Which weeds can tortoises eat

Lewisia Bitterroot, Bitter Root Lewisia spp. Ligularia dentata, L. Lilac Syringa spp. Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis. Lipstick Plant Aeschynanthus spp. Dorotheanthus bellidiformi. Lobelia Lobelia spp. Arum maculatum. Lovage Levisticum officinale. Lychnis Rose Campion Lychnis coronaria. Magnolia Magnolia spp. Mahonia Oregon Grape Mahonia spp. Maize Corn Zea mays.

Mallow Malva spp. Silene chalcedonica. Dipladenia splendens. Marguerite Daisy Argyranthemum frutescens; Leucanthemum vulgare; Chrysanthemum leucanthemum; Chrysanthemum frutescens, Chrysanthemum superbum.

Marrow Vegetable Marrow Cucurbita pepo. Marsh Marigold Kingcup Caltha palustris. Mask Flower Alonsoa meridionalis. Mazus Mazus reptans. Meadow Rue Thalictrum Thalictrum spp. Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis. Meadowsweet Meadow Sweet Filipendula ulmaria; syn. Ruellia brittoniana, Ruellia makoyana, Ruellia portellae. Michaelmas Daisy Aster.

Milk Vetch Astragalus spp. Asclepias syriaca. Million Bells Calibrachoa Calibrachoa spp. Mimosa Acacia dealbata. Mimulus Monkey Flower Mimulus spp. Montia perfoliata.

Mistletoe Viscum album; Phoradendron leucarpum. Mock Orange Philadelphus coronarius. Morning Glory Ipomoea spp. Moss Rose Portulaca grandiflora. Saxifraga hypnoides; S. Sedum weinbergii; Echeveria weinbergii. Bryophyllum daigremontianum; Kalanchoe delagoensis, syn. Mountain Ash Rowan Sorbus aucuparia; S. Mountain Laurel Calico Bush Kalmia latifolia. Mouse-ear Hawkweed Hieracium, Hawkweed Hieracium pilosella, syn. Pilosella officinarum.

Mugwort Common Wormwood Artemisia spp. Mushroom Toadstool, Fungus, Fungi Some of the common edible ones: Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus campestris, Lycoperdon perlatum, Cantharellus cibarius, Boletus edulis, Clitocybe nuda, Macrolepiota procera, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus.

Musk Mallow Malva Moschata. Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus. Nectarine Fruit Prunus persica, var. Nectarine Tree Prunus persica, var. Nemesia Nemesia spp. Nerine Guernsey Lily Nerine spp. Nettle Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica. Nipplewort Lapsana communis. Oak tree Quercus spp. Oleander Nerium oleander. Olive Olea europaea. Oregano Origanum vulgare spp. Oriental Poppy Papaver orientalis. Chrysanthemum leucanthemum. Pachyphytum Bracteosum Pachyphytum bracteosum.

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora. Pampas Grass Cortaderia selloana. Parrot Feather Water Milfoil Myriophyllum aquaticum. Parsley Petroselinum hortense, Petroselinum crispum. Parsnip Pastinaca sativa. Passion Flower Passionfruit Vine Passiflora spp. Peach Fruit Prunus persica. Peach Tree Prunus persica. Pear Fruit Pyrus spp. Pear Tree Pyrus spp. Anaphalis margaritacea. Pelargonium Geranium Pelargonium spp. Pennyroyal Penny Royal Mentha pulegium. Penstemon Beard-tongue, Beardtongue Penstemon spp.

Peony Paeony Paeonia spp. Peperomia Peperomia spp. Peppermint Mentha piperita. Petunia Petunia spp. Philodendron Philodendron spp. Photinia Red Robin Photinia spp. Photinia x fraseri. Pineapple Ananas comosus. Pittosporum Cheesewood Pittosporum spp. Plum — Fruit Greengage, Gage Prunus domestica.

Plum — Tree, Greengage, Gage Prunus domestica. Plumbago Leadwort Plumbago spp. Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima. Pokeweed Pokeberry, Poke, Pokebush Phytolacca spp.

Pomegranate Fruit Punica granatum; syn. Punica malus. Pomegranate Shrub Punica granatum; syn. Potato Solanum tuberosum. Potentilla Cinquefoil - Garden Perennial Potentilla atrosanguinea. Potentilla Cinquefoil Shrub Potentilla fruticosa. Prayer Plant Maranta leuconeura; Calathea spp. Primula Primrose, Polyanthus Primula spp. Privet Ligustrum spp. Pulmonaria Lungwort Pulmonaria spp.

