Calling all...or any..Michiganders..

[HappyHermanns]

We are struggling with what foods our 3 hatchlings can eat..

I am looking for weeds and stuff but we do buy stuff from the market until my greenhouse and plants are ready..

We run into only a few different things that they can safely eat..

Kale, arugula and a couple of others are pretty much it..

Any Suggestions would be fantastic!

 

[Rue]

They can eat a lot more produce than that, you just have to be careful not too feed them too much of the "less good" food for too long. So, give him a spinach leaf or a beet leaf! Just don't feed him spinach or beet leaves exclusively or as the main food.

All leaf lettuce is safe. Watercress is enjoyed. Mine loves raddichio.

You should be able to find dandelions growing somewhere too...plantain grows in most places as well.

The key seems to be variety...and never too much of one food. But they do develop preferences as well. I was so happy when my purslane started growing in the garden...I even ate some myself...but my tortoise? Nope, won't touch it. Or the Lamb's Quarter, or the Lady's Thumb...blah blah blah...

Dandelion seems to be at the top of the 'good food' list, but you don't want to feed that exclusively either...it is a slightly toxic plant itself. It is high in oxalates, and oxalates inhibit the absorption of certain minerals such as copper, magnesium, calcium, iron...and I forget the rest.

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm not in Michigan, but thought I'd respond anyway.

I use this as the base for my baby tortoises' diet:

http://www.readypac.com/product/santa-barbara/

To that I'll add leaves that I can find, including mulberry leaves, grape leaves, hollyhock leaves, any edible weeds and grasses.

 

[wellington]

I used to be a Michigander and there are many things that you can feed from grocerers and that is also weeds that grow there. Grape leaf, rose of Sharon flower and leaf, mulberry leaf, dandelion, clover, all grow or can grow in MI, besides many others. Check out this web site too it has pictures to help ID http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/tortoise_home_1.asp

 

[HappyHermanns]

Thank you all for the help!
Looking at all of the don't feed and safe to eat lists gets a bit mind boggeling!

I will give hubby this list and send him off to the market and hope for the best!!

and if I am not mistaken... You 3 have come to my rescue more than once!! haha
THANKS!!