Tortoise Feeding Guide: Best Practices for Indoor Tortoise Keeping!

#gardenstatetortoise #tortoise #turtle
Operating a turtle and tortoise rescue/breeding facility is no joke and it’s a lot of mouths to feed! At Garden State Tortoise we always make sure our animals have the best, even when they’re indoors for the duration of winter. Animal enrichment is key in keeping life interesting for them, especially inside when a more natural life won’t return until spring. See how we do it and learn some fun tips and tricks that you can use for your own turtles and tortoises!
Want to support Garden State Tortoise? Become a patron today by joining our PATREON: / gardenstatetortoise
Subscribe to our channel: / gardenstatetortoise
Follow us on Instagram: / garden_state_tortoise
Follow us on TikTok: / gardenstatetortoise
Follow us on Facebook: / gardenstatetortoise
Visit our website: www.gardenstat...
Follow our Diamondback terrapin conservation work on Instagram: / terrapinconservationin...
Who is Garden State Tortoise?
However you made it here, thank you and welcome to Garden State Tortoise. Garden State Tortoise is home to hundreds of animals from all around the world. We are a family dedicated to adventure, conservation of wildlife, and all things nature. We are a reptile rescue and breeding facility for more than ten years, offering refuge to those who need it, and working everyday to protect the beautiful world of reptiles in any way we can. Here on our KZbin channel you will be able to join us on our animal adventures while learning how to care for, protect, properly identify, feed and even breed many species of turtle, tortoise, snake and lizard. We even work with frogs and salamanders! We hope you enjoy our videos and help us share them with the world so we can continue to educate people of all ages about herpetology.
Chris and Casey Leone

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Good morning everyone! Just a heads up, if you haven’t checked out our PATREON yet, we’ve started doing LIVE videos with Otis for the Otis tier patrons. It’s been a lot of fun! We also have a tier if you’re simply interested in helping out the animals here. Check it out: www.patreon.com/gardenstatetortoise Thanks for even considering. 🙏🏻 Chris & Casey

[@saraanderson6615]

I got my shirt earlier this week with Otis on it. ❤️ That’s how supported the channel besides watching and sharing ❤️🙂

[@Ziggy1805]

Pet Smart the picture of the cat in front is literally my cat she won a contest years ago I still have the picture…lol

[@GardenStateTortoise]

That’s so cool!

[@Ziggy1805]

@@GardenStateTortoise I still have the cat also she’s a cancer survivor she’s now 15 years old and still has a few years left in her…!!! Sierra

[@heleninglis9961]

Thats awesome! ❤

[@Hewbrry496]

@@Ziggy1805 we are free years apart

[@mary-ruthflores4107]

How much fun!

[@phionella7]

Do you remember the Loony Tunes episodes where the turtle would go into his shell, sit on a recliner and watch TV? I was pretty disappointed as a child to learn that they couldn't really retract that completely. Until you taught me about box turtles. Thank you for that. 😂 A very interesting and entertaining episode, I thank you and your wife again, for making my Sunday morning coffee even better! Have a beautiful day!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Oh my god I do! That’s amazing and thank you so much! 😊

[@TrailRat2000]

I remember the old cartoons where a tortoise would "disrobe" to take a bath or a shower. I used to watch my neighbour's tortoise to see a "naked" tortoise! 😂

[@horsetuna]

Or what about Franklin? I remember one story where he was afraid of the dark in his shell

[@melmicsim]

We have those hanging in our Anteresia python enclosures. They love them & spend hours weaving in & out. They're soft & flexible, so the snakes don't get stuck or injured.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Oh that’s awesome! So many people don’t realize snakes need enrichment too.

[@burf90]

I love that you use dog toys to keep the turtles and tortoises working for their food and entertained. I used to keep an aquarium that had fairly large fish (oscars, scats, plecostomus, etc.) and I could just tell that my fish wanted something stimulating to do. They'd follow my every move around the room and watch the TV. So, I got creative and bought some fish "toys" - bubble balls that would sort of hang in the water and they could push them around, small decorations that they could move, a tube "maze". All were for aquariums, so nontoxic, and they loved them.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

That’s so cool!

[@ArtThatElevatesTheSoul]

Chris you should write a book: The Turtle Chef! So cute

[@StonedtotheBones13]

Cute children's book. Literally could just go through feeding them in diff seasons and presto

[@GardenStateTortoise]

LOVE THIS

[@rootbeef]

I love tortoises so much it almost brings me to tears to look at them 😭 such amazing beautiful creatures with gentle souls

[@TheTrainedFerret]

Your content is awesome! I thought of a video idea if you’re interested! Something about a turtle/tortoise’s 5 senses. How do they see the world? (in color?) What is their hearing like? How do they interpret touch? (especially how they can feel touch on their shell), etc. ❤🐢

[@GardenStateTortoise]

I LOVE that idea! People don’t realize how well they see and how they feel through the shell.

