Greens

[Shaif]

Sorry if this is a repeat of an earlier topic. I'm brand new and trying to do the best I can for my baby Testudo graeca ibera. I'm finding it hard to get dandelion greens. All the homes around me have very manicured lawns and dandelions are few and far between. Would you kind people mind sharing some ideas of where I can look to find this precious weed? Does anyone sell it fresh leaves and ship? I'm in Pittsburgh, PA.

Thanks so much!

 

[wellington]

Some markets do sell them. I find my store bought ones in Polish or Mexican markets. You can also buy seeds online and grow your own. Check out tortoisesupply.com. He may sell them, the seeds.

 

[Yvonne G]

You can ask your produce manager to order it for you. What they sell in the stores is called chicory.

But that should only be a portion of what you feed. A steady diet of dandelion is not good for your tortoise.

 

[lisa127]

I'm in the Cleveland area and it is sold in our regular grocery stores under the name dandelion greens!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Hispanic groceries or Asian grocery stores.
The Hispanic grocers usually also carry cactus pads and fruit.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

There are many weeds that are likely around your area. Take note also that a manicured lawn is also possibly a lawn taken care of with herbicides and pesticides and high Nitrogen fertilizers.

The small patches of un-attended ground not part of a manicured lawn are better to harvest from.

Green text is a clickable link

So there is plantain, about as good a "lawn weed" as they come for tortoise food.

Cheese weed or common mallow (many common names, looks like cheese weed is also the name for some kind of pot these days). More of an empty lot weed.

There is a web page called 'The tortoise Table' with a VERY conservative take on the acceptability of found food items as well as cultivated plants. I find the web page to have modest functionality

One of the Moderators here on TFO, Yvonne G, has also created a picture library here http://www.tortoiseforum.org/forums/plant-identification.54/.

If you have or can sort out your phone's camera, assuming you have such, posting images here of what is in your neighborhood will allow many folks to offer a POV on it's identity and suitability as a food item.

There are also a few tortoise breeders that sell seed mixes that you can grow yourself, or maybe plant in the landscape somewhere nearby and harvest as you need. Vacant lot = urban farm?

Tortoise Supply, Arizona Tortoise Compound, and Carolina Pet are just three that have been found and recommended by TFO people. There are many others out there.

Grocery stores, especially those that focus on Asian food stuffs have an amazing variety of greens available. I have tried many for tortoise foods and for my dinner.

 

[Shaif]

This is so helpful! Thank you TONS!

 

[Shaif]

I'm currently doing a mix of kale, dandelion greens and collard greens. Kale and collard greens are easy to get at the grocery store. Dandelion seems like a nice treat. Does this sound like a good plan? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Shaif]

You can ask your produce manager to order it for you. What they sell in the stores is called chicory.

But that should only be a portion of what you feed. A steady diet of dandelion is not good for your tortoise.

Thank you so much. What is the perfect diet? I'm doing kale, collard greens, and treats of dandelion greens. Does that sound ok? I bought Mazuri, but my baby prefers the fresh leafy food. I also bought calcium powder, which he refused to eat, and salad dressing, which I put in his soak occasionally. I will also try carrot baby food in his soak tomorrow. He's a tiny guy, and I'm so happy with any intake right now. I only got him 6 days ago. Your advice and expertise are truly appreciated!

 

[Prairie Mom]

These germinated just fine for me. Don't bury them at all and give them lots of light.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006QZ9C4S/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[RosemaryDW]

Thank you so much. What is the perfect diet?

There is no perfect diet but an ideal diet incorporates as wide a variety of different foods as you can manage. Not all at one time, just be sure to mix it up. Mazuri can be a good supplement for growing tortoises or tortoises kept inside but you'll want to add more into the diet over time.

If you don't have access to safe weeds, planting one of the seeds mixes listed above would be very helpful. You won't need much to sprout while your tortoise is small.

You'll see this list about common safe foods often on this forum: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/newbies.141851/#post-1326745. I like to add nasturtiums, as they are safe and easy to grow.

