The Tortoise Table

I'm a new tortoise owner in the UK, and to say I'm confused when it comes to identifying which weeds are safe is an understatement.

This is the most basic stuff we learned at primary school I've forgotten - the original plan was to "let tort feed on all weeds" but I've quickly learned that isn't going to work I can't tell 'fake forget-me-nots' from 'forget-me-nots' or if a stinging nettle is really a stinging nettle or just a nettle that stings.

Any help much appreciated! I'll add a few photos in separate messages & try and get them done in one fell swoop!

Here's 1 to 3...

Hiya, and congratulations on becoming a tortoise owner. You will be hooked in all forme of tortoise keeping and gardening in a short while, I bet.

LOL - I have to laugh at your nettle and forget me not comments. A nettle will sting and a false or dead nettle will not. The only problem you have if finding out what one hurts the most

Your first photo is Wood Avens and you can see our entry for that, in the database here -- https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=174&c=6

Your second photo is one of the Galiums, Cleevers or Goosegrass. Again that can be see in our entry here -- https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=132&c=6

Your last one looks like a Maple saplin and again it can be viewed in this entry or ours -- https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=647&c=4
All of these plants are feed sparingly plants showing an amber - red traffic light colour.

Look forward to receiving the next ones and dont worry, we all had to start somewhere.

Lin

[quote=lin post_id=2261 time=1529081092 user_id=53]
Hiya, and congratulations on becoming a tortoise owner. You will be hooked in all forme of tortoise keeping and gardening in a short while, I bet.

[/quote]

Wow thank you Lin! I didn't want to overwhelm anyone, also I think I may have taken a photo of the same plants without even knowing, I really am at a stage where they're all blending into one for me so apologies if I post the same pic twice.

Here's 4-6! The top two, I believe I know as 'doc leaves' and 'stinging nettles'... but maybe I'm wrong...

And 7-9!

Please do feel free to use these photos in your database or for whatever purposes you need, this is a great help for me. I suffer face-blindness in real life (prosopagnosia - I don't recognise faces!)... so maybe it's spreading to weeds

Once I find something I can feed King Gemini Jesse Tortoise I'm sure life will be much happier for His Highness (who currently loves nothing more than climbing up living lettuce plants & eating from the top down... or climbing on top of me... I think he thinks he's a dog tbh)

Thanks again Lin! X

Hiya.

Your first one could in fact be Dock, but it does look very 'clean'. Dock usually has lots of burns, holes and reddening of the leaves so for now we should leave this one until it grows a bit more.

The second photo is in fact 'Stinging' nettle and I am sure I will be proved right if you care to touch it - lol. No, dont do that, it is Nettle, the stinging one. Here is our entry for it and its a feed in moderation if you feel lucky in collecting it -- https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=259&c=6

The last one of that three with the lpnk flowers on top, is Willowherb and another one for moderation feeding. -- https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=360&c=6

I will go look at the other post now. I do love her name and we would love a photo if you care to share her with us.

Lin

The next thread and the first photo is...

The Galiums, Cleevers or Goosegrass. Again that can be see in our entry here -- https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=132&c=6

Orange flowers are Fox and Cubs and a moderation feed -- https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=145&c=6

The last photo is again the Wood Avens and you can see our entry for that, in the database here -- https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=174&c=6

In front of the Wood Avens are some grasses. I am not sure if those are what you mean and they are ok for grazing species but tortoises dont really eat just grass prefering weeds and flowers instead.

Hope this has been helpful and if there are any more you have trouble with just get back to us.

Lin