spinach!!

[nonacle]

can tortoises eat spinach?

[purplepixie]

Its high in proteins.

[gtm]

It's not ideal but a bit every now & then will do no real harm

[helen2]

Of course they can eat it...lol whether they either like it, or it is good for them is a different matter...
A little mixed in with every thing else will do no harm..

[Caz]

The problem with spinach is it is very high in Oxalates. Oxalates bind with calcium and actively stop calcium absorption.

The other problem is that oxalates pass through the tortoise and over time collect in the kidneys, crystallizing and can lead to kindey failure long term. Long term with a tortoise could mean 20 years!

I personally don't hold with the fingers crossed feeding and would always avoid food high in Oxalic acid. The 'little will do no harm approach' could mean the difference between your tortoise living 20 years or 100 years.

(The above is also true in other reptiles BTW)

HTH

[Tamie]

Originally Posted by Caz

The problem with spinach is it is very high in Oxalates. Oxalates bind with calcium and actively stop calcium absorption.

The other problem is that oxalates pass through the tortoise and over time collect in the kidneys, crystallizing and can lead to kindey failure long term. Long term with a tortoise could mean 20 years!

I personally don't hold with the fingers crossed feeding and would always avoid food high in Oxalic acid. The 'little will do no harm approach' could mean the difference between your tortoise living 20 years or 100 years.

(The above is also true in other reptiles BTW)

HTH

Lol - nothing more to add really!

Tamie

[wizzasmum]

Originally Posted by purplepixie

Its high in proteins.

It's high in oxalates, not proteins, still not very good as part of the regular diet though. A little mixed with other foods will not hurt but I would not go and buy it deliberately.
Hope this helps

[jenniferx]

Sorry to hijack your thread but is there any site or list that someone could direct me to that states the low protein, good Ca:Ph ratio, low oxalates veg., you can buy, that might be given to torts as a more substantive part of a healthy diet versus one off treat basis? It'd be really useful if someone might compile the stuff that is good for treats versus long term etc... I'm guessing someone already has somewhere?

[Tamie]

Originally Posted by jenniferx

Sorry to hijack your thread but is there any site or list that someone could direct me to that states the low protein, good Ca:Ph ratio, low oxalates veg., you can buy, that might be given to torts as a more substantive part of a healthy diet versus one off treat basis? It'd be really useful if someone might compile the stuff that is good for treats versus long term etc... I'm guessing someone already has somewhere?

Tortoise Foods - Selecting Healthy Tortoise Foods http://turtlestuff.com

Written by Annie Lancaster, hope that helps.

Tamie

[Caz]

Originally Posted by jenniferx

Sorry to hijack your thread but is there any site or list that someone could direct me to that states the low protein, good Ca:Ph ratio, low oxalates veg., you can buy, that might be given to torts as a more substantive part of a healthy diet versus one off treat basis? It'd be really useful if someone might compile the stuff that is good for treats versus long term etc... I'm guessing someone already has somewhere?

As Tams - but also worth bearing in mind that supermarket bought veg is force grown and due to the growing process will contain a much higher phosphate content that naturally grown veg.