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What Plants Are Toxic to Tortoises? (20+ Plants That May Kill Tortoises)

what kind of flowers can russian tortoises eat

What plants are toxic to tortoises?

Tortoises are reptiles that have the ability to eat both plants and animal matter. This makes them omnivores but also means that they can accidentally consume toxic plants.

The most common type of tortoise is the red-footed tortoise, which has a hard time telling if plant material is safe or not due to its lack of smell receptors in its nose.

If you have a pet tortoise, it’s important that you know what types of plants can be potentially harmful to them so that they don’t end up getting sick!

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What Plants Are Toxic to Tortoises?

What plants are toxic to tortoises?

There is a large number of plants and flowers, both wild and cultivated, which are toxic to tortoises.

Never let your tortoise graze where grass or other plants have been cut with lawn mower blades that may be contaminated with dew or dried grass clippings containing chemical fertilizers and the like.

Best to let the area grow for a few months before allowing your tortoise access so any chemicals can break down and/or wash away in heavy rains.

Once you know what it is and its primary effects on various life stages, you will know the potential risks and be better able to avoid any problems.

The following list is not complete but gives you a general idea of what types of plants should be avoided.

What Plants Are Toxic To Tortoises

20+ Plants That Are Toxic to Tortoises as These May Kill Them

1. Autumnaceae

Autumnaceae includes yews, English ivy, periwinkle, and Amaryllis family as well as hardwood trees such as rhododendrons and azaleas.

All parts are poisonous if ingested with unknown results in tortoises.

2. Balsam Pear (Momordica)

No information is available at this time regarding toxicity in tortoises. However, it may potentially cause serious digestive upset when ingested.

3. Bracken Fern (Pteridium Aquilinum)

This fern is highly carcinogenic in many species. It contains thiaminase, an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1 (thiamine), which can lead to serious neurological disorders. This can cause death or permanent paralysis.

4. Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae)

Buckthorn includes the fruits of common shrubs such as Oregon grape, coffeeberry, and cascara sagrada. The leaves are poisonous after they fall from the tree in autumn, when they may persist through the winter under snow cover.

All parts are considered toxic, with poisoning usually resulting in cramping, gastroenteritis, and renal failure. Symptoms may be delayed for two weeks.

5. Carolina Laurel Cherry (Prunus Caroliniana)

The plant, also known as wild plum or beach plum, is toxic to humans. Symptoms are violent gastric pain, severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

There are no records of the toxicity in tortoises but ingestion can cause serious problems for both pets and people.

6. Catsclaw (Croton Capitatus)

No information is available at this time regarding toxicity in tortoises. However, it may potentially cause serious digestive upset when ingested.

what plants are poisonous to russian tortoises

7. Castor Bean (Ricinus Communis)

All parts of the plant are highly poisonous including the seeds, which secrete ricin, a deadly toxin. Clinical signs begin within hours of ingestion with an intense burning of the mouth and throat, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness.

Death is generally due to severe dehydration or shock. The leaves also contain a saponin called ricinoleic, which can produce photosensitization in tortoises.

8. Ceriman (Monstera Deliciosa)

This plant contains oxalates, which irritate the mouth if ingested with unknown results in tortoises. However, it may potentially cause serious digestive upset when ingested.

9. Choke Cherry Tree (Prunus Virginiana)

Berries of this tree are considered poisonous to humans and livestock yet other parts of the fruit have medicinal properties for internal parasites.

No information is available at this time regarding toxicity in tortoises. However, it may potentially cause serious digestive upset when ingested.

10. Cocklebur (Xanthium Strumarium)

All plant parts are poisonous. The prickly seeds may cause mechanical injury to the intestinal lining and liver, while all other parts irritate the gastrointestinal tract causing severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Ingestion is potentially fatal if not treated successfully. Symptoms of poisoning develop rapidly, usually within a few hours after ingestion of the seeds or burs, which cling to the fur or feathers of passing animals or people.

Horses seem to be most susceptible followed by cattle and sheep with swine having less susceptibility than other livestock species.

