| Red leaf lettuce | Shredded carrot & top | Shredded beets and tops |
| Cabbage | Zucchini/ Squash | Okra |
| Spinach | Bell peppers | |
| Bok Choy | Broccoli |
Fruit:
Feed him fruit on occasion, around once or twice a week. Keep it sparingly because excessive amounts will cause diarrhea, parasites and colic. Consider it a sweet treat; you don’t want to feed him candy all day long!
| Fruit Food List | ||
|---|---|---|
| Strawberries | Pears | Watermelon |
| Tomatoes | Berries | Banana |
| Apples | Prickly pear cactus apples | Papaya |
Supplements – Cuttlefish Bone:
This bone helps to add calcium to their diet.
You can either leave a bone in his housing and have him self regulate how much calcium he needs or scape some off into a edible powder over his food using a knife.
If the bone is left in his housing it will also serve to wear down his beak. This can help if your pet is using his sharp beak too much of his surroundings including other tortoises. They can be purchased at a reptile pet supply store.
What to Avoid
There are many consequences, including death, if a proper diet is not implemented correctly. Health signs include scute pyramiding due to over feeding or high protein. The tragedy of poor health, low quality of life and early death can be prevented you make sure to know what is harmful to your Horsefield tortoise.
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Over Feeding
Especially if you are keeping your pet indoors because they get less exercise and hibernate less. They can overeat and not live as long.
Unnatural
Food that has been sprayed with pesticides or in large grocery stores as it contains less nutritional value. Using grocery stores is okay in moderation but do not solely rely on this as your only source of food. Always buy or grow organic if possible.
Pelleted Food
This does not sit well with Horsefield tortoises and this is something they would never encounter in the wild so it needs to be avoided. Untrained employees at large generic pet stores could unknowingly suggest types of pelleted food. This includes any pelleted food such as dog or cat food.
Excessive Protein
types of meat or any other high protein foods need to be avoided. The Horsefield tortoise is an herbivore and not a carnivore. They will eat meat if you give it to them so be sure to keep any meat out of his housing. Protein is important for a Horsefield tortoise but excessive protein can be damaging.
- Any meat (protein)
- Peas (protein)
- Beans (protein)
- Any animal meat (protein)
- Iceberg lettuce (no nutrients)
- Head lettuces (no nutrients)
- Cat or dog food (pellets)
- Any commercial dried food
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Excessive fruit
- Melons (excessive moisture)