Concerns about stickers in sulcatas enclosure

Nicole edwards

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Does anyone know if “grass burrs” or “stickers” are dangerous for a tortoise to eat? We just recently moved my guys 14x14 enclosure and noticed this in there while moving. We had them in our back yard last year, but I don’t know if they grew in his enclosure like they are this year. I’m scared to put him out right now because of it. Help!! Photo below. It’s not on the tortoise table! C0DDD2EF-5E8E-4817-98F0-D5E07A21BBF4.jpeg
 

xMario

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Does anyone know if “grass burrs” or “stickers” are dangerous for a tortoise to eat? We just recently moved my guys 14x14 enclosure and noticed this in there while moving. We had them in our back yard last year, but I don’t know if they grew in his enclosure like they are this year. I’m scared to put him out right now because of it. Help!! Photo below. It’s not on the tortoise table! View attachment 269917
I can only give a answer Based on my experience with it

My sulcata is still small but when I go out to collect grasses and weeds I also stumbled across this and also didn't found an answer so I just tried offering a small piece and he ate it directly after observing him for a day he seemed totally fine so I increased the ratio again after a day totally fine

I have fed this to my sulcata now for over 10 months and she's totally healthy normal poop normal pee normal behavior

But only in moderation I give it to mine every 2 weeks
 
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Tom

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I don't know what species of plant that is, so I'd get a good ID and check it for toxicity.

Mechanically speaking, stickers, burrs, spines and fox tails don't seem to bother tortoises.
 

Nicole edwards

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I can only give a answer Based on my experience with it

My sulcata is still small but when I go out to collect grasses and weeds I also stumbled across this and also didn't found an answer so I just tried offering a small piece and he ate it directly after observing him for a day he seemed totally fine so I increased the ratio again after a day totally fine

I have fed this to my sulcata now for over 10 months and she's totally healthy normal poop normal pee normal behavior

But only in moderation I give it to mine every 2 weeks

Did it look like the one I posted a picture of? I don’t want to purposely feed it to him but it’s all in his enclosure.
 

Miscally

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It isn’t that. The picture she posted is not sticky like that weed. It pokes little kids feet when they walk over it and we’ve always called it stickers. They hurt. It stays very tiny and very low to the ground.
Ahh, sorry, it looked like that in the picture. The problem with common names for things [emoji53]
 

polDurna

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When in doubt:

mix 1/4 cup salt, 1 cup white vinager, and 1 liter of water together, Separate the body of the plant (by gloved Hand) from the surround plants(you don't have to pull them out yet) and spray the leaves and stems generously with the solution. reapply every 2-4 days until plant dies then remove dead plant.

This should kill just about anything without bothering the soil, the plants around the unwanted, or any pets.
 

polDurna

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I forgot to Add: if you do this in the morning the plant gets "sun burned" during the day and dies faster, the more often you treat the better the results, and this can take 2-3 weeks for the really stubborn ones, but as little as 2 treatments for smaller issues...
 

Jenncreates

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Does anyone know if “grass burrs” or “stickers” are dangerous for a tortoise to eat? We just recently moved my guys 14x14 enclosure and noticed this in there while moving. We had them in our back yard last year, but I don’t know if they grew in his enclosure like they are this year. I’m scared to put him out right now because of it. Help!! Photo below. It’s not on the tortoise table! View attachment 269917
Looks like field madder based on size of the leaves and blossoms, using the grass blades for reference, which is in season here in TX. I imagine they have field madder in Mississippi also. I actually take photos close up of many plants around me. I'm sure to have a good close up of the blossoms and leaves for you to check against. I'll go find them.
 

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Yvonne G

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No, I don't think field madder has stickers. I've suggested sticky willy because it does have stickers. Here's a close-up look where you can see the actual stickery balls on the plant:

sticky willy.jpg
 
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