Tortoise Diet - Blackstrap Molasses ?

Question

I know PERFECTLY what to feed my tortoise so don't throw at me a list of natural weeds, flowers, etc ONLY diet and whatnot...

My question is, can I supply them with some Blackstrap Molasses? They are loaded with calcium and iron, so a little will help them a lot in my opinion..

Have any of you tortoise owners tried this? Do you think it's something that could improve the tortoise's health and make the shell stronger and healthier and the tortoise more active?

Thank you for your help. I only want an answer to my QUESTION.

Answer 1

You can give them blackstrap molasses, but the amount of sugar is too high for most tortoises, and it might cause them more trouble than it does good. There are other ways to supply them with the minerals they need that will not upset their digestive flora.

digestive flora are the bacteria that live in the guts and help animals digest and get the good out of our food. they also produce some nutrients on their own that are critical to good health. For herbivorous animals the flora are even more critical, because plant material is harder to digest, so it's important to maintain a good bacterial flora.

A stiff shot of sugar, in a  type of tortoise that does not regularly get fruit in it's diet is likely to cause a major upset in the bacterial flora and cause it to not be able to digest it's food as well as it should, thus causing a nutrition crises.

So, I wouldn't suggest it.

Answer 2

no you can't most tortoises can not eat too much sugar(even fruit) and it can cause colic in them, if you want to make your tortoises shell stronger just feed it a good calcium supplement with the natural diet blackstrap really is not suitable for them