Anything Here You Wouldn't Feed ?

[Len B]

Leaves that I offer my sulcatas and hermann tortoises. Ginkgo, RedBud, Virginia Creeper, Fig, Maple, Honeysuckle, Wild Grape, Mulberry, Rose of Sharon. These are some of what I grow here at the Beach and offer the tortoises.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I wouldn’t feed redbud(not safe according to a quick search), and I wouldn’t feed Virgina creeps either, this is what I found about it;
Virginia creeper contains microscopic, needle-like crystals called raphides that can cause irritation and dermatitis in some people, and similarly can irritate a tortoise's mouth and digestive system

Everything else sounds fine!

 

[Tiko’sTorts]

“The Tortoise Table” is a great, free app to double check plants in the wild. It’ll tell you what is good to feed, what is dangerous, and what is ok to give in moderation. Helped me a ton!

 

[RosemaryDW]

I don’t see anything troublesome.

I’m not familiar with redbud but it’s in the legume family, which generally isn’t problematic.

I don’t do trees—we have so few in this scrubby climate—but a quick search here shows plenty of members feeding maple leaves successfully.

You probably already know I find the science in the Tortoise Table gappy!

 

[Len B]

I don’t see anything troublesome.

I’m not familiar with redbud but it’s in the legume family, which generally isn’t problematic.

I don’t do trees—we have so few in this scrubby climate—but a quick search here shows plenty of members feeding maple leaves successfully.

You probably already know I find the science in the Tortoise Table gappy!

I found an American Burnweed growing in the yard this year. I've never heard of them before. I'm letting it grow just out of curiosity to see what it does. The last time I looked at it nothing but growing. No blooms or buds yet. I've also seen it called burnwood. Is it beneficial in any way or should I do away with it? Thank You for any information.

 

[RosemaryDW]

How cool, I have never seen this plant up close. Is it good for your tortoise, I don’t know, but it’s good for bugs and bees and probably the soil. I’d leave it unless it was taking over the yard, crowding out something you know they like. There is no obvious reason to think it’s harmful and I can’t imagine it tastes very good.

As always, no need to leave/feed anything you aren’t comfortable with.

 

[wellington]

I found an American Burnweed growing in the yard this year. I've never heard of them before. I'm letting it grow just out of curiosity to see what it does. The last time I looked at it nothing but growing. No blooms or buds yet. I've also seen it called burnwood. Is it beneficial in any way or should I do away with it? Thank You for any information.

The Redbud and the Burnweed are both edible by humans. The Burnweed seems to be bitter, probably like the other greens we eat, mustard, collard, etc, so if your tortoises eat those greens they possibly will eat it.
Because you feed a big variety, the addition of redbud shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Tom]

I thought fig leaves were toxic along the same lines as citrus leaves. There are just so many plants out there and so little known about tortoise nutrition. I didn't know they could eat maple leaves either. What kind of maple are we talking about? There are several species of maple, right?

 

[Len B]

I thought fig leaves were toxic along the same lines as citrus leaves. There are just so many plants out there and so little known about tortoise nutrition. I didn't know they could eat maple leaves either. What kind of maple are we talking about? There are several species of maple, right?

What I have are old red maples. My understanding is some of the newer maples that have had genes altered for one reason or another might not be. Some people claim plants to be toxic when they are irritants to mammals but
may not bother tortoises.

 

[Len B]

The Redbud and the Burnweed are both edible by humans. The Burnweed seems to be bitter, probably like the other greens we eat, mustard, collard, etc, so if your tortoises eat those greens they possibly will eat it.
Because you feed a big variety, the addition of redbud shouldn't be a problem.

My sulcatas love collards but won't touch mustard greens. I'm not planning on feeding them burnweed, just didn't know anything about it But now I can let it grow anywhere without worry.

 

[Blackdog1714]

I found an American Burnweed growing in the yard this year. I've never heard of them before. I'm letting it grow just out of curiosity to see what it does. The last time I looked at it nothing but growing. No blooms or buds yet. I've also seen it called burnwood. Is it beneficial in any way or should I do away with it? Thank You for any information.

Well, go figure, Burnweed can be used to help treat hemorrhoids

 

[Megatron's Mom]

I have a few fig trees and redbuds in my backyard. I thought the fig leaves was no good? I know when my son but into a fig that still has a bit of green to it his mouth went numb and burned. I would have thought the same as the leaves because of the sap?

 

[Len B]

I have a few fig trees and redbuds in my backyard. I thought the fig leaves was no good? I know when my son but into a fig that still has a bit of green to it his mouth went numb and burned. I would have thought the same as the leaves because of the sap?

I have a brown turkey fig tree and don't know if there is a difference in it and other fig trees. I found out this year that the size of the wild lettuce plant doesn't deter my tortoises from eating them. I heard that the sap gets more bitter with age and size of the plant. I found some that's about 8 feet tall in a group of banana plants and they devour the big leaves like it's candy. I didn't know wild lettuce grew that tall, something else I learned this year.

 

[Guts]

I feed a bit of creeper, it’s one of my sullys favorites.