Live plants in enclosure

charlie&Shelbie

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Dec 28, 2018
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4
Location (City and/or State)
Irvine, Ca
Hi! I’m a new tortoise mommy to Charlie and Shelbie(Sulcatas). I was told they were about a year old. I live in Southern California and was thinking about growing live plants for them to eat in an outdoor enclosure when they go out for sunshine(about an hour a day at the moment when the weather permits). Any suggestions on the best grasses to grow?
 

TechnoCheese

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5 Year Member
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Feb 20, 2016
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Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
Welcome to the forum!

There are a lot of good grass and weed mixes at tortoisesupply.com.

Sadly, if your tortoises are housed together, they need to be separated. Tortoises, especially species like sulcatas and testudos, are solitary and extremely territorial animals that should never be kept in pairs. In pairs, there’s always a dominant and a subordinate, and both are constantly stressed because one is constantly being bullied, and the other is trying to get the intruder out of its territory. They don’t have concepts of friendship and don’t value “family”.

Be sure to give these a read and come back with questions-
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...ealthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/

For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata... https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/

Beginner Mistakes https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

We would love to see pictures of your tortoises and enclosure(s) :)
 

Oogway the russian tort

Active Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2016
Messages
224
The testudo seed mix at the tortoisesupply.com is what is use let me tell you...you better grow it seperate from their enclosure or they end you eating them down to the root. The testudo seed mix is mainly broad leaf weeds that are very hardy and can with stand harsh climates just make sure to water it :) .
 

charlie&Shelbie

New Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2018
Messages
4
Location (City and/or State)
Irvine, Ca
The testudo seed mix at the tortoisesupply.com is what is use let me tell you...you better grow it seperate from their enclosure or they end you eating them down to the root. The testudo seed mix is mainly broad leaf weeds that are very hardy and can with stand harsh climates just make sure to water it :) .
Thank you so much! I will take a look at the seeds.
 

charlie&Shelbie

New Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2018
Messages
4
Location (City and/or State)
Irvine, Ca
Welcome to the forum!

There are a lot of good grass and weed mixes at tortoisesupply.com.

Sadly, if your tortoises are housed together, they need to be separated. Tortoises, especially species like sulcatas and testudos, are solitary and extremely territorial animals that should never be kept in pairs. In pairs, there’s always a dominant and a subordinate, and both are constantly stressed because one is constantly being bullied, and the other is trying to get the intruder out of its territory. They don’t have concepts of friendship and don’t value “family”.

Be sure to give these a read and come back with questions-
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/How-To-Raise-A-Healthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/

For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata... https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/

Beginner Mistakes https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

We would love to see pictures of your tortoises and enclosure(s) :)

Thank you! Is it best to separate them now or wait until they are a little older? There have been no problems yet. I've been reading so much on this helpful site. Thank you for the links!
 

JoesMum

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Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,606
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
Thank you! Is it best to separate them now or wait until they are a little older? There have been no problems yet. I've been reading so much on this helpful site. Thank you for the links!
It is better to separate before trouble starts. They are solitary creatures and the mental bullying starts first. Cuddling up together is actually one trying to stop the other sleep. One will start to dominate food, sitting on top of it or just following the other's every move. When the subordinate one fails to get the hint and move out, because it can't, then the mounting and biting starts.

Your babies will grow rapidly into two 100lb+ bulldozers and you will need to house them separately on a permanent basis.
 
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