Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
Also known as: common foxglove, purple foxglove, fairy thimbles
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.
Hermann's Tortoise
Testudo hermanni
Cardiac glycosides — potentially fatal in small doses. All plant parts dangerous.
Greek Tortoise
Testudo graeca
Cardiac glycosides — can be fatal in small doses.
Sulcata Tortoise
Centrochelys sulcata
Cardiac glycosides — can be fatal in small doses.
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalis
Cardiac glycosides — can be fatal.
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.
Red-footed Tortoise
Chelonoidis carbonarius
Cardiac glycosides — can be fatal.
Eastern Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina
Cardiac glycosides — can be fatal.
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.
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.