Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome everyone I at the moment have two sulcata tortoises that are roughly 4-months old and I've had them now for almost 4 weeks. I have a nice enclosure for them with ample heating and water, and more then enough space for them to move around ( as they are quite active). I also have a UVB light in there to help with calcium synthesis. Now the various websites that I have read on sulcata tortoises say that they need the majority of they're diet to be grass/hays. But mine will barely nibble on grass clippings from outside ( pesticide free and chopped up into very small peices)and refuse to touch any bermuda or timothy grass/hay I put in there. ( dosn't matter what size I chop it up into). They also refuse to eat Mazuri Tortoise Diet.

NOTE: I am currently feeding them romaine lettuce coated with rep-cal phosphorous free calcium with Vitamin D-3. They've been eating this now for roughly the whole four weeks I've had them and their activity level seems to remain the same.

So my question is this, Will the diet of romaine lettuce with calcium powder be sufficient for them? If not how do I convince them grass/hay is good? And if I have to deprive them of romaine lettuce and only offer them (grass clippings/bermuda grass/timothy hay) how long will it be ok for them to go without eating as they will try to do a hunger strike? Your time and wisdom is appreciated thank you, Tony

P.S.- I have a ivory tortoise and a possible het

>>So my question is this, Will the diet of romaine lettuce with calcium powder be sufficient for them? If not how do I convince them grass/hay is good? And if I have to deprive them of romaine lettuce and only offer them (grass clippings/bermuda grass/timothy hay) how long will it be ok for them to go without eating as they will try to do a hunger strike? Your time and wisdom is appreciated thank you, Tony
>>

No it won't be sufficient for them. What you can do is try a little trick that worked for others on this forum. Someone here had success with this just recently. What they did was grind the grass up into teensy bits.. you could do this in a blender or a food processor then add that to the romaine they are eating. Feed this to them then gradually add more grass and take away more lettuce until they learn that they must eat their grasses.

As for leafy greens, can you get dandelion, turnip or collards in the grocery store? Darker leafy greens would be better for them than romaine.

Good luck I know that dealing with the finicky isn't easy!
-----
PHRatz