Can I feed stinging nettles

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I saw some websites saying you can feed stinging nettles to tortoises, is this the ones that you get stung and they really hurt here in the uk or am I being dumb? If so does it sting tortoises and can I feed it to my russian or is it just certain species of tortoises?
 

Lyn W

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Kapidolo Farms

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Urtica dioica

is edible and offers a deep dark green that many tortoises seem to notice and go for when mixed with other greens.

So many plants have the word nettle associated with them it is best to use the latin name.

You can get bulk, https://kapidolofarms.com/product/nettle-loose-leaf/
or find it in many variety packs, https://kapidolofarms.com/product-category/foods-and-diet-items/variety-packs/

The warning from TTT is a useless uncited refence to another bogyman chemical that is not named. "Only offer young leaves as older ones store a substance that can irritate the kidneys" People have used nettel as a botanical tea for centuries. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6100552/
 
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This is what the tortoise table says

But also look at

and especially

Personally I wouldn't risk it in case it's the wrong sort.
Yeah I don’t think I’m going to risk it honestly
 

Lyn W

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Yeah I don’t think I’m going to risk it honestly
I'm not that confident at identifying plants when there are several similar, so tend to err on the side of caution.
Pity Kapidolo Farms isn't in UK to buy from.
 

Yossarian

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The most common variety in the UK is the Urtica Dioica. My tort likes them, I pick the young leaves when they are growing, only because my tort doesnt seem to like the old leaves as much. There is one or two other varieties but my understanding is they are more rare.
 

Kapidolo Farms

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I'm not that confident at identifying plants when there are several similar, so tend to err on the side of caution.
Pity Kapidolo Farms isn't in UK to buy from.

I ship to the UK several times a year. No worries. Send me your shopping list and I create a least cost quote. Vax or whatever is on you. The quote will be the 'shipped cost'.

I use UPS most often as they have the most streamline customs documents for me to fill out, and it's a single carrier. USPS hands thing over to your domestic carrier and that has caused much concern for timeliness in the past.

[email protected] with your wish list.

I've shipped to South Africa, England, Scotland, India, and Canada. It can be surprisingly affordable.
 

RosemaryDW

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Stinging nettles are fine to feed. My Russian won’t eat them so far but that’s okay. You can eat them like any other greens; the prickles lose their sting after a minute in boiling water. You can add them to a pizza or make soup. They taste like spring time. :)

Not to interfere with Will’s amazing foods and service, but you can get dried nettle in the U.K. from Shelled Warriors:https://www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk/dried-nettle---free-post-8200-p.asp. They sell other dried foods as well. If you’re just wanting to try a bit of new food this might be another option to consider.
 
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Lyn W

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I ship to the UK several times a year. No worries. Send me your shopping list and I create a least cost quote. Vax or whatever is on you. The quote will be the 'shipped cost'.

I use UPS most often as they have the most streamline customs documents for me to fill out, and it's a single carrier. USPS hands thing over to your domestic carrier and that has caused much concern for timeliness in the past.

[email protected] with your wish list.

I've shipped to South Africa, England, Scotland, India, and Canada. It can be surprisingly affordable.
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That's good to know - thanks.
I thought there'd be a problem with exporting/importing plants from other countries.
 
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Stinging nettles are fine to feed. My Russian won’t eat them so far but that’s okay. You can eat them like any other greens; the prickles lose their sting after a minute in boiling water. You can add them to a pizza or make soup. They taste like spring time. :)

Not to interfere with Will’s amazing foods and service, but you can get dried nettle in the U.K. from Shelled Warriors:https://www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk/dried-nettle---free-post-8200-p.asp. They sell other dried foods as well. If you’re just wanting to try a bit of new food this might be another option to consider.
Thank you! I’ll definitely take a look on the shelled warriors page
 

Kapidolo Farms

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Interesting to note, my prices with shipping to the UK are about the same or LESS than shelled warriors, and with few exceptions all is organic from Kapidolo Farms. For the ZM foods, I have a much better cost.

I've pushed to be able to beat the retail price of the very sources I buy from that are retail/wholesale, I have a wider range than anyone else, and every sale comes with a free trial of some other item.

I don't feel 'interfered' with, I feel inspired, to do better bringing quality foods to tortoise keepers everywhere.

Stinging nettles are fine to feed. My Russian won’t eat them so far but that’s okay. You can eat them like any other greens; the prickles lose their sting after a minute in boiling water. You can add them to a pizza or make soup. They taste like spring time. :)

Not to interfere with Will’s amazing foods and service, but you can get dried nettle in the U.K. from Shelled Warriors:https://www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk/dried-nettle---free-post-8200-p.asp. They sell other dried foods as well. If you’re just wanting to try a bit of new food this might be another option to consider.
 

Kapidolo Farms

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Not 'plants' anymore than a fur coat is animals, or tea is plants. I declare all contents on international shipments.

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That's good to know - thanks.
I thought there'd be a problem with exporting/importing plants from other countries.
 
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