Sulcatas are a grazing species, eating grass throughout the day. Grass and hay should be about 80% of a sulcata tortoise’s diet. You can offer other foods, as well, like weeds and greens, but grass should be available all day.
If your tortoise is housed inside, you can keep a plate of grass in the enclosure and replace it daily to keep fresh. If your tortoise is outside, make sure that he has plenty of grass to graze on.
Many common grasses are safe for sulcata tortoises.
Yard Grass for Tortoises
You can offer a sulcata tortoise every day backyard grass, as long as it is not treated with chemicals and you keep other animal poop, like dog poop, away from your tortoise.
If possible, try to give your tortoise a variety of grasses. You don’t necessarily have to re-sod your yard with multiple types of grass, but if you’re able to grow grass in pots, you can provide more variety to your tortoise’s diet.
Buy grass seeds online or purchase grass seedlings at a garden center and repot. Or purchase cat grass from a local pet store. Cat grass is typically rye, barley, oat or wheat grass, all safe for a sulcata to eat.
Edible Grass for Sulcata Tortoise
- Barley grass
- Bermuda grass
- Buffalo grass
- Fescue grass
- Kentucky blue grass
- Oat grass
- Orchard grass
- Pampas grass (decorative grass often used for shade but safe for sulcata tortoises to eat)
- Rye grass
- Timothy grass
- Wheat grass
