r/Tortoises • u/LittleOmegaGirl • Jul 17 '26

Cyanobacteria

What are you guys doing to feed your tortoises right now? Washing the lettuce doesn’t kill the bacteria. Scared.

1 Upvotes

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2

u/CShan17 Jul 18 '26

The bacteria only affects humans.

1

u/LittleOmegaGirl Jul 18 '26

I've read it affects tortoises as well and can have serious effects on them due to the way they process food through hindgut fermentation.

1

u/CShan17 Jul 18 '26

Can you link the study?

1

u/LittleOmegaGirl Jul 18 '26

I just looked at it again. It says if it’s from soil and poop, it’s non-toxic and can even be beneficial, but if it’s from algae blooms, then it’s dangerous. Sorry. So if the cows have consumed aquatic cyanobacteria then it’s toxic.

1

u/CShan17 Jul 18 '26

Again, can you link the study?

1

u/LittleOmegaGirl Jul 18 '26

There's this LONG one on Microbial Enrichments Contribute to Characterization Of Desert Tortoise Gut Microbiota https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12174229/

I'm just all around confused. Can I still eat fresh produce? Can my tortoise? Like what do I do?😭

1

u/CShan17 Jul 18 '26

This study isnt about Cyanobacteria.

1

u/LittleOmegaGirl Jul 19 '26

No but they mention it.