Hermann's Tortoise

Acorn Squash

Weekly

Butterhead Lettuce

Treat only

Violet Leaves

2–3×/week

Cucumber

Treat only

Ribwort Plantain

Can be offered several times per week as part of a varied diet; avoid feeding as the sole or dominant food source over extended periods.

Sow Thistle

Offer 2-3 times per week at most, mixed with other low-oxalate weeds and leafy greens to balance nutritional intake.

Green Beans

Weekly or less

White Clover

Offer occasionally as a component of a mixed wild-plant diet, no more than 1–2 times per week in small amounts alongside lower-phytoestrogen plants.

Radicchio

2–3×/week

Apple

Rarely; tiny piece a few times per year

Crickets

Do not feed; Hermann's tortoises are strict herbivores

Beet Greens

Avoid; only trace amounts occasionally if at all

Earthworms

Do not feed

Butternut Squash

Weekly

Petunia

2–3×/week

Stinging Nettles (dried or cooked)

2–3×/week

Arugula

2–3×/week max

Kale

Once per week maximum, small quantity.

Spinach

Very rarely — once per month maximum, small amounts.

Swiss Chard

Once per week maximum, small quantity.

Strawberries

Very occasional — one or two small pieces, once or twice per month.

Cilantro

Weekly

Marigold

Daily

Collard Greens

2–3 times per week maximum. Rotate with non-goitrogenic greens.

Mustard Greens

2–3 times per week maximum.

Turnip Greens

Once per week or less.

Romaine Lettuce

Occasional — once or twice per week mixed in salad, not as the base.

Carrot

Once per week, small piece. Carrot tops (greens) are safer than the root.

Common Daisy

Daily

Alfalfa

Weekly

Anacharis

Avoid

Blackberries

Rarely; 1–2 berries a few times per year

Broccoli

Avoid or only very rarely

Duckweed

Avoid

Fig

Rarely; very small piece a few times per year

Watermelon

Avoid

Aquatic Turtle Pellets

Do not feed

Bok Choy

Avoid or only very rarely in trace amounts

Feeder Fish

Do not feed

Mealworms

Do not feed

Pear

Rarely; tiny piece a few times per year

Sweet Potato

Avoid

Water Lettuce

Avoid

Bell Pepper

Avoid or only trace amounts occasionally

Blueberries

Rarely; 1–2 berries a few times per year

Mango

Avoid

Papaya

Avoid

Raspberries

Rarely; 1–2 berries a few times per year

Water Hyacinth

Avoid

Hawkweed

2–3×/week

Lamb's Quarters

Offer only occasionally as a very small portion of a varied salad — no more than once every 2–3 weeks and in small quantities relative to low-oxalate greens.

Red Clover

Offer occasionally as a minor component of a varied diet, no more than once or twice per week in small amounts alongside lower-oxalate, calcium-rich weeds.

Pansy

Weekly

Basil

Weekly

Dill

Weekly

Parsley

Weekly at most

Cleavers

2–3×/week

Hawthorn Leaves

2–3×/week

Boston Fern

Cress

2–3×/week

Jerusalem Artichoke

Weekly or less

Cantaloupe

Rarely / once a month or less

Purslane

Occasional treat only — no more than once every 2–3 weeks in small quantities, alongside high-calcium greens to help offset oxalate effects.

Henbit

2–3×/week

Figs

Once or twice monthly

Honeysuckle

Weekly

Prickly Pear Fruit

Monthly or less

Broadleaf Plantain

Staple — use freely in rotation with dandelion.

Endive

Staple — include freely in rotation.

Chicory

Offer 2–3 times per week.

Opuntia Cactus Pads

Offer 2–3 times per week.

Rose Petals

Occasional treat. Pesticide-free only.

Mulberry Leaves

Offer occasionally — up to twice per week.

Watercress

Offer 2–3 times per week, mixed with other greens.

Dandelion Greens

Staple — offer freely as part of the daily salad mix.

Ribwort Plantain

Staple — offer freely.

Escarole

Staple — offer freely.

Clover

Offer freely as part of a varied wild-plant mix.

Hibiscus Flowers

Treat / enrichment — a few flowers 1–2 times per week.

Grape Leaves

Offer occasionally. Leaves only — not the grapes.

Nasturtium

2–3×/week

Common Mallow

Daily

Geranium

2–3×/week

Lamb's Lettuce

Daily

Snake Plant

None — should not be offered at any quantity.

Foxglove

ZZ Plant

null

Tilapia

None — should never be offered

Bell Peppers

Peach

Grapes

Pothos

Should not be offered at any quantity; remove from tortoise enclosures entirely.

Philodendron

None — should be completely avoided and excluded from the enclosure.

Peace Lily

Should not be offered at any quantity — avoid entirely.

Frozen Bloodworms

Avoid

Buttercup

Neon Pothos

None — this plant should not be offered at any quantity.

Jade Plant

None — avoid entirely

Dracaena

Should not be offered at any quantity; avoid entirely.

Dieffenbachia

None — no amount is considered safe; complete avoidance is required.

Rhubarb

Chinese Evergreen

None — avoid completely

Wood Sorrel

Should not be offered; avoid entirely rather than treating as an occasional food.

Rubber Plant

null

Monstera

Should not be offered at any quantity; avoid entirely.

Persimmon

Avoid

Waxworms

Avoid

Silkworms

Avoid

Garden Snails

Avoid

Tubifex Worms

Avoid

Dubia Roaches

Avoid

Aloe Vera

Should not be offered at all; no safe quantity has been established for this species.

Avocado

Banana

Oleander

Daffodil

Nightshade

Spider Plant

Elodea

Avoid

Hornwort

Avoid