confused more than normal

[jeffjeff]

hi every one me again with more questions. not sure if its just me but some of the info i find is contradictory. most of it i got figured out with help from folks on here (much appreciated). when you say collard greens u do mean cabbage, brussel sprouts carrot tops collie flour leaves ect that we buy from the shops for human consumption? its not a phrase we use in England at least not in my area. its just greens to or veg to us. so i Googled it and that's what i came up with. but this is where i get confused according to the tortoise table most of these things are not to be fed. so am i missing some thing? is the tt info not accurate? is there a simple list any where that's as simple as say for example :- carrot tops = feed
sprouts = feed
ice burg = don't feed ect ect
there's so many types at supermarkets a list like this for veg would be great to me and others that's new to tortoise keeping. thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

No. Collards is its own veggie. It looks like this (first picture):

http://www.all-creatures.org/recipes/collard.html

Collards are good for you and your tortoise, but should not be fed exclusively as it is in the brassica family. REad this about brassicas:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/food-from-the-brassica-family.49450/

 

[jeffjeff]

that explains alot then lol. some reason i had thought collard greens ment the whole group. it seems to be some thing we don't have or use this side of the pond.

 

[Yvonne G]

This is a very popular food item in the Southern states (USA).

 

[Tom]

I would try to mostly avoid everything you mentioned. Grocery store foods are okay if you just can't find anything else, but there are so many other things that are better for them. In the wild they would be eating broadleaf weeds and certain leaves. Its best to try and simulate that. It will take some effort and research on your part to learn to ID the weeds that grow in your area, but it is really the best thing you can do for your tortoise.

If you must rely on grocery store foods for part of the year, favor endive and escarole heavily, and amend the greens by adding some finely chopped, rehydrated grass hay. Rocket salad will give you some variety too, as will carrot tops, and the collards.

Here is a list of suggestions, but there are many more than what is here:
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

 

[Jabuticaba]

that explains alot then lol. some reason i had thought collard greens ment the whole group. it seems to be some thing we don't have or use this side of the pond.

Thought they were known as silverbeets, in the UK.


May, Aussies, & Hermannis
IG: @AUSSOMEAUSSIES

 

[jeffjeff]

thanks for your reply. i feed weeds and flowers, i couldn't name most of them tho lol i bought a few packs of seeds from shelled worriers and grew them so i knew they would be safe. i do use a few from the garden too once i have them identified if i'm unsure. there's some thing like 70 different types growing now so he get a good mix. thanks again