Pumpkin Curcurbita pepo. Purple Bell Vine Rhodochiton Rhodochiton spp. Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria. Purslane Common Purslane Portulaca oleracea.

Quince Fruit Cydonia oblonga. Quince Tree Cydonia oblonga. Radicchio Italian Chicory, Escarole Chicorum intybus. Radish Raphanus sativus. Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi. Senecio jacobaea, Senecio squalidi, syn.

Jacobaea vulgaris. Raspberry Rubus spp. Rubus idaeus. Haplopappus heterophyllus; syn. Haplopappus pleuriflorus; syn. Icocoma wrightii. Red Bartsia Bartsia Odontites vernus. Red Bistort Mountain Fleece Persicaria amplexicaulis. Red Currant Redcurrant Ribes rubrum.

Red Hot Poker Kniphofia. Red Maple Acer rubrum. Red Pitaya Dragonfruit, Hylocereus Hylocereus spp. Rhipsalis Mistletoe Cactus Rhipsalis spp. Rhododendron Rhododendron spp. Rhubarb Rheum spp. Rock Cress Rockcress, Arabis Arabis spp. Rock Rose Sun Rose Helianthemum nummularium. Lactuca sativa. Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis. Ruta graveolens. Russian Sage Perovskia atriplicifolia. Safflower Saffron Thistle Carthamus tinctorius. Once more succulent plants are available, the seem to go out of favour.

There are some reports of too much being a halucinogen, but my torts have never complained! Bramble - Leaves only. I always make sure that any thorns on the underside of the leaves are removed. Quite high in protein, so not to be fed exclusively to babies. Dead Nettle - leaves Found growing wild as well as in gardens. Let them get well established and then pull a leaf or two off each plant every few days for a constant supply.

Hebe - flowers and occasional leaves Good for planting in outside enclosures for shade. Hibiscus - flowers and occasional leaves Tortoises love the flowers! As the start to go over, pull them off and feed them. Honeysuckle - flowers Plenty of flowers available throughout the early summer. Hosta - leaves Not always a favourite, but a nice big leaf which can be fed on its own as a change.

You can also grow the seeds to pick and feed to your tortoise as you please. Pelleted food can be offered occasionally but most brands are too high in carbohydrates. If you want to offer pelleted food the best one is Pro-Rep Tortoise Food because it is made up of dried weeds. A healthy tortoise should be bright and alert with shiny eyes.

Its body should be carried above the ground and the head and limbs should withdraw if alarmed. The shell should be hard and there should be no signs of the following:. Diarrhoea: This can be caused by incorrect feeding or an internal parasite infestation.

Worms: Tortoise species carry a level of Tachygontria Pinworms worms. Generally, these are not a problem until high stress is put onto the tortoise e. If this is a problem tortoises can be wormed by your vet.

Mouth rot: Cheesy deposits in the mouth. This is sometimes encountered after hibernation where inside the mouth might be inflamed and its usually down to a bacterial infection. A cuttlebone should be added to the enclosure to help trim down the beak as well as provide extra calcium.

To help ensure your tortoise is healthy we recommend you keep a monthly record of your tortoise size and weight, you can check this using ratio charts set out in good tortoise books.

Hibernation is a natural response for tortoises during cooler temperatures. If the temperature drops and they are unable to thermoregulate they will go into hibernation. Your tortoise may not be suitable for hibernating for the first few years, a vet can advise you further. Hibernation requires careful planning, your tortoise must be a healthy weight, the digestive system needs to be empty, although the tortoise must be hydrated. Length of hibernation varies between age and size, and never exceed more than 12 weeks.

With correct preparation hibernation can be a safe and beneficial process. Tortoises require regular bathing to help hydrate them. In the wild tortoises urinate when they get to a water source. A lukewarm bath, no higher than halfway up the shell encourages them to drink, defecate and urinate. Bathing 3 times a week is recommend. You should soak for at least minutes each time and make sure the tortoise is clean and dry when it goes back into its enclosure.

Naturally tortoises are solitary in the wild. Like this: Like Loading Let us know your ideas and comments below! Cancel reply. Previous Entry Growth and Pyramiding in the Tortoise.