Sulcata tortoises eat throughout the day. They’re grazers and will nibble on grass and weeds all day. So, when feeding a sulcata tortoise, you want to make sure that it has plenty of grass and hay (if grass isn’t available) to eat.
Sulcata tortoises should eat a varied diet of grasses, weeds and greens. About 80% of a sulcata tortoise’s diet should be grasses and weeds, 10% should be greens and 10% treats (cactus and flowers).
By feeding your sulcata the right foods and the appropriate amount, you’ll ensure that he’s growing at a healthy rate. Sulcatas can become overweight if they’re feed too much and too much of the wrong foods.
How Much Should a Baby Sulcata Eat?
When feeding a baby sulcata tortoise up to six months old, offer about 1/4 cup of grasses, weeds and greens every day. Feed sulcatas between 6 and 12 months old about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food a day. Young juvenile sulcatas can eat about a cup of food a day.
If you feed tortoise pellets, like Mazuri Tortoise Diet or Zoo Med Grassland diet, only offer 1-4% of the tortoise’s body weight. So for smaller tortoises, you can get by with a few pellets.
If you notice that your baby sulcata devouring all of his food, add a little more to his plate. Or consider offering a smaller afternoon meal.
Not all tortoises are built the same. Don’t feel like you need to starve your sulcata, but don’t feel like you need to stuff him either. Offer plenty of grasses. With time, you will figure out how much your tortoise needs to eat to be full but not engorged with food.
How Much Should I Feed My Adult Sulcata?
Older juvenile and adult sulcatas should have access to a yard with safe grasses to eat throughout the day. They’ll need to graze throughout the day.
You can offer greens once a day to supplement and vary your tortoise’s diet. A head of Romaine lettuce or radicchio or a plate of Mazuri will keep your tortoise happy and healthy.