[@gemmacruz8529]

​@@GardenStateTortoise is a fantastic suggestion for a video.

[@rootbeef]

This would actually be fascinating. I have a pet box turtle (three toed) who is completely blind, and I often try to stimulate his other senses as a form of enrichment. Giving him things to hear, smell, and touching him. He looooves to be pet and held :)

[@kellybraun7048]

I remember watching a video that used go-cams attached to cats and dogs to show their perspective, then edited to show how they would see the world. I’ll try to find it again… Well, I found one on how different animals hear that was really neat. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fafKY2doipeMnLMsi=WHgqVdEOvLfiPsn-

[@Kimmaline]

No one ever believes me that they feel so well through their shells. I could tell the other moms at pickup that my snakes file my taxes and fold my laundry and they would believe me wholecloth, but try to tell someone that turts like shell scratches and they look at me like I'm absolutely daft.

[@rebeccacamacho-sobczak4282]

I jut love watching your hard work for these kiddos.

[@theodoreyoung7946]

This was an incredibly informative film. Thanks for being here! I am moving soon, and after I am settled in I plan to send you a letter. It will be to ask you for ideas, and such, so look for it sometime around May. Once again, thank you!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Sounds great!

[@jonathanquarnberg9136]

I really loved this episode. I learned a lot, thank you. It never gets old watching them eat and enjoy their food. It must be so fun to be a turtle/tortoise chef 😊 I would love to see more videos like this in the future. I love what you do for your animals.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you so so much

[@TrailRat2000]

Otis is such a diva! Love him.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

He so is 🤣

[@wildcreatureswny]

Great videos as always! Thanks for sharing your mash ideas with us all! We have a variety or tortoises and turtles here and will be doing some mashes with them here soon thanks to you guys! Also, it's great to see Jack and Sally are doing so well and getting big! You two are awesome! Amazing work on the new shirt designs, Casey! I hope you guys have a great day and thank you for all you do!🐢🔥

[@colleenanne4032]

Brilliant! So many ways to enrich through the senses and keep each day interesting and nurturing. Thank you for sharing these ideas and information

[@loriw2661]

As usual…fantastic video! Otis is hilarious. He walked over his food to stare at you. I have a female ball Python, Marie, that will occasionally go past her rat, to me, so she can come out and explore. 🐢❤️🐢

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Haha thanks Lori!

[@SAVKA284]

My 2 are hibernating now but I am so going to do this for my 2. Thank you for showing us how to give our tortoises a better life. Love you guys ❤❤❤❤❤

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Our pleasure!

[@Iris_Germany]

What a great idea 😊👍🏻 to use the toys for your 🐢🐢 Thank you for sharing this with us! Love ❤ and greetings from Germany

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Shaden0040]

welcome back with Chris Leona and cooking for tortoise and turtles. now on pbs

[@jgfishing27]

I love the optimized52 tortoise food by Arcadia, my desert tortoise really loves it

[@GardenStateTortoise]

It’s so good!

[@CherryHead89]

I think this might be one of my favorite videos on your channel! Super informative!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Well thanks!!

[@Devthebrand]

Didn’t need to watch the full thing just clicked and liked

[@YochevedDesigns]

Otis is such a psycho. It's like he's staring into your soul, and plotting your demise.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

He very well may be.

[@loyalty2Delight]

I am so glad you showed me how to do the ball I've been stuffing the ball with lettuce inside the ball so my Hermann tortoise is going to be so much happier now that I know how to do it right with different variations thank you

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Glad I could help!

[@YouLookism]

awwww mickey, she the sweetest girl! 🥹🐢💖

[@The_Joy_Finder]

As someone with no interest in tortoises in addition to being mystified by why I'm subscribed to this channel and enjoying it I'm even more shocked that I'm starting to recognize some of them. Clearly your method is effective 😂

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Awesome, thank you!

[@lourdesmendez6158]

Thank u. Me gustó mucho. Interesante.

[@Laurastars72]

I offer that every single day in small portions along with a variety of veggies. I make a salad every single day for my 6 grassland species

[@AngelaLeonard-fw1pd]

Wow that dog toy holds a LOT of dandelion greens! Lol

[@jenpink4298]

So much great information and so much cuteness! Thank you for another excellent video!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@charchar541]

My ultimate favorite channel 💓

[@GardenStateTortoise]

That’s means so much to us 🙏🏻

[@bayuTheturtle4567]

Your video today add more information to me as beginner, thanks❤

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Glad it was helpful!

