Plants!

[Maggy]

I've started growing some plants for my little Hermann tortoise and I put the plants in a soil called seedling mix. It has little white dots in it that are balls of perlite and dolomite lime which is a PH adjuster and I was wondering if that would hurt my tortoise? Should I keep the plants out of his enclosure just in case he tries to eat the white balls and just take pieces of the plant off and give it to him or are they safe for him or what would you suggest?

 

[WithLisa]

I would plant it in the enclosure, but take as little of the soil as possible and cover it with the normal substrate.

 

[Markw84]

I would avoid any possible contact with perlite! It is indeed something a tortoise will eat and can cause impaction. It looks good to them - perhaps looking for calcium sources naturally looking white, but because of its inert and very light makeup, it can be deadly for a tortoise to consume.

 

[Maggy]

Thank you!! Is the plant still ok if I just feed it to my tortoise even if it has been grown in soil with perlite?

 

[ethan508]

The perlite won't uptake into plant in a way that is harmful if the plant is eaten.