Hi everyone
I'm pretty sure it's toxic but just trying to check...
Does anyone know for sure if Ivy (any variety found commonly in england really) is toxic to tortoises?
I tried doing a search here to see if this has been asked before but "ivy" isn't a long enough word for the search engine and I failed to work out how to get it to let me search for it
thanks
Nancy

__________________
----------------------
1.1.0 Testudo graeca iberia
Wurtle and Bob

I was told yes it is toxic for tortoises.

It always seems to be the things that grow in abundance in my garden that are toxic !!!!!!!

How are your weeds coming along?

Thanks
Yeah I have tonnes of it and can't really get rid of it all as it's not really my garden to control! Bob however made a bee-line for it yesterday with her mouth open so I have a feeling she would have eaten it if given the chance! Luckily there's none anywhere near their outdoor enclosures though so as long as I watch her when she's free roaming (which I do) then it will be fine

Weeds are still alive! amazingly! Although rather small! I Spent yesterday planting more weed seeds in big deep pots and potting up pansies and nasturtiums for them too. Even put some in Bob's indoor enclosure which she seems to love (almost all gone now though!)

__________________
----------------------
1.1.0 Testudo graeca iberia
Wurtle and Bob

Tortoises will sometimes try a plant but will usually spit it out if it's not for them.

I had a large amount of English Ivy in my yard at my old place. I watched the tortoises try it on several occasions and they just spit it out and continued to leave it alone.

Ed

__________________
Ed @ not allowed to post a link
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I bought some pansies a few weeks ago and have to confess - they are still in the trays - I have these good intentions.

I had loads of bluebells in my garden and thought I had got rid of most of them but alas I saw Honey heading straight towards a few more today. So out came the gardening fork!!!

In my last house the fence was covered in Ivy and they never attempted to eat it.

That's interesting - presumably it must taste unpleasant then. What is it in the Ivy which causes it to be toxic? Is it just tannin levels or something else?

__________________
----------------------
1.1.0 Testudo graeca iberia
Wurtle and Bob

Different varieties of ivy have different levels of toxicity. I have it growing on the stone wall at the bottom of my garden and the cows in the field behind absolutely love eating it and it doesn't seem to do them any harm... I suppose they have different enzymes in their guts.

If you want to search on a word of less than four letter you can use the google search at the bottom of the main page... just make sure you click that you want to search the forum.

__________________

Thank you

__________________
----------------------
1.1.0 Testudo graeca iberia
Wurtle and Bob

Have you ever tried some of the plants chelonians eat... totally nasty.

Botany is another one of those fields that is mind boggling to me.

Ed

__________________
Ed @ not allowed to post a link
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Good point, well made. Clearly tortoises have a very strong stomach!!

__________________
----------------------
1.1.0 Testudo graeca iberia
Wurtle and Bob