However, all can become ill when they ingest these plants in hay mixtures, pastures, etc. There is no antidote for Cocklebur poisoning. Treatment consists mainly of symptomatic treatment for the most serious effects.

11. Coral Plant

A few species in this genus are poisonous to both livestock and humans with most poisonings resulting from the ingestion of foliage or flowers by cattle, horses, sheep, and goats.

Clinical signs include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and weakness progressing to seizures and coma.

12. Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster)

All parts of the plant are potentially toxic with the fruits having been implicated in fatal poisoning of children. The toxicity is unknown in tortoises. However, it may potentially cause serious digestive upset when ingested.

13. Cowbane (Cicuta Maculata)

This perennial is a native of southern Canada but also grows in wet soils throughout much of the US. It emits a strong, unpleasant odor when the leaves are crushed.

It is an attractive plant with umbrella-shaped clusters of small white flowers at the top of its branching stem.

The root may be mistaken for wild parsnip, a common edible plant in some areas because it looks somewhat similar and has a pungent smell.

However, the root causes violent irritation to mucous membranes by acting directly on nerve centers or through coagulation necrosis of blood cells.

All parts are considered toxic. However, clinical signs are slow to develop if only small amounts are ingested.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, hypersensitivity to light (photodermatitis), weakness progressing to paralysis of the legs, and respiratory failure within 2 hours.

what flowers can russian tortoises eat

14. Daphne

All parts of this shrub contain daphnetoxin, which is similar to cyanide. The fruits are considered poisonous and ingesting one or two berries can be fatal for a human.

Clinical signs include salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and convulsions progressing to paralysis and then death from respiratory failure within 1-2 hours.

15. Datura (Datura Stramonium)

Also called jimsonweed, thorn apple, stinkweed, and many other common names.

This plant contains atropine, which causes dilated pupils (mydriasis), dry mouth and throat due to decreased production of saliva by the salivary glands (xerostomia), flushing of skin particularly on the face and neck area (flushing), and tachycardia.

The plant also contains scopolamine, which causes drowsiness, confusion, memory loss, hallucinations, disorientation, and lack of coordination.

There is no antidote for datura poisoning. However, deep sleep for about 24 hours may be helpful in reducing symptoms.

Symptoms appear rapidly after ingestion with clinical signs lasting many days, especially if the patient has become severely dehydrated due to vomiting and diarrhea.

16. Dock (Rumex Crispus)

All parts of this plant are potentially poisonous to tortoises including the seeds. However, it appears that most cases of poisoning involve ingesting small quantities along with grass hay or other vegetation.

Clinical signs include gastrointestinal upset with little additional damage expected if only small amounts are ingested unless large amounts are ingested.

17. Elderberry (Sambucus)

All parts of the plant contain grayanotoxins, which are toxic to all livestock, although clinical signs vary depending on the animal, amount ingested, and type of toxin.

Species that have been implicated in poisoning include white-flowered elder (S. canadensis), black or blue-berried elder (S. nigra), and red-berried elder (S. racemosa).

Clinical signs caused by ingestion of these plants vary with animals exhibiting drooling, diarrhea, frothing at the mouth, seizures followed by depression, loss of coordination progressing to paralysis then death from respiratory failure within several hours if large amounts are ingested or days if small amounts are ingested.

what flowers do russian tortoises eat
tortoiseforum.org

18. Elm (Ulmus)

This tree contains alkaloids that act as gastrointestinal irritants or smooth muscle relaxants. The presence of wilted leaves, branches, or roots near the tortoise enclosure is an indication that the plant has been ingested over a period of time.

Clinical signs may include vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of coordination progressing to paralysis then death from respiratory failure within several hours if large amounts are ingested or days if small amounts are ingested.

19. Fiddleneck (Amsinckia Menziesii)

Also called tarweed, fiddlenecks, tarweed, and many other common names. All parts of this weed contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which act as hepatotoxins (liver toxins).

