Are ANY of these safe to feed my Russian?

[cdb389]

hi I was wondering if any of these plants are edible for my Russian Tort. I just rescued him and he was eating nothing but lettuce before i got him so id like to get him eating the foods that he is suppose to be eating. Here are some pictures of the weeds i found in my backyard that i know have no pesticides or sprays of any kind on them. I just need to know that they are ok for him to eat. Thank you! also if you know the names of them that would be helpful as well!

 

[Yvonne G]

Yes, all those are edible weeds.

 

[Tom]

1. Mallow. Good stuff.
2. Dandelion.
3. Don't recognize that one. Is it a bush?
4. Not sure on the 4th one.

 

[cdb389]

Here is another pic of the 3rd one. It's not a bush just a ground covering type weed. I'll take another pic farther away so you can see.

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Here is the 3rd plant farther away

Also is the next picture edible?

 

[Yvonne G]

trust me, they're all edible. The one Tom didn't recognize is chick weed and the final picture is fillaree.

I thought the 4th one was narrow leaf plantain, but I took another look and I don't think plantain has a pink flower. So I don't know what it is.

 

[Tom]

I don't recognize the ground cover one.

The last one is filaree. Its a good one. Edible.

 

[cdb389]

Ok so when I feed him these can i put then in like this or should I chop it up in smaller pieces

 

[Tom]

I just throw it all in just like that. No need to cut it, unless your tortoise is picky and you are trying to slowly introduce the new stuff. I feed weeds whole for hatchling russians or adult sulcatas and everything in between.

 

[Yvonne G]

It might help him to be able to bite off pieces if you put them into some sort of clip and clip it to a solid whatever, so it doesn't move when he tries to bite it. But you don't need to chop it up.

 

[cdb389]

Thanks everyone!! i knew not pulling all those weeds would pay off sometime! haha now i have a whole section in my yard full of all of these!! yippee!!

oh another question. should i mix this with romaine lettuce (that he was eating before) or just feed him the weeds from here on out?

 

[Yvonne G]

If he won't take to the weeds, you may have to chop up the romaine and make it juicy then toss it all together to get the romaine smell on the weeds.

 

[TortugaGirl]

It might help him to be able to bite off pieces if you put them into some sort of clip and clip it to a solid whatever, so it doesn't move when he tries to bite it. But you don't need to chop it up.

I never thought about a clip. I have noticed that my little hatchling loves the "battle" as much as the eating part. It's so fun to watch him tug at the dandelions outside. When he is in his habitat I notice he puts his claws on whatever veggie he is going to eat and then he gives it a tug.