Horsefield (Russian) tortoises can eat a little ripe tomato, but only as a rare treat. Tomatoes are watery, sugary and acidic, and they offer little of what a grazing tortoise needs.
Is Tomato Safe?
The ripe red fruit is not toxic to tortoises. The green parts of the tomato plant, including leaves and stems, contain compounds that are best avoided, so only offer the ripe flesh. Even then, the fruit is high in sugar and low in fiber and calcium, which can upset the gut if fed often.
How to Offer It
- Use a small piece of ripe tomato, about the size of your tortoise’s head at most.
- Remove stems and leaves, and wash the fruit.
- Offer it no more than once or twice a month.
What Horsefield Tortoises Should Eat
These tortoises come from dry steppe country, so their diet should be high in fiber and low in sugar:
- Dandelion, plantain weed and clover
- Broadleaf weeds and safe lawn grasses
- Endive, escarole and other bitter leaves
- A little grass hay
See our guides on bok choy for Russian tortoises and which fruits tortoises can eat for more.
Calcium and Light
Dust food lightly with calcium and give proper UVB lighting or sunshine. Our calcium guide has details.
Bottom Line
A bite of ripe tomato is okay once in a while. The everyday diet should be weeds, leaves and grasses. If your tortoise has loose droppings or stops eating, contact a reptile vet.
General information only, not veterinary advice.
