Basking

Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Also known as: common foxglove, purple foxglove, fairy thimbles

Not veterinary advice. This information is for educational purposes. Always consult a qualified exotic animal veterinarian for guidance specific to your pet.

Safety by species

Russian Tortoise

Agrionemys horsfieldii

Contains cardiac glycosides (digitalis glycosides) that cause heart arrhythmias, vomiting, and can be fatal in small doses. All parts of the plant are toxic.

Toxic

Hermann's Tortoise

Testudo hermanni

Cardiac glycosides — potentially fatal in small doses. All plant parts dangerous.

Toxic

Greek Tortoise

Testudo graeca

Cardiac glycosides — can be fatal in small doses.

Toxic

Sulcata Tortoise

Centrochelys sulcata

Cardiac glycosides — can be fatal in small doses.

Toxic

Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

Cardiac glycosides — can be fatal.

Toxic

Yellow-bellied Slider

Trachemys scripta scripta

[confidence: high] [source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (cross-ref); exotic reptile toxicology review; cardiac glycoside toxicity literature] Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) contains cardiac glycosides causing fatal arrhythmia; all parts toxic to reptiles including aquatic turtles; do not feed.

Toxic

Red-footed Tortoise

Chelonoidis carbonarius

Cardiac glycosides — can be fatal.

Toxic

Eastern Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina

Cardiac glycosides — can be fatal.

Toxic

Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta

[confidence: high] [source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (cross-ref); exotic reptile toxicology veterinarian review; cardiac glycoside toxicity literature] Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) contains cardiac glycosides (digitoxin, digoxin) that cause fatal cardiac arrhythmia in reptiles; do not feed under any circumstances.

Toxic

Red-eared Slider

Trachemys scripta elegans

[confidence: high] [source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (cross-ref); exotic reptile toxicology review; cardiac glycoside toxicity literature] Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) contains cardiac glycosides that cause fatal cardiac arrhythmia; all parts are highly toxic to reptiles including aquatic turtles.

Toxic