Can Tortoises Eat Celery? – 5 Things to Know

Can Tortoises Eat Celery?

Can tortoises eat celery? The answer is yes! However, it’s not a good idea to feed celery to your pet tortoise on a daily basis. Instead, offer it once or twice a month or as a treat at special times. In addition, you should limit the amount of celery you give your tortoise. While it’s not harmful to tortoises, it’s not something they need daily.

Sulcata Tortoises / African Tortoises

Sulcata tortoises can be fed celery, but only the stalk. Providing this vegetable for your tortoise on a regular basis can improve its health.

However, you should avoid feeding your pet excessive amounts of celery because it contains oxalates, sodium, and carbohydrates.

Additionally, celery contains diuretic properties. Hence, it is best to limit the amount of celery your tortoise consumes to a few pieces a week.

You can also feed your pet with green vegetables. Sulcata tortoises can easily accept green vegetables as long as they are small-sized and not too fibrous.

Greens provide chlorophyll, which is essential for tortoises, but they do not require any additional sugar or water. You can mix carrots with greens if you want your tortoise to accept carrots.

A portion of celery a week can be served as a side dish or supplement. Celery is rich in sodium, which is good for tortoises that spend most of their time in the water.

If they spend most of their time on land, however, celery can be an effective addition to their diets. For added calcium, you can feed your tortoise celery three times a week.

Rainforest Tortoises

The answer is yes! Rainforest tortoises can eat celery, but it’s crucial that you prepare celery properly.

To make celery safe for your tortoise, buy it from an organic store and avoid picking it from an outdoor area where the soil might have harmful additives.

Wash celery thoroughly with warm water and remove any residue. You can also boil the celery to make it softer for tortoises. However, this method does not have to be applied to the softest parts of celery.

The stalk should be cut into small pieces and cooked to make it easier to swallow.

The stalk should be cut to the size of the tortoise’s head, as larger stalks may cause choking.

Before feeding celery to your tortoise, wash the leaves thoroughly from both sides. Offer the leaves whole or cut them into smaller pieces.

Celery is a good treat for your pet, but try not to feed it too often, or it may be difficult for your tortoise to eat the celery.

Celery is rich in minerals, including vitamin B, Vitamin B1 helps regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates, while vitamin B3 promotes energy. Vitamin B6 aids in the conversion of glycogen into antibodies.

Celery also contains trace amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K supports the functions of the immune system, skin, and mucous membrane. Beta carotene is also found in celery.

Russian Tortoises

Celery is an excellent snack for many species of Tortoises. However, celery must be cooked before being offered to a tortoise.

Celery is also not a daily food item because of its high sodium content. Generally, celery is served once a week. Some tortoises may not like it at first sight, so celery should be offered in moderation.

While celery is not harmful to tortoises, the leaves are best. It has high fiber content but is high in oxalate, which can block the absorption of calcium.

When consumed in excess, this substance can cause kidney stones, weak bones, and a chronic condition called MBD. To combat the adverse effects of low calcium levels, you can add supplemental calcium to your tortoise’s diet.

Nonetheless, celery cannot fulfil the needs of a tortoise when it comes to calcium.

Celery contains numerous vitamins for humans and animals. It contains beta carotene, which your tortoise can convert into vitamin A when consumed in the proper amounts. Vitamin A from celery can aid the immune system, maintain the mucous membrane, and restore eye-sight.

In addition to vitamin A, celery also contains various micronutrients, including calcium and magnesium. A good quality diet is the foundation of a healthy body.