Spinach

[Jordan67]

Hi,
Just wondering if russian tortoises can eat a small portion of baby spinach that comes in a spring mix?

Thanks

 

[Spn785]

They can, however spinach can cause an increase in urates, but as long as your tortoise is well hydrated, there shouldn't be a problem with a small amount.

 

[Jordan67]

Thanks

 

[Tom]

They shouldn't be eating it every day. I'd say a couple of times a week at most, in small amounts. If you feed a lot of spring mix, you will need to pick it out most of the time or find a mix without it. Try Santa Barbara mix instead, or better yet feed lots of free broadleaf weeds like mallow, mustard, sow thistle, clover, filaree, plantain and many many more.

 

[biochemnerd808]

Like Tom said, spinach is fine as part of a varied diet. It actually has some very valuable nutrients, and as mentioned in a few other threads on here, isn't the 'poison' it is often made out to be.

@Spn785, I'm going to be a nerd and say that urates have nothing (or very little) to do with the oxalic acid in spinach. Urates are the end product of protein metabolism, whereas oxalic acid has the chemical structure H2C2O4, and is harmful to the tortoise in large amounts because it binds calcium, thereby preventing proper absorbtion into bones, shell, etc. - while it is probably expelled with the urates and other excretions, it does not actually cause MORE urates.

They can, however spinach can cause an increase in urates, but as long as your tortoise is well hydrated, there shouldn't be a problem with a small amount.

---

That said, Calcium oxalate (which is oxalic acid bound to calcium) can cause kidney stones, so as with many things in tortoise husbandry, variety is key. Don't feed just spinach, but a leaf here or there will be FINE.

 

[Spn785]

Like Tom said, spinach is fine as part of a varied diet. It actually has some very valuable nutrients, and as mentioned in a few other threads on here, isn't the 'poison' it is often made out to be.

@Spn785, I'm going to be a nerd and say that urates have nothing (or very little) to do with the oxalic acid in spinach. Urates are the end product of protein metabolism, whereas oxalic acid has the chemical structure H2C2O4, and is harmful to the tortoise in large amounts because it binds calcium, thereby preventing proper absorbtion into bones, shell, etc. - while it is probably expelled with the urates and other excretions, it does not actually cause MORE urates.

They can, however spinach can cause an increase in urates, but as long as your tortoise is well hydrated, there shouldn't be a problem with a small amount.

---

That said, Calcium oxalate (which is oxalic acid bound to calcium) can cause kidney stones, so as with many things in tortoise husbandry, variety is key. Don't feed just spinach, but a leaf here or there will be FINE.

---

Thank you for the correction! I ccouldn't remember if it caused an increase in urates or if it bound to calcium.

 

[biochemnerd808]

no worries, it's a common mistake.

Thank you for the correction! I couldn't remember if it caused an increase in urates or if it bound to calcium.