Leopard Tortoise

Prickly Pear Fruit

Monthly or less

Green Beans

Weekly or less

Radicchio

2–3×/week

Henbit

2–3×/week

Hawkweed

2–3×/week

Hawthorn Leaves

2–3×/week

Cucumber

Treat only

Butterhead Lettuce

Treat only

Acorn Squash

Monthly or less

Arugula

Weekly or less

Violet Leaves

2–3×/week

Stinging Nettles (dried or cooked)

2–3×/week

White Clover

Occasional inclusion in a varied diet, no more than a few times per week and not as a primary food source.

Marigold

2–3×/week

Petunia

2–3×/week

Honeysuckle

Weekly

Basil

Weekly

Kale

Once per week maximum, small amount.

Spinach

Avoid or absolute maximum once per month, tiny amount.

Cilantro

Weekly

Broccoli

Once per week maximum.

Common Daisy

2–3×/week

Collard Greens

1–2 times per week, small portion alongside hay.

Mustard Greens

1–2 times per week, small amount.

Dill

Weekly

Bok Choy

Avoid

Apple

Avoid; if offered, tiny piece only a few times per year

Bell Pepper

Avoid or only very rare trace amounts

Anacharis

Avoid

Beet Greens

Avoid

Blueberries

Avoid

Aquatic Turtle Pellets

Do not feed

Blackberries

Avoid

Crickets

Do not feed; leopard tortoises are strict herbivores

Mango

Avoid

Pear

Avoid

Swiss Chard

Avoid

Water Lettuce

Avoid

Carrot

Avoid or extremely rare small piece

Duckweed

Avoid

Feeder Fish

Do not feed

Mealworms

Do not feed

Romaine Lettuce

Rarely; small amount as minor variety only

Alfalfa

2–3×/week

Earthworms

Do not feed

Fig

Avoid

Papaya

Avoid

Raspberries

Avoid

Sweet Potato

Avoid

Water Hyacinth

Avoid

Watermelon

Avoid

Parsley

Weekly at most

Cress

Weekly or less

Purslane

Offer only occasionally as a very small component of a varied diet — no more than once or twice per month and in small amounts.

Jerusalem Artichoke

Monthly or less

Cantaloupe

Never / Avoid

Nasturtium

Weekly

Butternut Squash

Monthly or less

Cleavers

2–3×/week

Boston Fern

Figs

Avoid

Common Mallow

Daily

Dandelion Greens

Offer 3–4 times per week as a supplement to hay.

Broadleaf Plantain

Offer regularly as part of salad mix.

Mulberry Leaves

Offer 2–3 times per week.

Endive

Part of supplementary salad a few times per week.

Clover

Offer as part of mixed grazing area.

Rose Petals

Occasional treat. Pesticide-free only.

Timothy Hay

Staple — unrestricted access. Always available.

Bermuda Grass

Staple — graze freely in outdoor enclosures.

Orchard Grass Hay

Staple — mix with timothy hay for variety.

Grape Leaves

Offer 1–2 times per week. Leaves only.

Hibiscus Flowers

A few flowers 1–2 times per week.

Opuntia Cactus Pads

Offer 2–3 times per week.

Pansy

Weekly

Geranium

2–3×/week

Lamb's Lettuce

2–3×/week

Wood Sorrel

Should be avoided entirely; no safe feeding quantity is established for this species.

Philodendron

None — should not be offered at any quantity.

Peace Lily

None — should not be offered at any quantity

Bell Peppers

Neon Pothos

None — do not feed under any circumstances.

Monstera

Should not be offered at any quantity; avoid entirely.

Grapes

Dracaena

None — should not be offered at any quantity.

Dieffenbachia

null

Chinese Evergreen

None — do not offer under any circumstances.

Peach

Snake Plant

None — do not feed under any circumstances.

Rubber Plant

Should be avoided entirely — no safe quantity established for Leopard Tortoises.

Buttercup

Frozen Bloodworms

Avoid

Aloe Vera

Should be avoided entirely; no safe quantity established for leopard tortoises.

ZZ Plant

Do not offer; all parts of the plant should be considered unsafe and avoided entirely.

Rhubarb

Pothos

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

Strawberries

Lamb's Quarters

Should be avoided entirely due to combined oxalate and saponin content in a species with critical calcium requirements.

Jade Plant

None — should be entirely excluded from the diet and enclosure

Avocado

Oleander

Persimmon

Avoid

Waxworms

Avoid

Daffodil

Dubia Roaches

Avoid

Garden Snails

Avoid

Tubifex Worms

Avoid

Silkworms

Avoid

Tilapia

Should never be offered — not appropriate for this species under any circumstances.

Nightshade

Foxglove

Banana

Hornwort

Avoid

Spider Plant

Elodea

Avoid