Drying leaves for tortoises

[Merrick]

Anyone done this if so how? I have read that you can put dried leaves on tortoises mazuri for the winter when some plants don't grow

 

[Keith D.]

Anyone done this if so how? I have read that you can put dried leaves on tortoises mazuri for the winter when some plants don't grow

Interesting concept, wonder if it would work with mulberry and grape leaves. Then of course finding someone willing to ship leaves since i still cant find any lol

 

[wellington]

I have fed both dried grape and mulberry leaves. just lay them out to dry.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Dried leaves whole as is and crumpled and mixed in with Mazuri, or green greens works great. Sometimes some of the forsteni will eat the dry leaves even in the presence of fresh green mulberry. If you think about it most leaves on the ground are semi dry, when the tortoise will have easiest access.

If you have a whole branch or vine, hang it upside down, then they are in a good position to dry.

 

[Merrick]

my first batch i just dried them on a paper towel getting ready for my not so wintery winter

 

[nextep]

Looks great up to now!

 

[Prairie Mom]

Anyone done this if so how? I have read that you can put dried leaves on tortoises mazuri for the winter when some plants don't grow

I'm drying leaves right now. I was just emailing with another forum member about it too. I am currently working on drying lawn clippings, grape leaves, squash leaves (but I'm going to chop up the stems to freeze them), watermelon leaves, holly hock leaves, and hosta leaves. I will also clip and dry many of my edible flowers. I'll try to rehydrate some and mix it in with fresh greens as well as mazuri.

 

[BaconandEggs]

So would the same concept mean that I can order dried hibiscus leaves and flowers online and feed them to my red and yellow foots? I could make mazuri/hibiscus meatballs for them, lol.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

@BaconandEggs I think you can do this but ought to scrutinize the source. It is really a good quality item? Intended for food or some other purpose? Lately I have seen bins of dried hibiscus flowers called "Jamaican". I asked people I see what they do with it and have been told it is to flavor tea. They look like little red-purple octopuses though, not like what I see when I dry hibiscus from my own garden. I don't really know what it is. Product description with proper common and scientific names, or the process used to make it a consumer product let alone how it is grown are all somewhat important to know.

I do buy somethings on-line as food stuffs, and there is a convenience to it, but I enjoy the process of doing it myself more.

I've gone to these vendors based on a recommendation from a Veterinarian who has tortoises...
http://www.sunorganicfarm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=VEG
http://www.atlanticspice.com/Botanicals_c_20.html

 

[Keith D.]

@BaconandEggs I think you can do this but ought to scrutinize the source. It is really a good quality item? Intended for food or some other purpose? Lately I have seen bins of dried hibiscus flowers called "Jamaican". I asked people I see what they do with it and have been told it is to flavor tea. They look like little red-purple octopuses though, not like what I see when I dry hibiscus from my own garden. I don't really know what it is. Product description with proper common and scientific names, or the process used to make it a consumer product let alone how it is grown are all somewhat important to know.

I do buy somethings on-line as food stuffs, and there is a convenience to it, but I enjoy the process of doing it myself more.

I've gone to these vendors based on a recommendation from a Veterinarian who has tortoises...
http://www.sunorganicfarm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=VEG
http://www.atlanticspice.com/Botanicals_c_20.html

Hiya, jamaica is a type of hibiscus I probably would be careful when feeding it, it is really high in vitamin c and dont really know if that will stop calcium absorption or not.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Hiya, jamaica is a type of hibiscus I probably would be careful when feeding it, it is really high in vitamin c and dont really know if that will stop calcium absorption or not.

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/fe...trition/calcium/12-ways-to-boost-your-calcium look at number 6.

 

[BaconandEggs]

I would a million percent scrutinize the source and type of leaves/flowers if I ordered them. Most the stuff on the market has additives for making tea. Just thinking ahead for winter! Thanks for the resources!

 

[domalle]

I'm drying leaves right now. I was just emailing with another forum member about it too. I am currently working on drying lawn clippings, grape leaves, squash leaves (but I'm going to chop up the stems to freeze them), watermelon leaves, holly hock leaves, and hosta leaves. I will also clip and dry many of my edible flowers. I'll try to rehydrate some and mix it in with fresh greens as well as mazuri.

Refrigerating the leaves may successfully lock in the vitamins and nutrients for future use although in some cases they may be lost.
Rehydration is unlikely to be of use. You can't reintroduce the useful stuff back into a leaf once it's dried.
And for those of you keeping tortoises outside in natural sunlight, if you're using mazuri remember
it is formulated with vitamin D3.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

if you're using mazuri remember it is formulated with vitamin D3.

Thank you for this timely reminder.
Listen up young-ins! This is a gentle early reminder. Follow up on the source as well so that when you pass on this information it is substantial and not just lip service, know what I mean?

 

[domalle]

Thank you for this timely reminder.
Listen up young-ins! This is a gentle early reminder. Follow up on the source as well so that when you pass on this information it is substantial and not just lip service, know what I mean?

I'm not really sure whether you are seconding what I said about D3 or what you meant, but good to see you're back in the swing.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

I'm kinda halfway back in the swing.

 

[Prairie Mom]

Refrigerating the leaves may successfully lock in the vitamins and nutrients for future use although in some cases they may be lost.
Rehydration is unlikely to be of use. You can't reintroduce the useful stuff back into a leaf once it's dried.
And for those of you keeping tortoises outside in natural sunlight, if you're using mazuri remember
it is formulated with vitamin D3.

Refrigerating will not last long enough. These are winter preparations for a cold climate tortoise keeper. I mix in dried leaves with fresh offerings as well as Mazuri in order to offer as much variety as possible in a location where grass won't even grow in the winter. Although my tortoise likes some dried food (mulberry leaves) so much that she has eaten them plain and crunchy, I intend to rehydrate many of the lawn clippings this winter as I know of other keepers who have had great success with this.

 

[domalle]

Refrigerating will not last long enough. These are winter preparations for a cold climate tortoise keeper. I mix in dried leaves with fresh offerings as well as Mazuri in order to offer as much variety as possible in a location where grass won't even grow in the winter. Although my tortoise likes some dried food (mulberry leaves) so much that she has eaten them plain and crunchy, I intend to rehydrate many of the lawn clippings this winter as I know of other keepers who have had great success with this.

Sorry, I missed that about the cold climate keeping. You are obviously very dedicated to your tortoise. He is lucky to have you and keep up the good work.

 

[domalle]

I'm kinda halfway back in the swing.

Well good luck anyway on the upswing.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

Well good luck anyway on the upswing.

Thanks and that's my plan.