readily available foodstuffs in supermarkets?

[markbigears]

"Munster" the hermanns arrives at Christmas as a present for my son (but i'll be in charge!). Now as a first time tort owner I'm in for a steep learning curve. One thing that I'm having problems with, is this whole weed diet thing. Looks like tort husbandry has moved on hugely since the tomato, lettuce, banana diet I remember as a kid. So bearing in mind it will soon be winter and I work 5 days a week, what can I safely provide from the likes of tesco, asda? Any advice greatly appreciated, Mark

[Alan1]

Mixed bagged salad that includes red lettuce (radicchio). Romaine lettuce, cucumber, butternut squash, I think lamb's lettuce or watercress ok in moderation and wild rocket also but none one of them are really very nutritious. Avoid cabbage, kale, spring greens, broccoli, spinach they can cause bladder stones if given too much. T-rex or Mazuri etc pellets is another option.

[markbigears]

Appreciated Alan, regards Mark

[sandy]

Originally Posted by markbigears

"Munster" the hermanns arrives at Christmas as a present for my son (but i'll be in charge!). Now as a first time tort owner I'm in for a steep learning curve. One thing that I'm having problems with, is this whole weed diet thing. Looks like tort husbandry has moved on hugely since the tomato, lettuce, banana diet I remember as a kid. So bearing in mind it will soon be winter and I work 5 days a week, what can I safely provide from the likes of tesco, asda? Any advice greatly appreciated, Mark

To be perfectly honest you should be able to find enough weeds during the Winter for one small tortoise. Without having to feed junk foods:0) which is what salad food is for tortoises. Bittercress, mallow leaves, dandelions. Get your son to look up what the plants look like so he can look out for them. All helps with him learning about them.
Two great sites to look at are www.thetortoisehouse.com and ww.tortoises.net.

[markbigears]

i'll certainly do that Sandy, will have to clue up on weeds and cheaper too!
Can you pick a load and put them in the fridge to last a few days / week?

[emma_mcraf]

I find that slender plantain and Cat's Ear are easy to find during the winter months and I use romaine and radicchio to bulk out weeds. Home-grown winter pansies are an option too and aloe and spider plants in the enclosure help out as they can be safely nibbled at (or in the case of a few of my torts, completely devoured!!). Cactus plants can be kept on the windowsill and fed once a fortnight or so and I use Nutrazu pellets through the worst of the winter once a week.
As Sandy says, feeding just one tort shouldn't be too difficult through the winter and you don't have to just rely on the supermarkets. Hope that helps.

[CherryBrandy]

MarkBE - rocket ! just expensive dandelions. My lot love it co-op £1 a bag, for 70grammes - lasts ages if mix it up. can get it cheaper elsewhere no doubt, but if can do weeds then that's the ideal. Fun to learn too - and sow...and grow if got the space. CB

[Stellanne]

Or you could have a few walks now and pull up some weeds with a root and plant them in your border. As has been said, there are plenty of weeds about for one tortoise. A walk at a weekend would enable you to gather enough weeds for a week.......wash them and keep in the fridge in a plastic container. You may find you have more than enough already growing in your garden and bear in mind not all weeds are suitable for a tortoise x x x. Hugs x x x

[CherryBrandy]

Originally Posted by Stellanne

Or you could have a few walks now and pull up some weeds with a root and plant them in your border. As has been said, there are plenty of weeds about for one tortoise. A walk at a weekend would enable you to gather enough weeds for a week.......wash them and keep in the fridge in a plastic container. You may find you have more than enough already growing in your garden and bear in mind not all weeds are suitable for a tortoise x x x. Hugs x x x

Ideal ! Don't forget to check for slugs ! the little blighters like left over chilli. I cant believe the size of dandelion leaves at the moment. Amazing!

[Alan1]

Originally Posted by CherryBrandy

MarkBE - rocket ! just expensive dandelions. My lot love it co-op £1 a bag, for 70grammes - lasts ages if mix it up. can get it cheaper elsewhere no doubt, but if can do weeds then that's the ideal. Fun to learn too - and sow...and grow if got the space. CB

I have extra strong wild rocket growing in a large pot outside for my own use
I think rocket should only be given in moderation to torts, just like dandelion, once a week or something. It too causes bladder stones and is a diuretic I think