[@WadeMoore-o4v]

I love tortoise so much I love tem so cute I can make 💗

[@廖冠瑋-l4w]

Hopefully to see elongated tortoise in the future

[@MrJeepCanada]

Was I the only one cheering for her to get that first leaf from that ball hehe

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Nope, I was too 🤣

[@spiercephotography]

Otis is just so funny! I absolutely adore him.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

He really is 🤣

[@annehart5584]

Yay! I got to see Otis! Such a sweetie!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

😎🐢

[@steelmill]

I built a turtle pond for the turtles that always show up in late April.

[@yuhe99_torto]

Love it ❤❤❤

[@EllnaUrquhart]

It is funny you made the cooking show comment. I was already thinking you’re probably great in the kitchen!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

I try 🤣

[@kindaquite410]

This helped a lot. I’m going to buy a ball right now

[@anngenaske4648]

I really appreciate the amount of research you share with us. Best channel by far Thank you!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thankyou!!!

[@crimson-moonproductions974]

I can’t blame the turtles and tortoises, papayas are delicious

[@petrasredlova506]

Díky!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you!!

[@chezmoi42]

Mickey is such a pretty girl. I think it's her big eyes, with the seductive eye makeup, that make her so attractive. Thanks for bringing us along to enjoy their lunchtime! I've never seen a papaya of that size before; now I want to eat with Otis.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Our pleasure!

[@dshobe720]

The hinge backs diet got me thinking. A mushroom is not a mushroom. Has any research been done on the types of mushrooms they consume in the wild? One mushroom can have many different nutrients compared to another. The medium that they grow on might also change the nutritional values in the tissues too. I noticed Tom uses button mushrooms too.

[@32446]

My tortoise won't touch that Arcadia pressed food, so I sprinkle it in with his mazuri and some fresh weeds and mash it all up together. He can't get enough of it! I'm a fairly new tortoise keeper, so glad i'm making the same mash as you and doing the right things to get my tort through the winter!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Nice!!!

[@MFoster392]

I seen a program many years ago about some big torts and how their food sources changed in some areas or maybe on some islands from the ground to leaves and plants up in the air showing the difference in the shells depending on their food source and how the evolution of it's shell over the head actually bowed up as the grass disappeared over thousands of years giving their neck more room to move vertically so they could reach higher up off the ground where the food is now because the ground is all dirt. It was saying the species would've went extinct from lack of a food source if it's shell stayed close to it's head and not bowed up over the many years as the grass disappeared and the food got higher off the ground

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Yep exactly! Amazing stuff isn’t it?

[@Silkytoaster]

This was one of your best vids I think . I am going out tomorrow to get one of those balls from my Red Foot Rosie . ❤

[@GregsTurtleHaven]

Man, you guys make me want an aldab or galop

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Do it dude.

[@jessecunningham9924]

Mickey is the cutest Aldabra on the internet! I love these suggestions! Can’t wait to try it out on my tortoise!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Yay! Thank you!

[@ArtThatElevatesTheSoul]

This video was fantastic to watch! You put so much time and effort into keeping your torts healthy. Last time I walked through Pet Smart I looked at the dog toys and wondered if my box turtle would love to play with them. And then you come with this video. I've always given him items to play with and get such a kick to see what he does with it. But never thought of food in a ball. And the food mixtures!!!! Wow another thing I never would have considered. Will think about it and see what I can come up with for my finicky eater.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you so much!

[@kellilee7433]

Love these videos

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🙏🏻🐢❤️

[@rebekkariblet4500]

Just love turtles 🐢 🐢🐢🐢💚🐢

[@GardenStateTortoise]

😊🐢

[@cosmoplakat9549]

They are so adorable! Before you mentioned a cooking show, I was thinking how you'd be great on Food Network with your knife skills! ❤❤

[@cheriesartsncrafts]

Just saw your post at IG about the Red Hybrid Turtle, didn't know that you were here too!!! Yay!!!😍

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Welcome aboard!

[@Calamity_Jen85]

And humans think we’re higher on the evolutionary ladder 😂 All turtles and tortoises have to do is exist and we WANT to enrich and care for them. They don’t have bills and credit scores, don’t have to do anything they don’t want to do, and live for 100+ years. I call that the pinnacle of successful existence! 🤩

[@ggi5321]

You guys are amazing!! Inspired me a lot ❤ thank you so much!! (Fan from Taiwan)🎉🎉

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you!!!!!!!

