Actually a lot of tortoises eat meat, sulcatas and my turtle Lucky eats meat all the time...well not all the time but probably about once a week. A lot of tortoises also LOVE crickets!


Lucy doesn't eat crickets but she does get some ground beef/chicken tenders once in a while, as well as Innova dog food, fresh fruits and veggies, grass, hay, flowers, cactus, etc.

They do have very specific dietary requirements and are a long time commitment. I have had Lucy for 7 years, and she is about 40 years already. I am not sure how long she will live but she's pretty healthy now so I am keeping my fingers crossed.


They need either an artificial or natural sunlight, a Vitamin D supplement as most of the time Vitamin D is lacking in the diet, and can lead to brittle bones etc. A calcium supplement is also a good idea. They need regular soaks, as it helps them digest food and keep them hydrated. Lucy gets a soak once a week in the summer as she has the heat from outside to help her digest her food...actualy Lucy is a he so I need to stop calling him a she lol.

They need to be dewormed every few months, and parasites CAN kill them. You need to keep their shells clean,, as well as take care of their skin. There is reptile oil on the market which is good for keeping their shells and skin in good condition.