Bottle gourd are light green to dark green fruits resembling cucumber.
They differ in sizes and shapes: short and round, uniformly cylindrical, curved, bulbous, or extremely long and thin depending on how and how long it is cultivated.
It has smooth skin although there are some varieties that are hairy.
The inner flesh is edible and has small seeds.
The seeds can be eaten together with the seeds only when harvested at a young age. When mature the seeds become hard and should be removed before consumption.
The nutritional benefits derived from eating bottle gourd are: low calories, small source of vitamin C, folate, calcium, iron, zinc and B vitamins, high fiber content.
Can horsefield tortoises safely eat bottle gourds?
Feeding horsefield tortoises small quantities of bottle gourd will do no harm when fed occasionally.
However, it is important not to give them stale bottle gourd fruit that has become bitter in taste.
This may contain toxins that can cause ulcers, extreme harm to the digestive tract.
Can Horsefield Tortoises Eat Bottle Gourd?
Yes, horsefield tortoises can eat bottle gourds in small quantities and on occasions.
Also Check: Can Horsefield Tortoises Eat Borage?
Can Horsefield Tortoises Eat Bottle Gourds Seeds?
Horsefield tortoises can only eat the seed of a young bottle gourd fruit but not the seed of a mature bottle gourd fruit.
This is because the seeds of mature bottle gourd fruits are hard and this may upset the digestive tract of horsefield tortoises.