Plants!

[Grace-Sophia]

Hey y’all! I was curious as to what plants you would recommend for a around 5ft viv? I would like one that doesn’t need a whold lot of water and likes warm temps like tortoise warm, that are also safe for Hermann’s and Russian Tortoises?


(My Hermann’s and Russian are NOT together)

 

[Blackdog1714]

(HahA) pothos and spider plants do very well

 

[Grace-Sophia]

Great thank you!

 

[Lyn W]

Try to get cuttings from safe plants belonging to family and friends etc because if you buy from a store they will have had fertilisers and pesticides etc used on them, so you need to wash roots, repot in chemical free soil and wait for at least a year for anything absorbed to grow out.
If you leave the plants in pots and sink them in the substrate they'll be easier to swap if they get trampled or nibbled.

 

[Grace-Sophia]

Hello again, okay... so I got some Hostas for the tortoises enclosures, they are not intended for eating ( even though they could) and are high enough where the tortoises are out of reach, the provide a good natural look in the enclosures. I did not wash the roots, but the tortoises can't reach them, but I replanted in a different container and put new organic garden soil on the top of the old soil.

My question is, if the torts happen to get a little nibble of the plants, which they are monitored so they shouldn't, but just in case, will they die if they do so?

haha I'm quite the over protected tortoise mom ?

 

[Grace-Sophia]

will they die if they do so?

Just for clarification I meant the tortoises

 

[ZenHerper]

Since we did not plant, fertilize, and potentially apply insecticide/herbicide to these hostas...there is no way to know whether the leaves or dirt are toxic.

The standard recommendation is to keep and water new cultivated plants elsewhere for a year before introducing them to a vivarium.

I suppose you could try contacting the nursery for a list of chemical the use, if that information is available on the plant tags.

 

[Grace-Sophia]

Okay thank you, once again the tortoises will NOT be eating these they are for a natural look to the encloure I was concerend as to if they got a little nibble, I covered the old soil with organic soil, and the plants are high enough to where the torts can't reach them, but as we know they are good climbers.

 

[Grace-Sophia]

The plants are also not planted in the substrate the tortoises have, they are planted in their own container that is sunk into the substrate, so they are separated.

 

[Lyn W]

Any chemicals used in growing will have been absorbed into the leaves which is why it is advised to let them grow out for about a year. Did you wash the leaves to get rid of any residue on the surface?
If they do eat it regularly I would think that any chemicals will build up in the tort because their systems are slow which is where the damage could be done. So it is a risk.

 

[Grace-Sophia]

Alright, the tortoises do not eat it, it is out of reach, and they will not be eating it for their meals, they get their own meals every morning.

 

[Grace-Sophia]

Will it be okay if I rinse the leaves and leave it in there? The torts will not be getting it, and I don't plan on feeding it to them either. They get collard greens, mustard greens, romaine, Hibiscus (when its growing season) dandilion, bell pepper, cucumbers, carrot tops, occasionally beet greens, kale, and chard. They definitely get a whole lot more too .

 

[Grace-Sophia]

Will it be okay if I rinse the leaves and leave it in there? The torts will not be getting it, and I don't plan on feeding it to them either. They get collard greens, mustard greens, romaine, Hibiscus (when its growing season) dandilion, bell pepper, cucumbers, carrot tops, occasionally beet greens, kale, and chard. They definitely get a whole lot more too .

So they have no need to eat it ?

 

[Grace-Sophia]

Will my babies be okay??

 

[ZenHerper]

Do the pots drain into the substrate?

 

[Grace-Sophia]

No.

 

[Grace-Sophia]

No.

They are completely separated

 

[Lyn W]

Personally I wouldn't put a plant straight from a store in with my tort, because torts are great rule breakers and where there's a will there's a way with them . They may not need to eat the plants but that won't stop them trying if they are determined enough.
So really it's your decision to risk it or not.
Maybe post a picture of the plants in the enclosure?

 

[Grace-Sophia]

Alright, thank you for your feedback.
If they take a few nibbles before I get to them is that okay?

 

[Grace-Sophia]

???