When it comes to bougainvillea, people are not sure if it is safe for horsefield tortoises to eat them.
It is, for this reason, we made research on this and in this article, you are going to find out if tortoises can eat bougainvillea.
In case you don’t know, bougainvillea is a very popular ornamental flower-plants known for its beautiful blooms.
They blossom in a variety of attractive colors and hues appearing in pink, red, orange, yellow, peachy, purple, and many more. These stunning blooms of bougainvillea, are what makes them a preferable flower for aesthetic applications.
On a nutritional level, Bougainvillea Flower contains proteins, fats, essential oils, steroids, saponins, terpenoids, anthraquinones, glycosides, phenolic compounds, oxalic acids, flavonoids, betacyanin, alkaloids, pinito, and tannins.
With these major nutrients and phytochemicals that bougainvillea has, pet owners like that of horse field tortoises usually ask- can horsefield tortoises eat bougainvillea flowers?
We suggest that horsefield tortoises can eat bougainvillea flowers but we strongly advise that you only feed them this in moderation and this is very important.
Can Horsefield Tortoises Eat Bougainvillea?
The leaves and flowers of the Bougainvillea are not generally considered to be toxic and YES, horsefield tortoises can eat bougainvillea flowers only in moderation.
Also Find Out: Can Horsefield Tortoises Eat Bird Seed?
There are also findings that the sap can cause mild toxicity in dogs if ingested but this hasn’t been found on reptiles.
Adding a few leaves and flowers to the tortoise diet is okay but it is best to feed in moderation only.
Uses Of Bougainvillea Flowers?
Bougainvillea flowers are used to add beauty to our surroundings at homes like fences, walls, hedges, and entry gates.
Not only can they be used for these aesthetic purposes, but their nutritional contents also make them suitable for medicinal uses.
Can Horsefield Tortoises eat bougainvillea stems?
Unlike the flowers that are not considered to be toxic, bougainvillea branches and stems have a waxy covering that can cause contact dermatitis in people or injury to the eyes if pricked.
For these reasons, it isn’t advisable to feed them with the stems nor cultivate this plant in a tortoise enclosure.