Recent content by TisMary

  1. TisMary

    Hermann tortoise edible garden

    Hello @Sallythehermanntortoise! I started with the Tortoise Table Plant Database (TTTPD), looking for "safe to feed" plants. You'll notice from the link provided, that strawberries are not good for most tortoises, including Hermann's. They can't digest the sugar. This is also true for most "root...
  2. TisMary

    Repot hibiscus

    Hi @Sunny_Sunday. I use Fox Farms potting soils. I usually get Happy Frog, but bought Ocean Forest the last time. I grow my hibiscus in a self-watering container indoors under grow lights; will be setting outside soon for the summer. As long as their conditions are "right" (by hibiscus...
  3. TisMary

    Picking “wild” dandelions?

    Dandelions are a favorite with our WHT and Beardie. I give them the leaves and flowers; not the stem - it's filled with a liquid that can be irritating. Please make sure you know that what you've got is indeed dandelion. There are lots of plants that look like dandelions. Fortunately, most...
  4. TisMary

    Napping under the Basking Light - Problem?

    I have this 2 year old "pet rock" (WHT, Smidgen). He basks a lot more now that (he thinks) he's a big boy. A temperature probe, measuring at "shell height", shows the highest basking temp is 95°. There are lots of shady places where he moves to self-regulate. All good. My concern is that...
  5. TisMary

    Gardenclovers

    @Celiagg, I'd treat a garden clover plant much like other houseplants I've re-potted. Have you re-potted houseplants before? This advice is pretty straightforward: How To Repot Your Houseplant. Is there something specific about which you are concerned? Does it really need re-potting; what...
  6. TisMary

    Violets

    @echo722 - always good to check if something is OK to Feed or not, so thank you! I am encouraging a patch of wild violets to grow in my yard. I have also put African Violet plants right in Smidgen's enclosure. Appears to be a fav for climbing on! Plants such as this can be just little...
  7. TisMary

    Is this flower okay?

    Hibiscus is my little guy's absolute favorite, so I'd say "Yep!" If you're buying a new plant, don't feed him/her any existing flowers; you have to wait until all the nasty chemicals from the garden store work their way out of the plant. That will take a while - how long is kinda up for...
  8. TisMary

    Weeds

    Well, I did a little sleuthing on the USDA Plant Database and see that this plant (Botanical name: Boerhavia erecta) is a member of the Four O'clock Family (Nyctaginaceae). Then I looked at the The Tortoise Table Plant Database. I did not find Erect spiderling per se (but I think your ID is...
  9. TisMary

    Need some help with identifying if these are edible.

    Hi @Rynan. The Tortoise Table Plant Database is a great place to start - glad you looked there! Most of what you list are in the Crassulaceae family (from largest to smallest the groupings go Family, Genus, Species - there are others above and below these, but if you stick with these 3, you'll...
  10. TisMary

    Why are tortoises so cute?

    I know what you mean! I put my finger on the rim of Smidgen's soaking dish; he walked over and pressed his face up against it! ? Lately, he's been experimenting with sitting in new places. Or maybe he's trying to fly? His feet aren't touching anything solid here at all! ? He's a real character!
  11. TisMary

    UVB help

    Hi @Masie8 - there are several threads that deal with UV lights. You might want to search Tortoise Enclosure Lighting forum for more discussion on this topic. Check out this post for information on the sizes. T5 or T8 UV LIGHT If you're not finding the answers you need, bounce back!
  12. TisMary

    Reptile store bought plants

    Hi @No1much. Glad you're checking to make sure the plants are OK for tortoises to eat. The little white dots and shiny flakes are probably perlite and mica, respectively and NO, they are not OK for your little one. From what I've gathered, tortoises see little white and/or shiny things and...
  13. TisMary

    Need Help, Information About Caring For Hermanns

    Hello! My Hermann's is just a little older than yours. We are in the midst of winter here in northeast US, so I can relate to your concerns! 2 things I recommend are becoming familiar with The Tortoise Table Plant Database and with botanical names for plants. "common names" for plants vary...
  14. TisMary

    Plant Identification Books

    My all time favorite is Botany in a Day. You learn how to identify what family a given plant is in based on just a few characteristics that are common to plants in that family. By learning the characteristics of just 8 families, you can pretty closely identify 10's of thousands of species...
  15. TisMary

    Is it ok to wake my tortoise in the morning?

    Have you tried waving his favorite food in front of the hide? My little guy is only 4 months old, so he sleeps a lot and I too don't like to disturb him. One day, he didn't come out at all which made me nervous. I could see him, see that he was breathing, etc. The next morning, I was ready...
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