Straw or Hay for bedding?

littlemally · 12-02-2009, 07:23 PM

Hi guys im new on this fab site, I have a 4 1/2 year old Horsefield called 'little Mally'. Just bought him some new kit for his vivarium, and was wondering if Hay was good as his bedding? He has a mix of soil and sand for digging outside his bedroom. Look forward to hearing from you. x Verity.

anna m · 12-02-2009, 10:20 PM

I think hay has problems if it get damp (harbours bacteria) and if they eat it, it can get stuck down their throats. Readigrass is quite good. If it gets too damp. just remove it. If they eat a piece it goes out like it went in believe me

AdamSoS · 12-02-2009, 10:22 PM

So Straw is ok?

anna m · 12-02-2009, 10:31 PM

No I don't think so because of the reasons above. Also straw and hay can be very long and wrap around their legs and hurt them whereas Readigrass is cut short and does not have these problems. I don't own a Readigrass farm, honest

AdamSoS · 12-02-2009, 11:09 PM

Darn you Anna lol.. i saw a bag of straw in morrisons on special offer.. thought id try it in there hide.. guess i wont now lol..wana swap for your readigrass :P

Valerie · 13-02-2009, 08:26 AM

I've been using Readigrass but I'm going to swap to Meadow Hay when it's all gone. I've had too many inscidents of it getting stuck down his throat and almost choking him.

sandy · 13-02-2009, 08:28 AM

Try shredded paper, if you want your tortoises to hide in something. Easily replaced when soiled.
Or an old crumpled tea towel or the like.

alotoffluff · 13-02-2009, 09:24 AM

Im with Valerie on the redigrass thing - not good. But i guess its trial and error with any tortoise!

hevngus · 13-02-2009, 12:43 PM

The vet warned me that straw or hay is also a fire hazard with the lights. Even if you keep it away from the lights, it could always get dragged too close by the tort. I find that my tort is happy with just a hide and plenty of topsoil/playsand to dig down in.

Beverley · 13-02-2009, 03:44 PM

I agree with Sandy a bit of shredded paper if you want something different. I just use the sterilised topsoil, playsand mix all over and they dig down into it, they may be a bit messy when they get up but it soon falls off, I have had no problems with it so far.
In my mind its more like the wild and better for creating a microclimate.

12-02-2009, 07:23 PM	#1
littlemally Junior Member Egg Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cornwall. Posts: 4	Straw or Hay for bedding? Hi guys im new on this fab site, I have a 4 1/2 year old Horsefield called 'little Mally'. Just bought him some new kit for his vivarium, and was wondering if Hay was good as his bedding? He has a mix of soil and sand for digging outside his bedroom. Look forward to hearing from you. x Verity. Last edited by littlemally; 12-02-2009 at 08:34 PM.

13-02-2009, 08:26 AM	#6
Valerie Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 461	I've been using Readigrass but I'm going to swap to Meadow Hay when it's all gone. I've had too many inscidents of it getting stuck down his throat and almost choking him. __________________ 1 Testudo Hermanni Hermanni 1 Dog Yorkshire Terrier x Patterdale Terrier 6 Dwarf lop ear rabbits 5 fish

13-02-2009, 08:28 AM	#7
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Try shredded paper, if you want your tortoises to hide in something. Easily replaced when soiled. Or an old crumpled tea towel or the like. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

13-02-2009, 03:44 PM	#10
Beverley Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 3,493	I agree with Sandy a bit of shredded paper if you want something different. I just use the sterilised topsoil, playsand mix all over and they dig down into it, they may be a bit messy when they get up but it soon falls off, I have had no problems with it so far. In my mind its more like the wild and better for creating a microclimate. __________________

12-02-2009, 10:20 PM	#2
anna m Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 4,091	I think hay has problems if it get damp (harbours bacteria) and if they eat it, it can get stuck down their throats. Readigrass is quite good. If it gets too damp. just remove it. If they eat a piece it goes out like it went in believe me

12-02-2009, 10:22 PM	#3
AdamSoS Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Worcester Posts: 396	So Straw is ok?

12-02-2009, 10:31 PM	#4
anna m Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 4,091	No I don't think so because of the reasons above. Also straw and hay can be very long and wrap around their legs and hurt them whereas Readigrass is cut short and does not have these problems. I don't own a Readigrass farm, honest

12-02-2009, 11:09 PM	#5
AdamSoS Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Worcester Posts: 396	Darn you Anna lol.. i saw a bag of straw in morrisons on special offer.. thought id try it in there hide.. guess i wont now lol..wana swap for your readigrass :P

13-02-2009, 09:24 AM	#8
alotoffluff Senior Member Adult Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: greenwich, london, previously born and brought up in Kent! Posts: 2,127	Im with Valerie on the redigrass thing - not good. But i guess its trial and error with any tortoise!

13-02-2009, 12:43 PM	#9
hevngus Member Egg Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: west yorkshire Posts: 79	The vet warned me that straw or hay is also a fire hazard with the lights. Even if you keep it away from the lights, it could always get dragged too close by the tort. I find that my tort is happy with just a hide and plenty of topsoil/playsand to dig down in.

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