Are morning glory leaves safe for my sulcata to eat? Newbie here and find conflicting info.

Lisa4mk

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I am a newbie in Texas and I'm checking out all the plants I have growing in my yard to see if they are safe to eat. Right now my sully is tiny and not roaming the yard. Question 1-Can I give him a few morning glory leaves to munch on? I am starting my grass seed mix but in the meantime I am trying to give him various things easy to get. I have been feeding him grocery store kale and spring mix. Question 2-Should he have access to food all the time or just a feeding schedule? Question 3-I constantly pull johnson grass from my pea gravel - I dont use weed killers, pesticides or fertilizers - and wonder if those little new clumps are ok to grow in his enclosure for him to munch on? Only had him about a month so forgive my ignorance. I have read Tom's care sheet. Just trying to expand my knowledge.
 

turtlesteve

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I don’t know either, and have also found conflicting information on morning glory. All of the reports of toxicity I have seen were for seeds. I don’t feed it because I cannot confirm it is safe.
 

2wgasa

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Not sure about morning glory. The Tortoise Table only mentions the seed as stated in previous post.


I have some morning glory in the yard. So far it has been impossible to eradicate. I'd probably have to kill everything nearby and not sure that would stop it from reemerging. I think Bomber is around 15 yo. I've seen him munch on a leaf on rare occasion but no more than one so I guess he somehow knows. He's never shown interest in the flower.
 

wellington

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I thought Morning Glory & Eggplant (and tomato greens) were all part of the “night shade” family & on the “Do Not Feed” list. When there are so many other food sources available, always best to skip & move on.

Why risk it. ? ?‍♂️
Yes, thanks, I was trying to think of the "night shade family"
That's what I have seen before too about morning glory.
 

Blackdog1714

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Toxicity to pets
The seeds from the flowers of some species contain the toxin, lysergic alkaloids. When large amounts are ingested, clinical signs of incoordination and agitation can be seen. Ingestion of foliage typically only causes mild vomiting and/or diarrhea.
https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com › ...
Morning Glory Is Toxic To Dogs | Pet Poison Helpline
 
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I have no idea about the egg plant and tomato. Just know the morning glory is part of the night shade family.
Actually you have it the wrong way round. The nightshades are plants in Solanaceae, including plants such as tomato and eggplant.
Morning glory is in the Convolvulaceae, which includes plants such as morning glories, sweet potatoes, and bind weed.
 

Markw84

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I have no idea about the egg plant and tomato. Just know the morning glory is part of the night shade family.
The Morning Glory we all know as Morning Glory and the Tomato are in entirely different families. IN the same Order but not same family. Even in the same family you can have some poisonous and others totally safe. So different families and same Order is nothing you can draw conclusions from.

Morning Glory
Order:Solanales
Family:Convolvulaceae
Genus:Ipomoea

Tomato, night shade:
Order:Solanales
Family:Solanaceae
Genus:Solanum

I have seen in a few older books I used to read avidly and study that Morning Glory was a primary food for Sulcatas when available
 

ZenHerper

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Morning Glory is related to Sweet Potato (whose leaves are technically edible).

Toxicity of flowers/seeds aside, the leaves in this family of vines are not the best food choice since the calcium-to-phosphorous ratio is seriously upside down.


If one needed to use them (they are high in dietary fiber), then calcium supplementation would be in order.
 

wellington

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The Morning Glory we all know as Morning Glory and the Tomato are in entirely different families. IN the same Order but not same family. Even in the same family you can have some poisonous and others totally safe. So different families and same Order is nothing you can draw conclusions from.

Morning Glory
Order:Solanales
Family:Convolvulaceae
Genus:Ipomoea

Tomato, night shade:
Order:Solanales
Family:Solanaceae
Genus:Solanum

I have seen in a few older books I used to read avidly and study that Morning Glory was a primary food for Sulcatas when available
My only point I was trying to make. They are not to be fed. Years ago they were listed as being in the night shade family and night shade family was a do not feed.
I won't take the risk, but those that will, go ahead.
The rule of thumb years ago was if it's bad for one it's bad for all. Same went for animals in general. If it was bad for horses, cows, dogs, etc, we considered it bad for tortoises.
Incase it doesn't show in the picture, the pic is from the tortoise table.
I have no clue about tomato or egg plant and if they are part of night shade or not.
 

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wellington

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Common Nightshade veggies.
white potatoes
tomatoes
eggplant
bell peppers
cayenne pepper
paprika
Nightshades contain an alkaloid called solanine, which is toxic in high concentrations.
 

Lisa4mk

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Not sure about morning glory. The Tortoise Table only mentions the seed as stated in previous post.


I have some morning glory in the yard. So far it has been impossible to eradicate. I'd probably have to kill everything nearby and not sure that would stop it from reemerging. I think Bomber is around 15 yo. I've seen him munch on a leaf on rare occasion but no more than one so I guess he somehow knows. He's never shown interest in the flower.
thank you!
 

Lisa4mk

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Thank you all for your input. I'm still confused but I won't feed him any morning glory leaves or flowers to be safe.
 

Maggie3fan

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H
Thank you all for your input. I'm still confused but I won't feed him any morning glory leaves or flowers to be safe.
Holy crap! Lisa4mk...some times our more experienced members need to show who's smarter...this is what I know, granted I am not nearly as smart or educated as those who have already commented...I love Morning Glory's
1625167562660.jpg
they are planted all over my property
1625167512524.jpg
they are annuals but they do reseed and they are somewhat invasive
1625167489594.jpg
They are very easy to pull out of the soil if you want to get rid of them. Anyway...I have tortoises all over my property and not one has ever eaten a Morning Glory that I have seen. In the '60's we at the seeds looking for a hallucinating type of high, but it was agitating instead...yucky.
So that is my comment based on my very own experience...I hope this unconfused you...lol
1625166850797.jpg
 

Lisa4mk

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Round Rock, Texas
H
Holy crap! Lisa4mk...some times our more experienced members need to show who's smarter...this is what I know, granted I am not nearly as smart or educated as those who have already commented...I love Morning Glory's
View attachment 329352
they are planted all over my property
View attachment 329353
they are annuals but they do reseed and they are somewhat invasive
View attachment 329355
They are very easy to pull out of the soil if you want to get rid of them. Anyway...I have tortoises all over my property and not one has ever eaten a Morning Glory that I have seen. In the '60's we at the seeds looking for a hallucinating type of high, but it was agitating instead...yucky.
So that is my comment based on my very own experience...I hope this unconfused you...lol
View attachment 329356
Thanks! I love them too!
 

RFedak

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Boulder Creeek
I am a newbie in Texas and I'm checking out all the plants I have growing in my yard to see if they are safe to eat. Right now my sully is tiny and not roaming the yard. Question 1-Can I give him a few morning glory leaves to munch on? I am starting my grass seed mix but in the meantime I am trying to give him various things easy to get. I have been feeding him grocery store kale and spring mix. Question 2-Should he have access to food all the time or just a feeding schedule? Question 3-I constantly pull johnson grass from my pea gravel - I dont use weed killers, pesticides or fertilizers - and wonder if those little new clumps are ok to grow in his enclosure for him to munch on? Only had him about a month so forgive my ignorance. I have read Tom's care sheet. Just trying to expand my knowledge.
Here is a link to some known poisonous plants:
Randy
 
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