Introduced Fruiting Species in Tortoise Habitats

Humans have affected original, natural habitats in many ways. We call these anthropogenic changes. One these is by introducing agricultural species (from entirely different continents in some cases) into wild tortoise habitats. Wild tortoise species that would never, naturally, encounter such items. In addition, we change the very nature of these agricultural plant species by selectively enhancing them for increased size and sugar content. What are the impacts and implications for understanding tortoise diets? It is not quite as simple as it might first appear. Here we look at the differences between the fruiting plant types that occur naturally in Mediterranean tortoise and Sulcata tortoise habitats and the species that humans have introduced in more recent history. We know that feeding these cultivated high sugar content fruits is highly damaging to captive tortoises... we need to take the possibility seriously that in some cases, harm could also result to wild tortoises that encounter them. All of our videos are made by real people. No AI.

https://youtu.be/7KhEClAJMAU

For the full background on how and why eating such items is completely unsuited to the digestive systems of these tortoises please see our comprehensive article Fruit for Arid Habitat Tortoises - 'Treat' or Tragedy?

It is far more complex than the simplistic explanation offered that they "cannot digest sugars". In fact they can, but too well.... in order to fully understand all the problems this causes, it is vital to have at least some insight into why tortoises from different habitats have such different dietary requirements. A diet suited to a moist rainforest species will be completely wrong for a tortoise from an arid habitat, for example, and vice-versa. We ignore this at our peril, or rather, the peril of the tortoises that we inflict disastrously inappropriate diets upon.

As you can imagine, undertaking genuinely original research takes a very long time to conduct (months and years), involves a great deal of travel, is very time consuming, and also requires the use of some very expensive equipment indeed. If you would like to see more of this, we really would appreciate it if you could make a donation or subscribe. It really helps. We have been established since 1984 and we continue to provide original research and reliable information to tortoise and turtle enthusiasts worldwide. We also have two excellent online courses available, one for beginners and new keepers and one for advanced and professional keepers. These cover some of the background science that is key to truly understanding and appreciating tortoises and turtles and are also extremely practical. We have taught in colleges and universities around the world, and have trained private enthusiasts, wildlife rangers and conservation staff for many years.

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