Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking to till up my sulcata encolsure over the winter and mix in compost from my cow and goats, get it all ready for planting. I would like to plant some type of very fast-growing pasture grass for the sulcatas. This year they have grazed the Bermuda down to bare earth, even with am and pm supplemental feeds generously donated by the produce department at my grcery store (here's a plug for ALBERTSONS)! I know there are many pasture "blends" on the market today as well as many types of turf grasses one can purchase. My reading indicates that many of these however have been genetically enhanced for a slow growth rate to reduce mowing for the owner. This just will not work with these eating machines. My climate is HOT, but I have unlimited irrigation available, and winters are fairly warm with occasional frost. Basically zone 8-9, maybe some would call it 10. Any ideas?

I bought rye grass seed at Lowe's because I noticed that the seed Lowe's carries is the same thing that all the local home improvement and plant nurseries carry.
I seeded the lawn for 2 years in a row then by the 3rd year it came back on it's own. It's a winter grass, it doesn't compete with the Bermuda, as the Bermuda goes dormant this stuff comes in. In spring as the Bermuda begins to green this rye dies off.
I don't think rye is the best grass in the world for a sulcata but it doesn't seem to harm her either, she only has it for 3 months of the year because our winters only last for 3 months. I bought it because it's the only thing I could find that grew in really really fast.

Before we had a sulcata I'd never noticed this before but our weeds are seasonal. In winter we have a large variety of edible weeds that grow in too so she has that to graze along with the rye.
I think I am in zone 7 if I remember correctly but if you are in a really hot climate I assume that your winters are short as well?
I'm thinking if you check out your local home improvement stores & plant nurseries you could find something that will grow in winter in your local area as I did.
During our first winter I thought about mail ordering grazing foods from the Turtle Cafe or some similar place but thought no it won't do any good. If I buy seed that's from another climate it's very likely not to grow here...so I went with what will grow.
Good luck to you, I'm sure you'll find something that will work for you.
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PHRatz