Can Tortoises Eat Tomato Plants?

Though it is impossible for tortoises in captivity to get all of their food from natural grazing, as much of their diet as possible should come from naturally grown plants. Some people feed their pet tortoises mostly vegetables such as tomatoes. Tortoises can eat tomatoes and tomato plants, but those foods should not make up the bulk of their diet. In the wild, tortoises can take more than two weeks to digest their food, but when eating mostly vegetables, they digest their food in less than five days.

Tomatoes
- Tortoises can eat ripe, fresh tomatoes or tomato plants occasionally, but do not feed them mushy or old tomatoes. Allowing them to graze outdoors on natural foods is more healthy. This feeding behavior more closely simulates a natural tortoise environment than a diet of only vegetables such as tomatoes, which is not as high in fiber as a grazing diet. A high-fiber diet promotes a more healthy digestive tract.
Washing
- Tomatoes -- and any vegetable you feed a tortoise -- should be washed thoroughly under running water before being given to the tortoise. This will remove any pesticide residue, which can cause a tortoise to become ill if ingested.
Serving
- Thinly sliced tomatoes work best as food for a tortoise. If the tortoise is very young, grate tomatoes before serving them. Place the sliced tomatoes on a clean leaf of romaine lettuce and put it into the tortoise's enclosure.
Other Foods
- Several vegetables other than tomatoes work well as food for tortoises. Recommended food for captive tortoises includes zucchini, pumpkin, butternut squash, cucumber, parsley and watercress. Though some species of tortoises can eat fruit, leopard tortoises should not because this can cause intestinal problems such as parasites and colic. Do not feed a tortoise bananas, sprouts or avocado pears.

How Long for Tomatoes to Form?

The Average Price of Growing a Tomato Plant

Growing Tomatoes

Can Tortoises Eat Tomato Plants?

Tomatoes

Washing

Serving

Other Foods