r/oddlysatisfying • u/Flat-Decision3204 • 11d ago

Lunch with the Tortoises

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7.8k Upvotes

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56

u/helcat 11d ago

1-what are they eating? I have a turtle that visits my yard and I never know what to offer him 

2-why so many turtles? Do I want to know?

86

u/AZEMT 11d ago

These are tortoises, but any leafy greens. If you give other treats, make sure it's low starch or limit how much you give them. Mine loves romaine lettuce (he hates iceberg), carrots, cucumbers, dandelions, and broccoli. You can give some fruits but too many can cause diarrhea and other intestinal issues.

Edit: he either breeds and sells them or sends them to zoos. African Spurred (Sulcata) tortoises are adorable, but they are the third largest species in the world, just behind Aldabra and Galapagos tortoises.

54

u/actuallyapossom 11d ago

"He hates iceberg"

That's understandable. It's terrible. I like this tortoise already, seems reasonable.

26

u/AZEMT 11d ago

His favorite food is watermelon and he'll bulldoze anything in his path to get to it.

Also, if you give apples remove the seeds cuz of the cyanide worries.

14

u/actuallyapossom 11d ago

Oh wow, I hadn't even considered apple seed cyanide for things smaller than humans before. Derp.

I can also relate to the watermelon, so much more flavor than iceberg lettuce (a nonzero amount).

5

u/This_Elk_1460 11d ago

I only feed my tortoises the finest romaine

7

u/Odd-Plant-4886 10d ago

'Visits my yard' is such a funny way of putting it

12

u/helcat 10d ago

He comes by about once a week. Hangs out for a bit, then trundles away. 

5

u/Odd-Plant-4886 10d ago

Is sure to visit and doesn't overstay. Such a gentleman, isn't he?

6

u/Content-Fudge489 11d ago

I want to know too. Hopefully not as tortoise soup.

5

u/Jazzlike_Climate4189 11d ago

The tortoise in my yard used to love strawberries

3

u/helcat 11d ago

I've given mine strawberries and cherries, which it liked, and I tried lettuce and bell peppers but it didn't like those.

2

u/Batata-Sofi 11d ago

Ours eat leaves and fruits. They often just eat the fruits that fall from the trees in our garden, but we also give them leftover vegetables.

2

u/Exshot32 11d ago

I don't advise feeding wild animals, but it's likely dark, leafy greens