Tortoise and Lettuce

[Liam Moore]

Hello guys I have one question that I want to ask quickly. When i was reading the guide to keeping a hermanns tortoise on this forum, It said to avoid lettuce which i was confused about, because i thought you were supposed to feed lettuce to tortoises? Is this just for the hermanns tortoise? and also it said to avoid calcium supplements and use a cuttlebone. Anyone got tips for me and raising a hermanns tortoise?

 

[Falcon70]

It's not that lettuce is necessarily bad, it's that variety is key. Weeds are a lot more nutritious, and by changing it up, it gives your tortoise the different nutrients it needs. Check the caresheets on the forum for what types are safe/good to feed

 

[Liam Moore]

Where can i find weeds and is there certain types of weeds to avoid or where i can find some?

 

[Lyn W]

There's lots of conflicting information out there, but the guys on here really know what they are talking about so my best advice to you would be to follow their advice every time and read the care sheets re food for your type of tort.

There's also a great website called the Tortoise Table which shows you what plants are safe toxic etc......with pictures for ID

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Lettuce is a traditional tortoise food , as is tomato, but neither should make up a large part of a tortoise diet, but be reserved for occasional treats.
Mediterranean should enjoy a mixed diet of especially broad leafed greens, but lettuce is high in water, but generally low in vitamins and minerals by volume, not harmful, but should only be a part of a broader diet.
Good advice given above. Read the care sheets.
Cuttlebone is better and also helps keep the tortoises beak from growing too long. Some won't touch it, so a little can be scraped on top of the food a couple of times a week.

 

[Tom]

Hermanni are broadleaf weed eaters. There are no lettuce fields in the wild. Lettuce is lacking in fiber, calcium and nutrition.

You have much to learn about the ways of tortoise keeping grasshopper. Keep reading, asking questions and learning. You will have to learn to ID your local weeds and find safe places to scrounge them from.

Here are some care sheets, followed by suggested tortoise foods:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/

These two are for russians, but care is essentially the same:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

And what NOT to do:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Suggested food list:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food

 

[ascott]

Hello guys I have one question that I want to ask quickly. When i was reading the guide to keeping a hermanns tortoise on this forum, It said to avoid lettuce which i was confused about, because i thought you were supposed to feed lettuce to tortoises? Is this just for the hermanns tortoise? and also it said to avoid calcium supplements and use a cuttlebone. Anyone got tips for me and raising a hermanns tortoise?

Here is a good outline of the variety of lettuce for you to rotate out;

http://www.bltrobotics.com/users/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6

Weeds are a necessary item for a healthy tortoise....and mixing in some lettuce varieties is also a good thing....variety is key. There are some sites that offer seeds for the variety of foods you will want to toss out in the enclosue and get growing....some like these;

http://www.plant-world-seeds.com/st...currency=USD&gclid=CM_01vzC6MQCFcIdgQodvJAAjg

http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=179

Where in the world are you located? Local and loam will determine what types of flowers and weeds will grow readily in your area....