no garden ????

[piglet]

I agree with Sandy all my tortoises whether young or old have access to grass areas and all graze it with out a problem
Grass is also a major part of most wild tortoises diets , grass is taken in while grazing clover and other weed leaves it forms a large portion of there dietary fibre .
Most med tortoises haven't the digestive tract or gut flora to break down the cellulose in grass so little nutrition is extracted from it but as bulk fibre it is excellent filling the void other more nutritional foods would this in fact would lead to overgrowth and possible pyramiding in theory grass stops over growth to some degree.
I have heard that young tortoises can be choked or strangled by hay used as bedding in shelters etc.

Darren

[sandy]

I havent heard of tortoises getting tangled in grass, as it never gets that long<g>. But like Darren
I have when it comes to hay and straw. Also when bindweed leaves have not been taken off the stem.
The stem then getting tangled around their necks.
For my smaller tortoises I put grass seed in with weed seeds, then into a seed tray. Makes excellent
grazing for tortoises.

[sarah]

Is there a special grass seed that you use sandy?

I have heard of one baby tortoise dying because of hay and grass, and heard of others just getting stuck.

[sandy]

I cant see how a tortoise can get strangled by grass. The grass grows to about two inchs at the most
before its eaten or cut with scissors. Or if in the garden, it gets mown.
So how on earth did a tortoise get strangled.

[sandy]

Hi Sarah

I just use ordinary grass seed, from B&Q or the like. It grows well in seed trays, but even
better with weed seeds in too.

the tortoise escaped into tall grass, BUT, it still makes me weary about doing it.

[sarah]

Thanks Sandy I'm going to try that.

[sandy]

Well if a tortoise escapes then there are other problems, like making the enclosure safe.
Nobody in their right minds would let a tortoise out in long grass, finding them would be
a really big problem. Apart from any other dangers.
And has nothing to do with allowing tortoises graze grass in normal circumstances.

Yeh, but thats what made me weary about using it on my babies. I might try your seed tray idea in Diggers enclosure though!
Josh