Hello from MI!

christinaland128

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Nope looking at the tag I see I did get the milkweed one didn't I? Well that's why they never munched on it! The tortoises knew, but the stupid human didn't LOL! ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1490989468.366154.jpg thanks for your help!
 

Oxalis

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Nope looking at the tag I see I did get the milkweed one didn't I? Well that's why they never munched on it! The tortoises knew, but the stupid human didn't LOL! View attachment 203655 thanks for your help!
:eek: Uh oh, you may want to re-plant that one outside the tort garden. Glad to hear the torts didn't munch on it. I hear that deer won't even touch it. We have some in our front yard in hopes that the monarchs in our area increase. It seeded like crazy this past fall; we may have a ton of milkweed soon... :p
 

Stuart S.

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How does your tort do in Alaska?

He's doing great now because he is a hatchling and is in a very maintained enclosure...it would be impossible to have a full grown Sulcata here, plus it wouldn't be fair to them. We are moving to Texas in about 4 months and so our little one will live out a long happy life in the Texas heat and humidity:)
 

Alicia Hoogstra

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I'm going to make a large "green-house"like insulated outside enclosed in a couple years. Our MI winters are too cold not too, and I want happy and healthy tortoises!
Here are pics of my babies...and they have their first well check with a specialist vet on May 20thImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1492729894.448213.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1492729912.914219.jpg
 

GingerLove

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@Alicia Hoogstra , I've already spotted you about the forum but I haven't officially welcomed you! So welcome! You seem like a super kind person and we are glad to have you on the forum! A lot of my family lives out near Grand Rapids. I LOVE Michigan. But Florida is easier to keep torts in, I suppose. ;) Both your torties are ADORABLE!!:<3::tort::tort:
 

Alicia Hoogstra

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@GingerLove , Thank you for the warm welcome. You'll have to let me know if you ever visit "The Great North." I can't tell you how much I appreciate the willingness to share so much helpful information on every aspect of care to truly raise healthy,and happy tortoises!
Thank you I think my babies are cute! (I may be just a little partial)..lol
 

Oxalis

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I had no idea that butterfly bush is just milk weed?
There are a couple plants commonly known as "butterfly bush." One is milkweed (Asclepias spp.), which is toxic or irritating to mammals; the other is Buddleja spp. (or Buddleia) which monarchs use as a food source. Milkweed is more beneficial to monarchs because they utilize the plant for both food and a habitat. Both come in a variety of flower colors. Buddleja is OK to feed your tort, but obviously not the milkweed. I have yet to plant any Buddleja in my yard so I'm no expert on the difference in appearance between the two, but I do have a couple species of milkweed that are easier for me to identify.
 

JoesMum

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Here in the UK, first thought for butterfly bush is always Buddleja

Buddleja can grow VERY big. It's a shrub/bush which can grow to 15'/5 metres tall unless pruned very hard.

It self sets very easily and is commonly seen growing like a weed on railway sidings and derelict land here in Europe despite not being a native.

You can buy sterile varieties that don't self set and compact varieties too from garden centres. But the weed variety is most common.

It's great for any butterflies and can also be fed in moderation

See the tortoise table
http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=68#.WQGgze7TWEc
 

Greta16

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There are a couple plants commonly known as "butterfly bush." One is milkweed (Asclepias spp.), which is toxic or irritating to mammals; the other is Buddleja spp. (or Buddleia) which monarchs use as a food source. Milkweed is more beneficial to monarchs because they utilize the plant for both food and a habitat. Both come in a variety of flower colors. Buddleja is OK to feed your tort, but obviously not the milkweed. I have yet to plant any Buddleja in my yard so I'm no expert on the difference in appearance between the two, but I do have a couple species of milkweed that are easier for me to identify.
Thanks
 

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