[@CraftyZanTub]

All those bright little eyes. Especially Otis, with his F food, I want some human!

[@janeshaw24]

I want an Aldabra so much me watching you build my confidence everyday !!

[@rajanikumari3672]

Great video. So excited LaCay is finally on a shirt. And with Otis.👍🫶🤩

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Oh yes!

[@jenniferandrew3373]

I use the little ball for my uromastyx! Sometimes it's on the ground. Sometimes it's hanging from a wire. It definitely keeps him thinking and moving in different ways.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Ahhh so awesome!

[@sayurikitamura7109]

This warms my heart so much. I'm always thinking about entertainment for my (water) turtle. Do you have ideas? She has plants, fish, different snacks, hides, but after a while, she looks bored again 😐 (I have her indoors)

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you!!! Try hiding food for her under things or inside plants too. They love to explore and hunt.

[@ladykimbers6549]

Such an entertaining & educational vid! ❤

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@angicatron8512]

Very cute!! ❤❤❤❤

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🐢🙌🏻

[@kellybraun7048]

I love seeing the variety of enrichment offered to different animals! The creativity has been awesome to see. We have a highly intelligent cat… fail to offer enough unique enrichment and he becomes a handful! He hates cat toys with bells, but loves trips to new places. So I try to adapt some of the more unique ideas to him. idt he’ll eat that delicious-looking papaya, though. 😂

[@GardenStateTortoise]

That is awesome!

[@secretariatgirl4249]

My little desert box turtle (now underground in her burrow) gets fed 3 x a week (with a Saturday treat of something tiny) as per the Rio Grande Tortoise Society expert...on a paper plate section, she gets turtle chow, butternut squash, a bit of apple for taste, a blueberry and lettuce with alternating vitamins (calcium vs vitamins with D) (sometimes have another type of fruit or a bit of tomato)....she wanders around the yard and is FAST... I lose track of her if I look away for an instant!...I saw her eating dead bird once and I think she gets a bug once in awhile. Sometimes I do add sow bugs to her menu. She doesn't seem to go for dandelion, but there is wild stuff around she may try, but I never see it. She climbs a couple of pavers to the upper level of the garden and surveys the scene. So, she stretches and works those back legs! I'd like to try hanging some greens, though...but it gets so hot, that she really head back underground or under pot for shade all afternoon...rarely does she come out in the evening even though her name is Chasca, the goddess of the morning and the evening in Aztec mythology. You can see her in action on my channel...honestly, I am so fascinated by her, I can wast a lot of time watching her go around the yard until she goes back to her burrow!

[@gemmawhitehead3986]

Otis❤❤❤❤

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🙌🏻

[@leviandarcherscrazyadventu9702]

I have a tortoise and his name is Sheldon.

[@Ninang363]

I just got theOtis/LaCay shirt. Nice design. Love what you do

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thanks for the support!’n

[@lindad1195]

Megabattie here on KZbin uses those balls in her aviary where the rescued bats are too feed them fruit. She stuffs them full and hangs them in there. She says it allows the bats to feed and forage more naturally

[@GardenStateTortoise]

So cool!!!!

[@TheGrifhinx]

Work still has its importance, apparently

[@GardenStateTortoise]

💪🏻

[@turtle9727]

Papaya seeds are actually very healthy and healing. They naturally deworm, are antiparasitic and antibacterial. I feed my guys the entire papaya, seeds and all. The seeds are very soft, and they love them.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🙌🏻🐢

[@lissaholmes5068]

12:15 pm Loved this video 😁🐢

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@annhorsman9794]

Something I observed last summer with one of the three-toed boxies that tour my farm which might interest you. I had thrown some rotten eggs out the door from some broody hens. I like hearing them explode. Normally the chickens eat the shells all up but apparently they missed some. The next morning when I walked up to the barn to chore I saw a box turtle running off with something in its mouth. Yes, it was a large piece of egg shell with membrane. And yes, female box turt. I took some photos of the incident. I also forage for many species of wild mushrooms when they are in season. Sho-nuff my competitors are these box turtles. You should see the looks they give me when I find them chomping on mushrooms in the woods. I document these guys when I see them and name the regulars. There is one male who isn't completely shy, slightly leaning towards the Otis personality. He has beautiful milk chocolate brown skin base and I often find him in my vegetable garden and I tease him out of his shell with strawberries. He smells them and overcomes being shy. I named him Leroy Brown. Bad, bad Leroy Brown!

