Tetrafauna Tortoise is a complete diet for tortoises, developed and tested in conjunction with specialist reptile veterinarians and zoos in Germany. It is one of the only diets on the market that is correctly formulated for the special dietary needs of tortoises:

Correct levels of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D3 - Tetrafauna Tortoise contains the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus (2:1) for healthy shell and bone formation, along with sufficient vitamin D3 to ensure its proper absorption. This helps to avoid common nutritional disorders, such as metabolic bone disease.

High inclusion of plant proteins – to reflect the naturally herbivorous diet of most tortoises, Tetrafauna Tortoise contains proteins of plant origin. Only a very small amount of protein from fish meal is included, to ensure that a good supply of amino acids is provided.

Low protein level – to reflect the natural diet of herbivorous tortoises, and ensure healthy growth and condition.

Typically, dry diets for tortoises are too high in protein and do not match their natural diet. Because the digestive physiology of most tortoises is not evolved to cope with excess protein, this can lead to various health problems:

• Uric acid accumulation - the by-product of protein metabolism in tortoises is uric acid, which they secrete as crystals. This helps to conserve water in the arid environments from which many of them come. This works because the protein content of their natural diet is typically low (less than 10%), and so the amount of uric acid that needs to be eliminated is low. Dry diets that contain too much protein can lead to an accumulation of uric acid, and in worst cases kidney failure. Tetrafauna Tortoise contains a protein level of 9%, and is therefore much closer to the natural diet and will avoid problems associated with uric acid excretion.

• Shell / bone deformities – excess protein can encourage rapid growth rates in tortoises, which in turn can lead to the incorrect development of the shell & bones. This is especially problematic if the diet is also calcium deficient, or contains the wrong calcium to phosphorus ratio. The low protein content of Tetrafauna Tortoise therefore ensures controlled, healthy growth.

High fibre level – to match the high-fibre content of natural diets eaten by herbivorous tortoises. The digestive system of many tortoises is designed to cope with high levels of fibre. This fibre is stored in enlarged portions of the intestine, sometimes for weeks at a time. It exists as a complex lattice, where special intestinal micorflora live. These microflora break the fibrous food down, releasing nutrients from it. Feeding a diet that is low in fibre can lead to the breakdown of this fibrous lattice, the loss of intestinal microflora, and ultimately diarrhoea and fluid loss.

Tetrafauna Tortoise contains a high fibre content (22%) to ensure the maintenance of the fibrous lattice, and a healthy digestive system.

Special ‘cob' format – the special cob format, specially developed for Tetrafauna Tortoise, is designed to be especially palatable for tortoises. Unlike many tortoise foods which are in the form of hard, dry pellets, it can be easily moistened to provide an attractive, naturally-textured food.

Tetrafauna Tortoise has been formulated based on the latest scientific understandings of tortoise nutrition, coupled with extensive testing at independent universities and zoos. It offers a complete, properly balanced diet for healthy growth and condition.