Can tortoise eat flowers?
Tortoises love the flowers! As the start to go over, pull them off and feed them. Plenty of flowers available throughout the early summer. Not always a favourite, but a nice big leaf which can be fed on its own as a change.
Rose leaves and flower petals are fine as a treat but you must never feed the blooms from store-bought bouquets as plants might have been sprayed with insecticides.
Sunflowers and sunflower leaves are safe for tortoises, but they should not be fed regularly because they absorb a lot of nitrates from the ground. Nitrates are poisonous to cattle, as well as tortoises. It can cause pulmonary congestion, collapse, and even death.
Most tortoises are herbivores, so they subsist on plants and vegetables. Growing a wide variety of plants or opting for store-bought plants will give your tortoise a diverse supply of food. The best plants for tortoises include lemon balm, turtle vine, and aloe vera.
Off-limits vegetables include eggplant, broccoli, chili pepper, alliums, wild mushrooms, and unripe tomatoes. Citrus fruit, avocado, and gooseberry are bad for tortoises. Also, avoid feeding tortoises prickly lettuce and wild lettuce. Certain tortoise species will find that different foods make them unwell.
Rose petals, lavatera, and calendula are all fine (leaves and flowers are OK -- although they might not eat rose leaves or calendula leaves -- you'll have to see). Other flowers (and leaves) you can give that are common in the garden are campanula, dandelion, abutilon hibiscus, pansies, and hardy geraniums.
Originally published in the Tortuga Gazette 28(1): 6-7, January 1992. Rose (Rosa species) blossoms are enjoyed by tortoises.
Tortoises enjoy the flowers of this Hibiscus, and often the leaves too (although the leaves of this plant are more leathery than those of its close relative, Hibiscus syiracus). The flowers can be found in a wide variety of colours, from white through to pinks, oranges and reds, lemon and blue.
Although this plant is said to be toxic to cats, dogs and some other mammals, the Aloe is fine to feed to tortoises in moderation but if too much is fed it can have a slight laxative effect.
- Collard, turnip, rape, and mustard greens.
- Kale, cabbage, kohl rabi, chard.
- Endive, Escarole, green-leaf, red-leaf lettuces.
- Red or curly lettuces.
- Arugula, rocket, 'corn salad', 'lamb's lettuce'
- Parsley, watercress.
- Carrot or radish tops.
- Sprouts.
What can my tortoise eat?
Although these species are classed as omnivores, we suggest feeding your tortoise greens, flowers, vegetables and fruits as the main bulk of their diet. You can give them dandelions, mustard greens, or even hibiscus flowers, as well as other leafy greens.
It is recommended to feed most grassland tortoises a diet high in fiber and full of nutrient-rich grasses and hays with a smaller portion of dark, leafy greens and vegetables added in for variety. Tortoises benefit greatly from a diet that contains a significant amount of foraging material such as hay.
Despite this disagreement the tomato does come from the same family as potatoes and deadly nightshade, and the leaves and unripe fruit are TOXIC and should never be fed.
Greens and vegetables:
Vegetables should be about 10-15% of the diet. These can include: grated raw carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, corn on the cob; greens such as collards, dandelions, escarole, romaine, kale.
Tortoises love to eat banana peels due to their color, texture, and flavor. On its own, a banana peel doesn't contain any toxins that are harmful to a tortoise. However, banana peels often have insecticides on their surface. For humans, washing the peel before eating will negate this.
All legumes and grains are prohibited food for turtles such as beans, corn, rice, pea pods, lentils, chickpeas and others. They should not be offered to tortoises in any form.
Tortoises stay hydrated via food, soaking in water, the digestive process, and through the skin. However, tortoises still need to drink fresh, unchlorinated water. Tortoises should be given water that's free from chlorine, additives, flavorings, sweeteners, and contaminants.
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Tortoise Species That Can Eat Cucumbers.
| Tortoises That Can eat cucumbers | Tortoises That Can't eat cucumbers |
|---|---|
| Leopard tortoise | Greek tortoise |
Eggshells are not a good source of calcium, in fact. They can also contaminate your animals with salmonella. A far better, safer source of calcium is plain calcium carbonate. This can be obtained very cheaply, in bulk, from animal feed stores.
You should NEVER feed your tortoise any of the following:
Bread/cakes/biscuits.
Can tortoises eat mint leaves?
Mint (Garden Mint, Spearmint, Apple Mint)
These are fine to plant in the tortoise enclosure and will do no harm if nibbled, although some tortoises will be put off by the strong aroma.
This aromatic herb is not actually toxic to tortoises, but it does contain eugenol (which in high doses can cause liver damage), and there is some evidence that consumption of very large quantities could have an effect on the thyroid gland, so it is best to feed in moderation, and as part of a wider, varied diet.
Are Apples Bad for Tortoises? No, apples are not bad for your pet tortoise. Moreover, they have many benefits for your pet reptile: it is a fruit rich in antioxidants, fibers, vitamins, and minerals. It has a relatively low content in sugars and calories compared to other more “fattening” fruits.
As well as eating leafy greens, your turtle may enjoy a slice or two of orange, but you should remove the peel and any pips before feeding because these can cause illness.
And some plants that are poisonous to your tortoise:
Lupins, Daffodils, Hydrangea, Lily of the valley, Foxglove, Mistletoe, Rhododendron, Narcissus, Rhubarb, Hellebores, Crocus, Bleeding heart, Ragwort, Azalea, Vinca, Hypericum, Peony, Lobelia, Aconite, Tobacco plant & Euphorbia's.
Ripe tomatoes are safe to feed many tortoises, but they aren't necessarily good for them and should only be offered occasionally. Tomato plants and unripe tomatoes are toxic to tortoises and should never be fed.
Daisy (Lawn Daisy; Common Daisy; English Daisy)
The Daisy contains saponins and tannins and therefore should not be offered as part of a tortoise diet, although it won't harm if a few are discovered in the enclosure and the tortoise takes a nibble.
- Collard, turnip, rape, and mustard greens.
- Kale, cabbage, kohl rabi, chard.
- Endive, Escarole, green-leaf, red-leaf lettuces.
- Red or curly lettuces.
- Arugula, rocket, 'corn salad', 'lamb's lettuce'
- Parsley, watercress.
- Carrot or radish tops.
- Sprouts.
Marigold (Pot Marigold, Field Marigold, Calendula)
The Pot or Field Marigold flowers and leaves are fine for the tortoise enclosure as part of a varied diet, although they may not enjoy them. Do not confuse with Tagetes, which is commonly called French Marigold or African Marigold and is not a suitable food.
Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) flowers and leaves are nutritious favorites of many tortoises.