[@rootbeef]

This is so cool, it's my dream to have a quiet property where local boxies are safe and appear regularly to visit!

[@annhorsman9794]

@@rootbeef They keep territories and are generally easy to predict where they are.

[@CoatzzFN]

Hey, I was wondering how often you should feed a Herman’s tortoise calcium powder? Should you feed them once a week or more often. This video helped out a lot this is just the only question I had.

[@GlitchSystem-xf7jb]

You need something like those utensils that's used to mix saliads with to keep you hands clean.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

I’m an animal guy, I’ll always get my hands dirty. 💪🏻🤣

[@AJen912]

Did the operations manager Mickey approve of these shenanigans? :P

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🤣🤣🤣

[@CoatzzFN]

For the Greek tortoise food mix, should I feed them that all the time or just every once in a while?

[@Al_Dente-d1p]

Tells us he’s trying to simulate nature as he takes seeds and skin off a papaya lolol

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Looks like you fell short on both your attempts to make a statement here John. 🤣

[@Al_Dente-d1p]

Wasn’t trying to make a statement. I was curious as to what the turtle would do in the wild if he came across a papaya. It’s a legit question.

[@kevinpoe8137]

Do you think you could do a care video on your hinge backs

[@GardenStateTortoise]

We’ve done a few vids with them but we will do more

[@annette7353]

HELP!! I am in DESPERATE need of the dandelions, mulberry branches, and hibiscus branches!! I live in South Carolina, but I can't seem to find the things that you are feeding your giant tortoises. Mine aren't starving by any means, but they refuse even the freshest hay. I need them to have variety because they may not have the natural grasses we have here if a sudden freeze should happen (and with climate change, Mother Nature is NOT forgiving.) Please clue us in to where you are sourcing your delicious delectables for your Torts. Pretty please? With a hibiscus on top? 🌺

[@CricketsMa]

My lizard loves mustard greens. Higher in calcium and a lot cheaper than romaine.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Def. another decent one to add to the mix on other days.

[@jaykb6587]

My puppy is envious! She starts each day with her treat ball. But she never gets it filled like yours are. 😧

[@GardenStateTortoise]

My dogs were in complete shock that these weren’t for them. 🤣

[@evilkillerpoptarts]

Papaya pinata!

[@rebeccasabourin6193]

I do this with my bunnies

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Nice!

[@sujathaparesh5924]

Hi thanks for sharing . i am from 🇮🇳 india I love to know more information how to bring up sulcata tortoise babies pls guide do's and don'ts

[@mikeandlisa1995]

Hi! Can you link the missi tortoise food and the plants mix? Thanks!

[@raghunandant2361]

Hi GST, please make a dedicated video on how much of the food goes into waste, the uneaten, leftovers, rotten vegetable stock etc.....I only have only one Indian star tortoise but most of it's food stock gets rotten and I don't wanna keep it in the fridge where I am not a big fan of refrigerated greens to my tortoise..... I think you got what I said..... what will you do to cut down on your greens wastages.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Great suggestion, but we actually don’t waste anything because we can compost it!

[@billthomas9474]

That Mazuri tortoise diet you mentioned…is that the pellets that you blended or something? I can only find dry mazuri tortoise diet

[@erikadowdy2382]

Just wondering How Long it will take to get my Otis sweatshirt??? Can’t wait! 🎉🎉

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Not sure, shouldn’t be long but thank you for ordering!!!

[@lillithblume]

for calcium sources is it best to buy cuttlefish bones? or is providing dried fish bone, snail shells or egg shells viable? a mixture of them all?

[@macaronitonee4747]

Hey this question is not related to the video but, what is the new water dish u used for otis’s enclosure? I like how its large, so mine can soak in jt and jt looks naturalistic.

[@craft-menace]

I took care of a Russian tortoise who had a similar toy. He thought it was his "girlfriend "

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Yep, I’ve seen that happen. 😳

[@loyalty2Delight]

I love my Herman tortoise but if I ever had to let him go you would be the one I would give Shelly to

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🙏🏻

[@jimmythegent9783]

NY 15 yr old sucata tortoise will easily rip that ball apart

[@amandajackson668]

Can redfoots eat the Mazuri crocadillian diet?

[@margaritasmirnova]

Where can I get this kind of ball? Also, would a tortoise need a hiding space? Thank you

[@Minmiumew]

Can baby turtles also eat this?

[@louiswatson7956]

Would you feed that Arcadia food to an Indian Star??

[@JoshuaDaley-x5m]

QUESTION:Do turtles need company?🐢🐢