Russian Tortoise Diet help!

RussianTortxo

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Feb 21, 2014
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Florida
I recently purchased a young russian tortoise from a exotic pet shop in pinellas county Florida and I've been doing a lot of research as to where I can get the different edible flowers and weeds for Arnold here in Clearwater or any neighboring town. Would lowes garden center be ideal as long as the plants and grasses are organic and pesticide free? I want to be able to feed him properly rather than the zoomed grassland tortoise food that he rarely will eat, otherwise I try romaine lettuce and cucumber pieces sometimes with apple. If I knew where I can buy the dandelions and other edible plants and weeds then of course I would have them but I just don't know where I can get these in my area.

Thanks for your help. I just want to give my russian tort the best life I can. :)
 

AZtortMom

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Check out tortisesupply.com they have some great stuff.
 

Tom

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Here is a list of good stuff for them:

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

If you must use grocery store foods favor endive and escarole, but use a wide variety. Try all sorts of different leafy greens. You can add stuff to the grocery store greens to improve it. Things like the ZooMed grassland tortoise chow, "Salad Style" blended grass hay, or Tyler's dried herbal hay mix: http://www.tortoisesupply.com/HerbalHay The price seems high at first glance, but that amount will last one tortoise for a year or more.
 

RussianTortxo

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5 Year Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2014
Messages
86
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
Thank you tom so much for your time with responding! I just wish I was able to get all these locally rather than having to order online or even grow them myself since that could take time.
 

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