I just came from the store and bought Dandelion leaves, but the care sheet just says Dandelion. Some items on the care sheets sales (flowers and leaves) I have a Russian tortoise and no idea on the age. I have had him since 10/07.

thanks,

Jamie

Dandelions are great foods for just about any tort. (Hmmm can't really think whom not to give any to. ) Both the leaves and flowers are fine. Some torts seem to like the flowers best, some the leaves, and some go with both. Just remember a lot of dandies may cause your urates to change color, so don't get worried if that happens.

Dandelions are good in a varied diet but are a diuretic and can cause dehydration if overfed as a main source of food

oops meant to edit not post twice lol

Thanks, They would just be a treat for him. My house gets sprayed once a quarter for pests, plus we have a gardener and dogs, so I don't trust anything from there and I found the dandelion leaves at the grocery store so I thought that would be a great treat. We are moving in 6 weeks, once we get settled in our new home I was going to make a outdoor pen for him to play in, one that I will start from scratch so I know that animals are not peeing on it and that no chemicals are being sprayed. I will pick him some grass from a small section of our yard, I just feel bad that he cannot eat more weeds and stuff. Soon though he will be able to.

Dandelions are good in a varied diet but are a diuretic and can cause dehydration if overfed as a main source of food

Good point.

Perhaps it's a good time to remind everybody that everything that is listed as good for a tort is good for them, but only as part of a varied diet. Too much of any one thing, for too long of a time, no matter how good it in itself is, can be bad. On the flip side, even food not considered the best for them, is okay if used sparingly.

I do try to vary his diet. I change off on the list for Greens, I usually have about 4/5 different kinds on hand each week. Is that a good way to rotate. Example two days ago I feed him green leaf, yesterday red leaf, today Endive, tomorrow I will probably mix green leaf with some Dandelions. Is this okay or is their a better way. I love to learn and want to do the best for him. Maybe once a month I through in a little apple, I slice it thin, maybe about the size of a quarter.

I also mix some zoo med - tortoise food in. It is like a hay mixture I mix it with water.

He also likes carrots, that is not on the list is that okay?

Sorry for all of the questions. I should have learned from my guinea pigs mistakes not to listen to pet stores.

Carrots are another food to feed only like once a month. When you feed it, don't cut it up, leave it whole. That way it does double duty and helps keep the beak trimmed down.

Oh, okay I will leave it whole. I figured it woud hurt his beak or his beak would get stuck.