Hi All

Does anyone have any thoughts about what varieties of Agave would be safe in my tort enclosure?

Hi,

Where do you live and how sheltered is it? They are actually fairly hardy, but I'm not sure about, say, Scotland. The only varieties I can think you might want to avoid are those that have a needle sharp tip to the leaves (I've got several in my garden that I brought back from Greece many years ago, and I'm constantly spearing myself on them when I'm not being careful). I'm not aware that any varieties are dangerous for tortoises.

Nina

Hi Nina

I live in West Yorkshire, the reason i asked is I have found an internet cactus nursey that has species of hardy agave and i just wanted to know if they would be safe.

Rachel

I believe they are safe. I just found this message from Andy Highfield of the Tortoise Trust in response to a question about agave americana:
"Agave americana is readily eaten by many tortoises, including mine. There is a known problem with contact dermatitis and human skin - however,this does not seem to bother tortoises..."
So I think they will be OK for your tortoise, but you might want to avoid getting any of the sap on your own skin.

Nina

Hiya

Andy Highfield gave me a load of agave americana when I went to Jill Martin's old home.  He said they would lay dormant for about 12 months and then they would grow like mad.  Jill had huge ones growing in polytunnels that she and Annie brought over from the US.  He said the tortoises love them.  Mine take the odd bite, but nothing more - just yet.

Helen

Thankyou Nina and Helen, I'm going to order some now!

Rachel.

Hi Rachel

I've just been looking at Hiro and Socks album in the members gallery.  They are both a credit to you and I love their outdoor enclosure.  I also enjoyed reading your explanation and found that if I hovered my cursor over the text I could see all you had written.  They are bound to disappear under the rocks or the soil (especially around the base of plants) so have you some mesh underneath so they can't dig out?

Helen

Yes,under the initial layer of bricks. I made sure that my husband put it there, I don't want the anguish of losing them.