Can Tortoises Eat Cauliflower? Vet-Reviewed Nutritional Science & Info

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Reviewed & fact-checked by

Dr. Luqman Javed

DVM (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Tortoises have a diet that consists almost entirely of leafy greens, vegetables, and fruit, which means you’re always looking for ways to mix things up for them. But while you’re looking for ways to make their meals less boring, that doesn’t mean you can feed them every vegetable out there.

In fact, while cauliflower might seem like the perfect vegetable to treat it with, the truth is that you should not feed your tortoise too much cauliflower. But why is this the case, and what should you feed your tortoise instead? We’ll answer those questions and more for you here.

Why You Shouldn’t Feed Cauliflower to Tortoises

While cauliflower might seem like the perfect treat for your pet tortoise, this simply isn’t the case. It is best to assess cauliflower by taking a closer look at its nutritional yield. ¹

One of the primary problems with cauliflower is the relatively low amount of calcium when compared to phosphorus. This interaction is important because phosphorus binds to calcium within your pet’s body. In essence, this means that consuming more phosphorus than calcium requires your pet’s body to release stored calcium (in bones, including their shell) to compensate for the imbalance.

Prolonged mineral imbalances can therefore lead to issues, such as metabolic bone disease. For these reasons, the recommended ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the diet of most tortoises is around 1.5:1 or 2:1. However, the ratio in cauliflower is unfortunately the opposite.

Another problem with cauliflower is the goitrogens it contains which can interfere with their thyroid function leading to growth problems and shedding. Though almost all plants contain these compounds, the amount present in cauliflower is unfortunately too unfavorable for a tortoise. These factors make cauliflower a very unfavorable vegetable for your tortoise.

Typically, a little cauliflower isn’t absolutely detrimental for your tortoise, but if you make it a regular part of their diet, your tortoise will likely develop some problems over time. Because of this, it’s best to play it safe and opt for healthier vegetable options for your pet.

Tortoises and Their Diets

While an ideal tortoise diet will vary quite a bit depending on their species (and other factors), there are a few commonalities. First, most tortoises are herbivores and eat tons of leafy vegetables. Romaine lettuce, timothy hay, and mustard greens are a common staple among all tortoise diets.

Tortoises also can eat carrots, melons, and prickly pear cactus pads. And if you’re looking for a treat, fruits like bananas and cantaloupes are possible choices when offered in moderation. Generally speaking though, fruits should be relegated to the role of a treat and not a dietary mainstay in your pet’s diet.

The 3 Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Tortoise

While tortoises come in tons of varieties with extremely varied diets, there are a few types of foods you should never feed your tortoise, no matter which type they are. We’ve highlighted three of them for you here, so if you’re thinking about feeding any of these things to your pet tortoise, think again!

1. Processed Human Foods

As a general rule of thumb, all processed foods intended for human consumption should not be fed to your pet tortoise. This includes foods that are sometimes topped with vegetables to appear healthy for humans, such as a vegetable pizza.

2. House Plants

While tortoises love eating leafy greens, you need to be extremely careful about which houseplants they have access to. The leaves might seem irresistible to your tortoise, but they might be extremely toxic. There are quite a few toxic houseplants, so we recommend playing it as safe as possible and keeping them all away from your pet.

3. Meats

While turtles need meat as a part of their diet, most tortoises are herbivores. Though some species are omnivores, they still don’t handle meats meant for human consumption well. Instead, they prefer foods in the form of acceptable prey, such as gut-loaded insects.

Final Thoughts

While you should reconsider feeding your tortoise cauliflower, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a ton of great vegetable and fruit treat options for you to feed them. If you’re looking for more great ideas, reach out to your vet! They can help you formulate a diet plan that works best for your pet.

See Also:

• Can Tortoises Eat Cucumbers?
• Can Tortoises Eat Potatoes?

Featured Image Credit: Louis Hansel, Unsplash