Bugs pests and turtles

20 years ago

Need a little help again, I have a variety of fruits and veggies that are beginning to be eaten alive and I can not seem to stop it. Reason is that this past summer we adopted 3 endangered california Tortoises and while they are having a great time in the yard eating random items as they see fit, I am not able to guard against other pests (ie rollie-pollies) white flies and slugs because I can not use a topical pesticide with them around. I have had some success with chili-pepper seeds in hot water then into a spray-bottle (works great on aphids) but the rollie-pollie's and slugs don't seem to mind it. Help!!! I would like to enjoy even one strawberry this year.

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Comments (9)

username_5
20 years ago
So your problem is control of pill bugs (rollie pollie) and slugs in a way that is non toxic to tortoises?

First off understand I have no knowledge of what is or isn't toxic to the turtles.

Sluggo is made from iron phosphate (the toxin) and a wheat de-
rivative which serves as bait. Again, I don't know the first thing about what is or isn't toxic to turtles, but I suggest you look into iron phosphate and turtle to determine if it is safe as sluggo is about as safe as it gets when it comes to effective slug killers. Sure, you can use beer in a can, but this doesn't do much against a well populated slug infestation.

Pill bugs are another story. They are attracted to moisture and decaying material which is common to any mulched or organic enriched garden area. Diatomaceous earth won't harm the turtles, but will kill the pill bugs. It will also kill the slugs. Use food grade, not pool grade. You may have to search around or buy online. Google for 'food grade diatomaceous earth' to find online suppliers.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
20 years ago
Any good garden center should carry horticultural (=food grade) DE.
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jean001
20 years ago
A friend who kept turtles limited their access to the yard/garden.
Kimmsr
20 years ago
Cold caffienated coffee sprayed on affected plant leaves will hinder the slugs very effectively, even after the coffee has dried. The roly polys are not a pest.
half_eaten_thumb
Original Author
20 years ago
Why would you say roly polys are not pests - they are systematically eating half of every strawberry in the patch!!! - Please help
ellix
20 years ago
My understanding is that the turtles like strawberries--could they be eating them?
layeux
13 years ago
I am getting a tortoise-native to AZ and want to know what plants I could plant that they like to eat.
Kimmsr
13 years ago
Most all turtles are omnivores, they will eat most anything animal or vegetable. So if you have strawberries being eaten and you have turtles around it may well be them, and your roly polys are coming to clean up behind them.

Here is a link that might be useful: what do turtles eat

This post was edited by kimmsr on Sun, Sep 8, 13 at 7:08
zzackey
13 years ago
Can you put a fence up around your garden? Slugs love beer. Put some in a tuna can. They will get in there and drown.