Tortoises can eat celery in small amounts, but it should not be a major part of their diet. Celery contains water and fiber but offers limited nutritional value compared to leafy greens. It is best offered occasionally alongside more nutritious foods like dandelion greens, collard greens, and other leafy plants.
Be sure to go over the Tortoise & Turtle Feeding List for a full list of Leafy Green that work great for a staple diet.
For a complete diet guide, check out What Do Tortoises Eat
Are Celery Safe for Tortoises?
Celery is generally safe for tortoises when fed occasionally. It is not toxic and can provide hydration because of its high water content.
However, celery is not very nutrient-dense compared to the weeds and leafy greens tortoises naturally eat in the wild. Because of this, celery should only be a small addition to a balanced tortoise diet. My tortoises find the taste very strong and won’t touch it alone, only when mixed into a salad.
Most of a tortoise’s daily food should consist of high-fiber greens and natural plants rather than vegetables with low nutritional value.
Here is a Food Chart for Beginners I made to get ya started and it is great to book mark as a quick reference.
Nutritional Value of Celery
Celery contains some nutrients that can benefit tortoises when fed in moderation.
These include:
• small amounts of vitamin A
• vitamin C
• fiber
• hydration from its high water content
Despite these benefits, celery should not replace the staple foods tortoises rely on for proper nutrition. It has mostly water content and tortoises can feel full without getting enough nutrition which overtime can cause a imbalance.
How Often Can Tortoises Eat Celery?
Celery should only be offered occasionally.
A good guideline is to include celery once in a while as part of a mixed salad rather than feeding it frequently.
The majority of a tortoise’s diet should consist of foods such as:
• dandelion greens
• collard greens
• mustard greens
• endive and escarole
• natural grasses and weeds
These foods provide the fiber and nutrients tortoises need for long-term health. When my local farms have celery in season I will mix it into salads about 1-2 times a month. On the offseason I won’t go out of my way to buy it for the tortoises.
How to Feed Celery to a Tortoise
If you choose to feed celery to your tortoise, follow these simple steps:
• wash celery thoroughly to remove pesticides
• chop it into small pieces to make it easier to eat
• mix it with leafy greens instead of feeding celery alone
• avoid feeding large amounts at once
Mixing celery with other greens helps maintain a balanced and nutritious meal. Be sure to cut it down for small younger tortoises, and wash it really well, unless you grow it yourself or know your source doesn’t use pesticides.
Vegetables Tortoises Can Eat
In addition to celery, tortoises can eat a variety of vegetables in moderation.
Examples include:
• carrots
• bell peppers
• zucchini
• squash
• cucumber
These vegetables should be rotated with leafy greens to provide variety while maintaining a healthy diet.
Do All Tortoise Species Eat Celery?
Most herbivorous tortoise species can eat carrots occasionally.
This includes common pet species such as:
• Greek tortoises
• Hermann’s tortoises
• Russian tortoises
• Sulcata tortoises
• Leopard tortoises
Because these tortoises naturally graze on weeds and grasses, carrots should only be offered as a small treat rather than a regular food. A popular grazing tortoise is the Leopard Tortoise check out the profile and see if it fits you.
FAQs
No, celery should not be fed daily because it lacks the nutrients tortoises need for a balanced diet.
Celery can provide hydration and fiber, but it is not as nutritious as leafy greens and should only be fed occasionally.
Yes, baby tortoises can eat small chopped pieces of celery occasionally, but their diet should mainly consist of leafy greens and weeds.
Conclusion
Tortoises can eat celery safely, but it should only be fed occasionally as part of a balanced diet. While celery provides hydration and some fiber, it lacks the nutrients tortoises get from leafy greens and natural plants.
For the best nutrition, tortoises should mainly eat grasses, weeds, and leafy greens, with vegetables like celery offered only in small amounts.
You can also read our guides on Can Tortoises Eat Blueberries, Can Tortoises Eat Cucumbers, and Can Tortoises Eat Carrots to learn more about safe foods for tortoises.
Next Step
If you’re new to tortoise keeping, start with our Beginner’s Guide to Tortoise Care before choosing your species.
- Full Care Guide →
/care-guides/ - Diet & Nutrition →
/diet/ - Habitat & Enclosures →
/habitat/ - Gear Reviews →
/gear-reviews/