Nettles etc outside

[tryme]

If I dig up the mud and turn it over and remove all the nettles will grass grow back or will the nettles grow back with it? I want to build a nice out door enclosure (when I get my hermans) and i'm just doing so forward planning. Any tips would help alot. Also what seeds could I plant that would grow really well what he could graze on.

 

[Yvonne G]

Those darned stinging nettles are really hard to get rid of. I always pull them out by hand when they are in the before-going-to-seed stage, however they keep coming back year after year. If they're in a place where you have no tortoises at the moment, you can spray them with Round-up then be sure to pick up all the dead plants before the seeds drop. However, be aware that Round-up is toxic so you don't want any animals there while you're spraying. Then once you have the ground cleared, you can plant broad leafed plants and weeds for Mediterranean type tortoises. Its impossible to get up all the nettle seeds, so you will have some come back, but you just have to keep pulling them. I have them in my box turtle pen and I'm always pulling them up. So far I haven't seen that the box turtles have been harmed by them.

Yvonne

 

[tryme]

ok. what sort of seeds should i plant? Could you name some common ones?

 

[Crazy1]

Here are some interesting sites I found on Stinging Nettle: Which say they are good for people consumption.
http://oikostreecrops.com/store/product.asp?cookiecheck=yes&P_ID=512&PT_ID=103&strPageHistory=cat

according to this site http://www.turtlestuff.com/avoidthese.html the verdict is still out on stinging nettle when it comes to torts. It also refers you to this site.
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/alphalist.html

However I do have CA DT and they eat the stinging nettle that grows in their pens with no ill effect. I personally do not like it just because of the effects when it brushes my leg or I try and pull it up without gloves. http://askit.myfwc.com/cgi-bin/myfw...p_faqid=1956&p_created=1131479483&p_topview=1

 

[tryme]

I don't think i'd bother eating it. I like real food lol

 

[Yvonne G]

ok. what sort of seeds should i plant? Could you name some common ones?

You can get a nice mixture from www.turtlestuff.com or www.carolinapetsupply.com

I think they both sell the type of seeds individually, but you can also buy a mixture called Russian tortoise seed mixture or Mediterranean tortoise seed mixture.

All the seeds listed on this page are good for your Hermann's : http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/ca...ath=41&zenid=4b3d99842027077e2e8689f92bebb146

Yvonne

 

[egyptiandan]

Seeing as your in the UK and can't order seeds from the US Try these
http://www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk/
http://www.urbantortoise.co.uk/

Danny

 

[Jacqui]

I use to know a guy who treated sick turtles (not sure if he worked with any torts) with herbal/natural treatments. Stinging nettle was one of those he used.

 

[tryme]

thanks for the links people.

 

[stells]

Mine eat the odd piece of stinging nettle with no ill effect...

 

[tryme]

do theygraze on normal grass? I got told to remove all grass as it gets soggy etc? Is this true?