Sulcata tortoises should eat about 80% grass and hay. 10% greens and no more than 10% treats. This diet is the same for adult and for baby sulcata tortoises. Baby sulcata tortoises eat the same things that an adult sulcata can eat. The only difference is that a baby sulcata won’t eat at much.
Sulcata Tortoise Diet
A baby sulcata tortoise diet should be primarily grasses. You may find that baby sulcata tortoises may not be as thrilled to eat grass, but it’s very important to add grass to the food bowl. Baby tortoises are more likely to eat new grass that is softer and more tender.
Safe Grass for Baby Sulcata
There are tons of safe grasses for sulcata tortoises to eat. Here are the more common grass for tortoises.
- Bermuda gras
- Fescue grass
- Kentucky blue grass
- Oat grass
- Orchard grass
- Rye grass
- Timothy grass
- Wheat grass
Safe Weeds for Baby Sulcata
You’ll find a many different weeds in your backyard, but not all weeds are safe for sulcata tortoises to eat. Make sure to pull out the bad weeds and only feed your baby tortoise the good weeds. Here are a few weeds that are more common to your average yard.
- Broad leaf plantain
- Chickweed
- Clovers
- Dandelion
- Hensbit
- Mallow
- Milk thistle
- Narrow leaf plantain
- Nettle
- Prickly sow thistle
- Small sow thistle
Safe Greens for Baby Sulcata
Shop or grow greens that are high in fiber. Some of the safe, high-fiber greens for sulcatas include:
- Arugula
- Chicory
- Endive
- Escarole
- Grape leaf
- Mesclun lettuce
- Oak leaf
- Radicchio
- Red leaf lettuce
- Spring Mix lettuces
- Watercress
Pellets
You can also feed your sulcata pellets. Some are safer than others.
Mazuri Tortoise Diet is a popular pellet that are healthy and tortoises love. Mazuri pellets contain plenty of vitamins and nutrients that can help supplement your tortoise’s daily diet.
Zoo Med Grassland is a great diet tortoise pellet that contains grasses and high-fiber greens.
Hay pellets are a great alternative to Mazuri and Zoo Med pellets which can contain a log of ingredients that you may not be able to pronounce. Hay pellets are also the perfect alternative to loose hay. Baby tortoises may not want to eat dry hay, so a pellet is a good way to introduct hay to a baby sulcata.
