I always use plantain in every feed.
Chicory is another one I use. But it's Amber on TTT.. Does anyone know why?
I don't use dandelion for my hatchlings as it's possible they can become dehydrated ..
Mallow and Sowthistle are 2 more good ones I use ..
And lots of others when in season... evening primrose flowers .. And afew leaves..
Lavatera flowers and leaves... Rose petals. Viola, and lots more..

What would you say is the top 5 that are available most of the year...


Terry , do you know the names of the 3 grasses you use in your hatchlings diet??

What would you say is the top 5

hi Julia the trouble is i didnt plant the grasses i use so cant tell you the variety with any certainty.what i try to do is add a very fine leaved ornamental lawn grass and we have an area in the hermanns enclosure which i take grass from. at the bottom of the garden there is a tree shaded area which has very soft broad leaved grass dominant i like that it cuts up easy and is really soft for the hatchlings to cope with.the timothy grass i only use the leaves.this a very popular feed grass but i thing most of the nutrients are in the stalks which are far to hard for very small tortoises to cope with.i try to use at least three different onces during the winter for the leopard youngsters who cant go out and graze but im not so particular which ones at this time of year since they are still getting the odd days out.

Hi Julia
About dandelion ... Ive never restricted them ... and so far I havent noticed anything to concern me that too much dandelion is bad.
Ive had this discussion before and talked with Chris who I seem to remember also feed those in big numbers if avaible.

So Chris please confirm or not

Hi, i have found feeding dandelion at lib has shown no ill effect to my hatchling's i also feed 14 other weed plants over the season.

Thank you guys I've seen the pictures of Ole's tortoises.. Stunning!!! Won't say where lol
If you don't mind me asking , pretty please what is your list of main weeds you feed

obviously you have to pick what's in season. I do feed my mine lots of flowers , works out have weeds, half flowers .. What ratio would you say???


The reasons I said about dandelion. My aunt lost as hatchling as it had a bladder stone and died she bathed it everyday. But did feed some dandelion and other weeds.. So was this just one of those things then.. Or do you put it down to something else...

Cant be sure but I doubt a stone was coursed by dandelion.

I dont know all plants nor weeds ... but i few ...
But my torts know which they dont like and some they only eat if nothing else ... daisys fx ... my greacas refuse to touch them thou
( think they called daisys.. small white flowers)

Sorry having a blonde moment.. It was about 4-5 months old when she first got it... It died when about 2 years!!! But now I come to think of it most people used Aubiose as a substrate . So did she.. But she and myself use topsoil now..

Topsoil,gravel and sand mix .... is what i use .

hi forgot to mention dandelion.as you can imagine at times i have problems picking enough weeds for my tortoises,and their diet is very much base on availability.during times of plenty i tend to feed a lot of sowthistle and hawkbit.i always add plantain if it is available.often it isnt during early spring.after they do the branchage and cut back all the hedgerows here if we have a little rain the first weeds available in any sort of quantity are dandelions by this time i am able to feed them about 50/50 plantain with dandelion and some small quantities of other weeds.this may continue for a week or two i have never had a problem with dehydration.dandelion are as often has been said are a diuretic.which according to many experts causes dehydration.what it does is cause mammals to urinate and provided they have access to fresh water to help flush their kidneys i cant see a problem with tortoises unless they become dehydrated by spending to much time spent under the heatlamp

I shall let my dandelions grow I'm glad I asked now