Nettles in external enclosure

[tarta4ever]

Hi guys, now that the temperature seems to be high enough to move my red foot tortoise out, I would ask you if nettle is dangerous.
Thanks
This is the situation

 

[jeffjeff]

whether they sting torts or not i don't know. they are safe and they seem to eat them with out any problems so I would just thin them out a bit.

 

[Loohan]

They have formic acid in the needles. Sometimes i have seen my seed heads (which also have some sting) munched down by deer. Nettles are very nutritious and if they can stand the pain, it's probably all right.
I think one could dry the nettles and powder them (drying gets rid of the sting) and formulate ones own turtle food concentrate with other ingredients.

 

[Tom]

I have not fed them to tortoises, but I know gorillas in the wild eat at least some varieties of stinging nettle. I don't think that is very helpful for your issue, but thought some might find it interesting.

What do the big tortoise plant databases have to say about stinging nettle?

 

[Jacqui]

The tortoises should not be hurt by the nettles. While nutritious, very few tortoises will eat them in this state. I use to use dried nettle powder in home made turtle remedies. The major problem with them is they grow tall, are invasive, and many of us are highly allergic to them. I would advise removing them now.

 

[Loohan]

This time of year i eat them several times a week, cooked. Yum.
Put on a glove, pluck the tops, cook well.

 

[Anyfoot]

If torts don't like them, make white wine out of them. glug glug glug. hiccup.

 

[Anyfoot]

This time of year i eat them several times a week, cooked. Yum.
Put on a glove, pluck the tops, cook well.

Check this link. I think your nettle type is on as edible.

http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plants_19.asp?thissection=6

 

[peasinapod]

You can make good fertilizer out of them as well! It stinks really bad though.

 

[Anyfoot]

You can make good fertilizer out of them as well! It stinks really bad though.

Yes, nettles are useful for a few things. My mum and dad use nettles and comfrey for fertilizer. Also if you grab them tight they don't sting you, had to remove these from many a fishing peg on our rivers before fishing.

 

[peasinapod]

Yes, nettles are useful for a few things. My mum and dad use nettles and comfrey for fertilizer. Also if you grab them tight they don't sting you, had to remove these from many a fishing peg on our rivers before fishing.

I was always the child that managed zo fall/lay in a stinging nettle patch. Mashed up plantain helps sooth the stinging!

I actually meant that the fertilizer stinks really bad. XD

 

[Anyfoot]

I was always the child that managed zo fall/lay in a stinging nettle patch. Mashed up plantain helps sooth the stinging!

I actually meant that the fertilizer stinks really bad. XD

I've fallen into them too. Lol. Could be worse. In Greece I once fell in a cactus. Lol.