Newbies!

[JohnPatriciaHolbert]

Hi everyone! We are John and Patricia Holbert and live in North Redington Beach, FL which is on a barrier island west of Tampa We are the new owners of an RT which loves Kale and not much else. I've noticed a lot of conversations on here regarding leaves and grasses and we are wondering what type we can find here on this island that would work! This is an amazingly active forum and it will be a pleasure to participate! Thank you for any help you can give us"

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello John
It's great to have a nother member that knows 1955 isn't a tire size !

 

[TortoiseWarrior]

Hi. Welcome

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum, John and Patricia!

Russian tortoises will eat grass, but they prefer broad-leaf plants and weeds. Here's a good list to choose from:

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

 

[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome

Have you read these guides?

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Russian care Sheet
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

They're written by species experts on TFO working hard to correct misinformation given out by many pet stores and, sadly, by some breeders and vets too.

 

[Speedy-1]

Hi and welcome John and Patricia !

 

[JohnPatriciaHolbert]

Welcome to the Forum, John and Patricia!

Russian tortoises will eat grass, but they prefer broad-leaf plants and weeds. Here's a good list to choose from:

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

Thank you Yvonne?

 

[JohnPatriciaHolbert]

Thank you Joesmum. I appreciate all your help. It seems there are lots of different answers to the same question in the books we have read! This will help a bunch!

 

[JoesMum]

Thank you Joesmum. I appreciate all your help. It seems there are lots of different answers to the same question in the books we have read! This will help a bunch!

Unfortunately the books are also guilty of outdated information

If in doubt, post pictures of your tort, enclosure and lighting on here and we can advise.

Post pictures anyway... We love pictures