seen this in the winter feeding guide

[Christy06]

nutrient analyses of replacment tortoise foods

looks very useful, but Kale has been highlighted as a good thing to feed torts, i was under the impression tht it was not. Am i right or am i mistaken? Any others on this list tht not highlighted or even on the list that is highly reconemnded, e.g low protein, high fiber & calcium etc?

Thanks all.

[Mrs Mental]

I'm pretty certain that Kale is from the cabbage family and fruit and veg is a no no for meds as it doesnt do their tummies any good and can hinder calcuim intake. Thats as far as I know anyways

[purplepixie]

Like all tortoise foods, if they are fed as part of a mixed diet, so they would only have this sort of food once a month or the like in small amounts, then its fine.
But most keepers who are a bit on the lazy side and prefer to buy from a supermarket, will feed this all the time. Which will be harmful to any tortoise. Just the same as feeding salad foods all the time will harm tortoises, but not as bad as Kale or the cabbage family which does contain something beginning with G (which I cant remember the name of) which can be harmful if fed on a regular basis.
Just the same as humans if you are fed chocolate or beefburgers all the time it would be harmful.

[SWsarah]

Yes i agree kale is ok as part of a mixed weed diet, if you can do without it please do

[Graham]

Kale is a Brasicca and as such it contains oxalates (oxalic acid) which prevents the processing of calcium into shell and bone, however I understand that it contains far lower levels than most other members of the Brasicca family such as Cabbage, Brocolli etc...

[Christy06]

Welcome to the Tortoise Centre

went to this website, looking for info and seen that buttercups are ok to feed the tort. Everything else seems good but i was under the impression tht buttercups were bad? maybe its for a different species, i have a hermanns, does anyone know?

[Christy06]

Originally Posted by Graham

Kale is a Brasicca and as such it contains oxalates (oxalic acid) which prevents the processing of calcium into shell and bone, however I understand that it contains far lower levels than most other members of the Brasicca family such as Cabbage, Brocolli etc...

yes graham, i have just found out tht it contains just0.02g per100g of this oxalic acid, so compared to some others like watercress and chicory this is very very low. And like you said spinach/cabbage/parsley have loads of it.

[Mrs Mental]

Originally Posted by Christy06

Welcome to the Tortoise Centre

went to this website, looking for info and seen that buttercups are ok to feed the tort. Everything else seems good but i was under the impression tht buttercups were bad? maybe its for a different species, i have a hermanns, does anyone know?

I've always been told Buttercups are a no no as they're toxic

[Ron Magpie]

Kale (of all the brasiccas) is quite often recommended for veg-eating lizards and so on- but obviously as only a part of a mixed diet.

[Mrs Mental]

Originally Posted by Ron Magpie

Kale (of all the brasiccas) is quite often recommended for veg-eating lizards and so on- but obviously as only a part of a mixed diet.

But not for a med tortoise - it stops the calcuim intake so should be steered clear