I'm sure you've already read it but HermanniChris' post on care of Greeks is very helpful and includes food advice: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greek-tortoise-testudo-graeca-care-sheet-overview.87146/

Tom's sheet on baby Russian care includes info on diet that should be applicable as well, as both tortoises are broad leaf eaters: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

It's great your tortoise already prefers live foods. From the store right now you could probably find turnip, mustard, or radish greens (hopefully organic). Also carrot tops. Salad mixes listed as Spring, Mesclun, or Spicy are worth a look; you want something that contains a fair amount of frisee or chicories. You can also buy a plain head of frisee or regular chicory at most markets; they are with the lettuce. As Yvonnee said, the dandelions you would find in a grocery store are chicories, not true dandelions. (They are related plants and both are fine in moderation).

Calcium should just be the tiniest sprinkle. Like fairy dust! If the tortoise just won't eat it, sprinkle it on a tiny bit of cucumber or mix the foods themselves in a bit of cucumber juice before you add the calcium.

You don't have to get it all right on day one. Just keep your eyes open and you'll start to find all kinds of safe foods.

 

[Shaif]

Thank you so very much! I was so overwhelmed and can't tell you how much I appreciate the help and advice and support! Tortoise people are THE BEST!!!

 

[dmmj]

your local grocery store should sell a wide variety of greens mustard turnip radish and so on and so on and so on look around or ask

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Curious..
Did you get Mazuri or Mazuri L.S.?
It's not unusual for a tortoise to not like the L.S.

 

[Shaif]

Thank you all so much. I will try to sprinkle the calcium in a cucumber. That's a great idea. Have any of you tried Tortoise Salad Dressing? It has calcium in it too.
I am not sure which Tortoise food came with my baby. It's just listed as "premium tortoise food." But I suspect it's the original Mazuri, as it softens easily with water. I did order the LS type because I thought it might be healthier, but I plan to return. I'm a little nervous after I read some threads on this site about the LS.
I've also started putting some carrot baby food in his evening bath. He seems to like it.

I'm learning new things every day! And loving it! Thank you.

 

[TammyJ]

Thank you all so much. I will try to sprinkle the calcium in a cucumber. That's a great idea. Have any of you tried Tortoise Salad Dressing? It has calcium in it too.
I am not sure which Tortoise food came with my baby. It's just listed as "premium tortoise food." But I suspect it's the original Mazuri, as it softens easily with water. I did order the LS type because I thought it might be healthier, but I plan to return. I'm a little nervous after I read some threads on this site about the LS.
I've also started putting some carrot baby food in his evening bath. He seems to like it.

I'm learning new things every day! And loving it! Thank you.

Glad you are getting some good help here!
Carrot baby food in the evening bath? Ah.....why?

 

[dmmj]

carrot baby food in the water should only be used for sick tortoises. 1 who is not eating.

 

[Yvonne G]

When a young turtle or tortoise has swollen shut eyes, or is not eating, we recommend soaking in carrot baby food water. The animal absorbs some of the vitamin A through the thin skin on the throat and around the cloaca. It isn't necessary to use this on a healthy animal that is eating.

 

[BrianWI]

Thank you all so much. I will try to sprinkle the calcium in a cucumber. That's a great idea. Have any of you tried Tortoise Salad Dressing? It has calcium in it too.
I am not sure which Tortoise food came with my baby. It's just listed as "premium tortoise food." But I suspect it's the original Mazuri, as it softens easily with water. I did order the LS type because I thought it might be healthier, but I plan to return. I'm a little nervous after I read some threads on this site about the LS.
I've also started putting some carrot baby food in his evening bath. He seems to like it.

I'm learning new things every day! And loving it! Thank you.

Carrot in his water won't hurt him, either. You get the precursor to vit A, beta carotene, so you won't overdo it. If you think he likes it, no harm no foul.

 

[Shaif]

Ok, thank you. I will be very careful with the carrot soaks. I just got so worried when he didn't eat the first 5 days I had him. He's doing better now-- grazing during the day and exploring a bit. So I hopefully don't need to worry as much.