Clinical signs include weight loss, anorexia, jaundice, vomiting, and diarrhea followed by death. There is no antidote for fiddleneck poisoning. However, deep sleep for about 24 hours may be helpful in reducing symptoms.

The primary method of treatment is supportive care, which includes withholding food until the clinical signs have subsided.

20. Galactia (Galactia Striata)

This legume plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which act as hepatotoxins (liver toxins). Symptoms are similar to fiddleneck poisoning.

21. Gopher Plant or Chapparal (Larrea Tridentate)

All parts of this plant contain diterpene esters, which are to cause damage to connective tissue, liver, and kidneys.

Clinical signs include anorexia, lack of energy to move around, dehydration, and sore joints from calcium deposits in the cartilage, which is very painful for the tortoise.

Treatment includes withholding food until the clinical signs have subsided. Fortunately, this plant does not appear to be palatable, so ingestion is uncommon.

22. Green Feeding Thyme (Origanum Vulgare)

Also called wild marjoram, oregano, and many other common names.

This plant contains thymol, which acts as a gastrointestinal irritant with most reported cases involving using hay containing small amounts along with grasses that were contaminated by the herb during harvesting due to drift onto the hay field.

Symptoms include irritation to the mouth area causing excessive drooling and hypersalivation.

23. Horsebrush (Tetradymia Glabrata)

Also called horseweed. All parts of this plant contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which cause damage to the liver, digestive tract, and kidneys.

Clinical signs include chronic weight loss, lack of appetite, jaundice, and diarrhea. Treatment is supportive with withholding food until the clinical signs have subsided.

Fortunately, this plant does not appear to be palatable, so ingestion is uncommon.

what plants are safe for russian tortoises
gardeningknowhow.com

Is Milkweed Toxic to Tortoises?

Milkweed is one of the plants that are toxic to tortoises.

Most members of the milkweed family have alkaloids and cardiac glycosides that are toxic to tortoises.

They often avoid them. However, even if some of this plant is eaten, the digestive system will remove much of the toxin and there is no need for concern.

The main problem associated with ingesting milkweeds is a physical irritation to the throat and gut, which causes excessive thirst or drooling.

Is Lantana Toxic to Tortoises?

Yes, the genus Lantana is one of the plants that are toxic to tortoises. It is highly toxic to tortoises and most animals.

The toxicity varies from species to species and at least 50 different species can cause illness in animals if ingested. There are many cases every year of livestock getting ill or dying after ingesting Lantana spp.

Flowers and leaves contain toxins, but all plant parts including roots and stems should be considered poisonous.

Symptoms of Lantana poisoning include anorexia, depression, hypersalivation (drooling), vomiting, diarrhea with blood, tremors, and seizures.

If you suspect that your tortoise has come into contact with this plant, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

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static1.squarespace.com

Is Wisteria Toxic to Tortoises?

Wisteria is one of the plants that are toxic to tortoises. All parts of the Wisteria plant are poisonous to tortoises. If ingested in large quantities, it can be fatal.

Symptoms include ataxia (loss of muscle coordination), hypersalivation (drooling), frequent urination, vomiting, and diarrhea. All these symptoms may be accompanied by collapse and convulsions.

How much is too much? It depends on the species of the tortoise as well as their health.

Juveniles can die from eating a single seed, while an adult may need to consume several pounds before showing signs of poisoning.

Many rescues have been forced to make very expensive trips to the vet to save the life of a tortoise after one single seed was ingested.

Is Wisteria Toxic to Humans?

Yes, all parts of the Wisteria plant are poisonous to humans. If ingested in large quantities, it can be fatal. Symptoms include ataxia (loss of muscle coordination), hypersalivation (drooling), frequent urination, vomiting, and diarrhea.

