Miniature Eggplant

[AnthonyC]

Can anyone please tell me if miniature eggplants are okay to feed (in moderation) to 4mth & 2mth old Sulcatas? Thank you!

 

[dmmj]

I am told that the plant is related to the nightshade family.

 

[AnthonyC]

Gotcha! Abort! Thanks, Dave.

 

[Yvonne G]

The fruit is ok, but the plant is toxic.

 

[AnthonyC]

Thanks, Yvonne!

The fruit is ok, but the plant is toxic.

 

[Redstrike]

The nightshade family (Solanaceae) is really toxic. The fruit may be okay but, personally, I wouldn't feed it to my hatchlings. The tortoise table UK website dances around the eggplant fruit a little bit, but it sounds like you could feed it. I like to remind myself that tortoises (and many other herbivores) are much more resilient to plant secondary defense compounds than us, but we should keep in mind some toxins will have greater effects than others, regardless of the torts resiliency.

http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plants_19.asp?mode=main&catID=3

 

[AnthonyC]

Good point! Thanks, Chris.

The nightshade family (Solanaceae) is really toxic. The fruit may be okay but, personally, I wouldn't feed it to my hatchlings. The tortoise table UK website dances around the eggplant fruit a little bit, but it sounds like you could feed it. I like to remind myself that tortoises (and many other herbivores) are much more resilient to plant secondary defense compounds than us, but we should keep in mind some toxins will have greater effects than others, regardless of the torts resiliency.

http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plants_19.asp?mode=main&catID=3