I have a 4 month old sulcata that refused to eat grass and weeds from my yard. He has lost 5 grams since I got him three weeks ago. The only thing he likes is romaine and red leaf lettuce. He eats cactus twice a week also. I tryed tuff love and only gave him the grass for three days and he didn't eat a thing. He only paced and had a tortoise tantrum. I bought this Zoo Med grassland tortoise food for him, I read all the ingredients and it sounds like this is just what he needs. So I soaked it and put it in his food bowl and he chowed it down like it was tortoise candy! My question is: Is it safe to feed this to him everyday or should I still try to give him the stuff he doesn't like? I also bought some grass seed mixture to grow in the house for him, but it's going to take awhile to grow it. I'm new to the world of tortoises so I don't know how much tuff love they can take at this young age. Thanks for your help.
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grassland tortoise food
Replies (2)
Small tortoises often refuse grass, especially if it is plucked. Put him outdoors for a bit and see if he goes for any of the wild grasses. Keep in mind that Saint Augustine, which is what I assume you're offering, is not the most palatable of grasses. Winter grass is a favorite, which is notable for growing in bunches, keeping a dark greenish turquoise color, and usually possesses seed pods that grow from it like rabbit ears on an old TV. Try dandelion greens, clover, and thistles, as these contain enough dietary fiber to maintain a youngster. These foods will transition him to grass as he grows older, but are also a good staple until he becomes so large that collecting them will be a waste of time (if you spend thirty minutes collecting enough for one sitting and exhaust an entire field, I consider it a waste). As soon as possible, you want to transition your little guy to the outdoors, preferably in a well planted enclosure. Tortoise keeping is as much horticulture as it is herpetology.
T.G.
i had the same issue a while back try a 50/50 mix of the romaine and the grass for a week. on week two do 40 romaine 60 grass keep taking out more lettuce and adding more of the grass
dont forget the vita powder and the UVB bulb
