Sulcata tortoise diet should be primarily grasses, but during the colder months when grass starts to die off, you can substitute with hay.
Not all tortoises will readily accept hay, but you can “train” them to eat it by adding it to their daily diet. Cut it into small pieces so that it’s harder to pick out. The more they get used to seeing it and the more they consume pieces here and there, the more likely they are to start eating it.
Like grass, weeds and greens, you should maintain a varied diet even in the cooler months. Test your sulcata with different types of hay. Don’t limit him to just one type. And, if your tortoise refuses one type of hay, that doesn’t mean he won’t eat another.
Timothy Hay
Timothy hay is a common hay. It is a good source of fiber with a balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus. Timothy hay has about 8% protein, which is considered moderate for a hay.
The main drawback to feeding sulcata tortoises timothy hay is that it usually has a lot of stems. Some tortoises don’t mind the hard, crunchy pieces, but some prefer the softer hay. You can buy Second Cut timothy hay and third cut timothy hay, which contains fewer stems and seed heads.
Third cut timothy hay is super soft and leafy. It is a great treat for sulcatas.
If you want to feed your sulcata timothy hay but you don’t like the mess of the loose stems, seed heads and straw pieces, give your sulcata timothy pellets. They’re much more convenient and just as healthy.
Meadow Hay
Meadow hay is composed of a variety of naturally occurring grass hays that can range from ryegrass, fescue, to orchard grass, providing an enticing combination of textures, fragrances and flavors. It is typically sweet and full of nutrients, high in fiber and low to moderate in protein. Meadow grass hay typically has between 6%-10% protein.
Oat Hay
Oat hay is not super common for sulcata tortoises. It is moderate in proteins, measuring around 9%. Depending on when it was harvested, oat hay can be a great source of digestible energy.
Orchard Hay
Orchard hay is a popular hay for tortoises. It is soft and does not contain all the stems and seed heads like you often find in first cut timothy hay. But, orchard hay is high in protein, measuring around 10-12%. It’s also higher in calorie count than timothy hay. But, orchard hay has higher fiber content than timothy hay.
You can buy small bags of hay, but if you have a larger sulcata tortoise, it is more economical to purchase a bale of orchard hay.
Choosing Hay for Sulcata Tortoise
When choosing a hay for your sulcata, you want a high fiber, low protein hay. Generally, the greener the hay, the more chlorophyll it contains, meaning it will also have more vitamins and minerals. Older, browner hay is higher in fiber, but it has less nutritional value.
When choosing a hay, you want to make sure that it has a sweet, fresh smell. You don’t want to offer hay that is dusty or moldy.