All these symptoms may be accompanied by collapse and convulsions. Wisterias contain several alkaloids, which act as a natural pesticide for this plant including:

  1. Pyridines: Lysergic Acid (LSA), D-lysergic acid amide (LSA), Ergotamine (E-1421), Dimethylergoline, Secologanine.
  2. Phenylmethylamine: Dopamine
  3. Cinnamic Acid amides: Lysergol, Lysergic acid hydroxy amide, Isolysergol
  4. Indole Alkaloids: Yohimbine
  5. Quinoline Alkaloids: Aporphinoid alkaloids; Aporphines; N-methylcoclaurine; Coclaurine; Rauvolfia Serpentina (Lilly of the Valley); Aconite (Monkshood or Wolfsbane); Strychnos (Nux vomica).

The plant is considered poisonous by the Washinton Poison Center and Animal Poison Control Center in America. It has also been stated that this plant should be kept away from children and pets.

what kind of flowers can russian tortoises eat
thetortoisetable.org.uk

Are Succulents Toxic to Tortoises?

Succulents are one of the most popular and interesting plants for tortoises and reptile owners alike.

However, is it safe to keep them with your tortoise, or should they be restricted to their own enclosure?

It’s important for owners of both tortoises and succulents to research the plants they buy thoroughly before introducing them into their homes or enclosures.

The risk of contamination can be avoided by keeping your pets in separate rooms (of course, if you don’t take precautions like this, you should make sure you keep your animals apart anyway).

Conclusion

What plants are toxic to tortoises?

This article has provided information about plants that are toxic to tortoises, and how you can tell the difference between safe plants for your pet.

It’s important to take precautions when gardening so you don’t endanger your beloved animal companion!

To start, always ask a veterinarian before giving any new plant to them.

But if they give their approval, above are some great choices of flowers or vegetables that will keep your pets happy and healthy.

Key points to remember on whether tortoises will eat poisonous plants:

1. General Eating Habits of Tortoises:

  • Selective Feeders: Tortoises generally have specific dietary preferences but might nibble on various plants within their reach.
  • Risk of Eating Poisonous Plants: While tortoises typically avoid toxic plants due to their natural instincts, there might be exceptions.

2. Factors Influencing Consumption:

  • Palatability: Some poisonous plants may taste bitter or have a strong odor, deterring tortoises from consuming them.
  • Accidental Ingestion: Tortoises might consume small quantities of toxic plants if they resemble non-toxic greens they usually eat.

3. Common Toxic Plants for Tortoises:

  • Rhododendron and Azalea: These flowering plants contain toxins harmful to tortoises if ingested in large amounts.
  • Foxglove: While not commonly consumed, this plant’s toxins can be harmful to tortoises.
  • Daffodils and Hyacinths: Parts of these plants, especially bulbs, contain toxins that can be dangerous if eaten.

4. Preventive Measures:

  • Identification: Know the plants in your tortoise’s habitat and remove any potentially toxic ones.
  • Enclosure Design: Create tortoise enclosures with vegetation known to be safe, reducing the risk of exposure to poisonous plants.

5. Observing Tortoise Behavior:

  • Monitoring Eating Habits: Keep an eye on your tortoise’s feeding behavior. If they exhibit unusual eating patterns or show signs of illness after access to new plants, seek veterinary advice.

6. Safe Plant Selection for Tortoises:

  • Herbaceous Plants: Choose non-toxic plants like dandelions, hibiscus, mulberry leaves, and clover, which are safe for tortoises and comprise part of their natural diet.

7. Consultation with Experts:

  • Veterinary Advice: Seek guidance from reptile veterinarians or herpetologists to identify and eliminate any potential risks from toxic plants.

8. Enclosure Safety:

  • Secure Habitat: Regularly inspect the tortoise enclosure to ensure toxic plants don’t grow within their reach.

9. Training and Habituation:

  • Training Methods: Some keepers employ positive reinforcement to discourage tortoises from eating unknown plants.

While tortoises generally avoid toxic plants, there’s still a risk of accidental ingestion. Therefore, it’s essential to monitor their habitat, eliminate toxic plants, and ensure they have access only to safe vegetation to prevent any adverse health effects. Consulting with experts helps create a safe and suitable environment for these reptiles.

Further Reading:
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