Tortoises require a high-fiber diet made up primarily of grasses, weeds and dark leafy greens for foraging purposes. Eighty-five percent should include these items.
Choose hay with a sweet scent and free from dust or mold for best results when selecting it for Sulcata tortoises, offering it in small pieces over time.
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Timothy Hay
Timothy hay is one of the most common forms of feed fed to tortoises, as it offers high fiber levels while remaining low in protein levels, plus essential vitamins and minerals. Most tortoises find Timothy hay extremely palatable.
Sulcata tortoises often struggle with eating timothy hay due to its stiff stems and seed heads, which make it hard for their sharp jaws to chew through. To accommodate their eating needs, timothy hay should either be softened up or cut to smaller sizes for best results.
Tortoises should be gradually introduced to timothy hay by beginning with small pieces mixed in with other types. This allows them to become familiar with its flavor and texture without becoming overwhelmed. Once they are adjusted to it, switching over to orchard or bermuda grass hay may be easier for digestibility as well as providing more nutrients than its timothy counterpart.
Orchard Grass Hay
Orchard grass hay is a sweet-scented cool season hay with high fiber and protein contents and moderate protein and caloric counts. It features soft texture without all of the seed heads or tough stems found in first cut timothy hay; therefore it makes an ideal choice for tortoises who suffer from allergies to these varieties of hays.
Meadow hay is an umbrella term encompassing grasses, leaves, clover and plant bits found in meadows. Sulcata tortoises love meadow hay for its soft texture, sweetness and pleasing fragrance – qualities Sulcata tortoises find irresistibly appealing!
Alfalfa hay is a legume-based hay that provides tortoises with protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals in abundance. With more cell solubles and less cellulose than grass hays, alfalfa should be mixed with other types of hays for an ideal balanced diet – but be mindful that too much alfalfa could cause pyramiding or kidney disease!
Meadow Hay
Meadow hay refers to an assortment of grass hays, weeds and flowers (such as dandelions) harvested together for its soft texture, fragrances and flavors. Additionally, it may be high in fiber while remaining moderate in protein content.
Sulcata tortoises favor Timothy hay because it provides consistent texture without becoming stalky; additionally, Timothy contains more plant matter to aid their digestive systems and ensure good health.
However, its main drawbacks include difficulty feeding them and an abundance of stems; as such it may not be ideal for some tortoise species (Leopards, Indian stars or Sulcata). Therefore it should be served alongside other grass hays along with tortoise-safe flowers in proportion to 85% grass/hays and 15% dark leafy greens/flowers for optimal performance.
Oat Hay
Sulcata tortoises in captivity need plenty of food, particularly high-fiber low protein hay to ensure optimal digestive function and avoid kidney failure and shorten lifespans. High fiber/low protein hays help them digest their food more easily while protecting their intestines from becoming overworked by overworked digestive tracts as well as helping prevent oxalates that can shorten lifespans and cause kidney failure.
Tortoises require various kinds of hay in their diet in order to obtain all of the required nutrients, so mixing Timothy, orchard, alfalfa and meadow hays together for maximum nutritional benefit is best. You can find these types of bales at your local feed store. Oat hay is also an ideal addition as it contains high fiber content while being low in protein – cut at watery ripe stage ensures optimal quality oat hay.
