Can torts eat the stems of collard greens and mustard greens..?
Sorry. I know that's a dumb one.
Sorry. I know that's a dumb one.
One of those stupid ?s...
- Thread starter Zabbi0
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Its not a dumb question. yes they can eat them. Typically as a general observation in my group of animals. I have noticed they do not like the collard stems as they are pretty tough.
No it is not a stupid question and it is even one that gets asked every so often. The answer is yes they can eat the stems. I like giving the stems more as something that helps to wear down the beak and also to give them something to do. Eating the harder stems tends to take time and slows them down from their fast eating. The stems stay "fresher" longer, so they kind serve as an "all day sucker" of sorts. Food value in the stem is not as high as the leaf part.
Thanks much
just wanted to make sure. Don't want her to choke or anything.
just wanted to make sure. Don't want her to choke or anything.
iis its the tiny tort in your pic.. I'd chop them.
One of my Russian tortoises just loves the stems. He will eat the stems before the leaves.
thanks guys!That was an old pic. She has definitely grown. But I tore them all up into pieces anyway and stuffed them in a ziplock bag. I think it's just easier. The bundles were enormous.
They can definitely eat them, and it may help to wear down their beak, as has already been stated, but mine won't touch them.
Well I just fed Sami a plateful of the collard & mustard greens for the first time. A PLATEFUL. She totally tore into them. I've never seen her eat so much. She dosent eat nearly as much romaine. She ate the stems just fine though I made sure I tore them into tiny pieces. Success! Thanks friends.
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Hi,
The green stems of leafy green plants have a higher calcium content than the leaves. The cell walls in the stem tissue is stronger to hold the leaf up, and it is also full of vascular tissue. It is a good food and has a somewhat different nutrient profile than the leaf itself from the plant as a whole.
I have seen many tortoises preferentially eating the stem before the leaf as they forage on a pile of greens.
Will
The green stems of leafy green plants have a higher calcium content than the leaves. The cell walls in the stem tissue is stronger to hold the leaf up, and it is also full of vascular tissue. It is a good food and has a somewhat different nutrient profile than the leaf itself from the plant as a whole.
I have seen many tortoises preferentially eating the stem before the leaf as they forage on a pile of greens.
Will
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