Need help with Care

[babystarlight]

Baby starlight is five years old and up until this summer was always in the house. We had an outside house built for her with a thermostat the controls the temperature. We also installed a screen over her area to protect her from the sun. In doing so the grass was destroyed and now we have to replace it. Finding grass seed that does not contain fertilizer or bad chemicals has been difficult. Can you please help me with this?
I have bought Thomas hay, but do not think that is enough for her.

 

[wellington]

Where are you located?
Is her whole area covered in screen?
Is the fenced in area the only space for her or is there much more?
Don't know what Thomas hay is but orchard hay is the best hay be fed along with cactus pads, leaves and flowers like, mulberry, hibiscus, weeds, and much more that @Tom can help with.

 

[Tom]

A few things:
1. The grass died because that is a tiny area with a large sulcata. No grass is going to survive in there.
2. If you want to try, get "pasture grass seed" from any local feed store that sells horse supply. They have mixes that are intended for grazing animals.
3. Your box is much too tall. Check out these threads for ideas of what works better:

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

4. The only way for your tortoise to escape the summer heat is to burrow underground. This is how they survive in the wild where it's 100 degrees nearly every day. Encourage this in June when it gets hot again, and then cover the burrow entrance in late October when it starts to cool off, and make the tortoise sleep in its box all winter. If you do this, you can remove the shade cloth to help the grass.
5. Your tortoise needs a MUCH larger enclosure. 50x50 feet is a good minimum for a tortoise this large.
6. Orchard grass hay is best. Timothy is too stemmy. Bermuda hay works too.

 

[TammyJ]

Welcome to the forum and all the best with getting your tortoise properly set up! You have already been getting great advice.

 

[longevity]

Baby starlight is five years old and up until this summer was always in the house. We had an outside house built for her with a thermostat the controls the temperature. We also installed a screen over her area to protect her from the sun. In doing so the grass was destroyed and now we have to replace it. Finding grass seed that does not contain fertilizer or bad chemicals has been difficult. Can you please help me with this?
I have bought Thomas hay, but do not think that is enough for her.

I use a similar screen to reduce sunlight, and it actually helps the grass underneath grow much better than without the screen. One important thing for grass is water — if you can water it every day, it will grow faster.

Although, I’m not sure if the grass can grow faster than a Sulcata can eat it!