Should I wait or put in now?

[Seiryu]

So I plan to put this container, that I grew weeds in (Grazing tortoise seed mix from carolina supply), in Thor's enclosure. Mainly to stimulate him, for him to eat the grass/weeds etc. It's a 36" long by 16" wide by 6.5" tall container.

I think I planted the seeds 10-14 days ago. Should I wait for them to grow a little more or good to go?

I'm putting a grow light in and hopefully this will last a good while. I will still feed him his various other greens, but it's more for him to hide, and have fun in.

To show the height of some of them. Some of the grass is 7-8" tall, and weeds about the same.

It didn't give as much variety as was listed on the website, that's for certain. And a lot more weeds than grass, which I wasn't expecting since 5+ different types of grasses were listed. I only see 3 types of weeds and at the moment, all the grass is the same looking. No clover either, which was fine since it has a lot of oxalic acid but it was listed on there.

 

[DoctorCosmonaut]

What all grows in that mix? Just wondering...

 

[Seiryu]

What all grows in that mix? Just wondering...

Crimson Clover
New Zealand Clover
Red Clover
Creeping Red Fescue
Turnip Greens
Dwarf Turf-Type Fescue
Tough Turf-Type Fescue
Kentucy Blue Grass
Orchard Grass
Wheat Grass
Oat Grass
Chia
Chicory
Timothy Grass

But be warned, like I said, not even close to all the varieties listed though. I only see 3-4 different weeds/plants. And there is much more weed than grasses growing.

 

[Stephanie Logan]

What a great idea!

I put a couple of tiny tupperware "pots" with Taco's favorite weed transplanted into them in her indoor cage, but I could certainly create bigger version for her outdoor pen! I'm off for my gardening gear

 

[katesgoey]

Hi Rob,

The other types might still "hatch" I did a very similar thing earlier this year and split the container at about the same growth as yours between Tank's and Bump's enclosures. I raked up an area in each then "transplanted" the two shares. I put an exercise pen around it and waited another ten days for it to take root. It worked, but I'll warn you that they went through it pretty darn fast - can't remember now how long. While that was happening, I seeded another area and cordoned it off. Both pens are down to the dirt now as of early August. I expanded their pens so they'd have bermuda mixed grass to graze and am about to do it again giving them half of our huge yard. Probably TMI for your question, but thought I'd share since we started out with the same type of idea.

 

[Seiryu]

Hi Rob,

The other types might still "hatch" I did a very similar thing earlier this year and split the container at about the same growth as yours between Tank's and Bump's enclosures. I raked up an area in each then "transplanted" the two shares. I put an exercise pen around it and waited another ten days for it to take root. It worked, but I'll warn you that they went through it pretty darn fast - can't remember now how long. While that was happening, I seeded another area and cordoned it off. Both pens are down to the dirt now as of early August. I expanded their pens so they'd have bermuda mixed grass to graze and am about to do it again giving them half of our huge yard. Probably TMI for your question, but thought I'd share since we started out with the same type of idea.

Thanks. I will still be feeding him his various greens, and he can munch on this stuff if/when he chooses. I actually did another smaller container that is like 18"x20" so I can pull the weeds/grasses and add those to his feedings as well. Hoping it lasts a little. He's only 4-5months old too.

 

[Yvonne G]

Those plantlets are too young to have a little tortoise traipsing all over them. Instead of putting it in with your tortoise, just use the scissors and mow a portion of the grass to place in with the tortoise. All of those grasses and weeds will grow too tall for the tortoise to reach unless you keep it mowed down. And different seeds sprout at different times. Its probably just that the clovers haven't sprouted yet.

Yvonne

 

[katesgoey]

Hi Rob,

The other types might still "hatch" I did a very similar thing earlier this year and split the container at about the same growth as yours between Tank's and Bump's enclosures. I raked up an area in each then "transplanted" the two shares. I put an exercise pen around it and waited another ten days for it to take root. It worked, but I'll warn you that they went through it pretty darn fast - can't remember now how long. While that was happening, I seeded another area and cordoned it off. Both pens are down to the dirt now as of early August. I expanded their pens so they'd have bermuda mixed grass to graze and am about to do it again giving them half of our huge yard. Probably TMI for your question, but thought I'd share since we started out with the same type of idea.

Thanks. I will still be feeding him his various greens, and he can munch on this stuff if/when he chooses. I actually did another smaller container that is like 18"x20" so I can pull the weeds/grasses and add those to his feedings as well. Hoping it lasts a little. He's only 4-5months old too.

I supplement Tank and Bump too. I planted extra in planters outside the enclosure so I could do cuttings too. Being he's still young, it'll probably last much longer than mine did. Tank is over 16 years old now and Bump is 5 years, big boys compared to yours right now (in case you were wondering for comparison). Have fun

 

[Seiryu]

Those plantlets are too young to have a little tortoise traipsing all over them. Instead of putting it in with your tortoise, just use the scissors and mow a portion of the grass to place in with the tortoise. All of those grasses and weeds will grow too tall for the tortoise to reach unless you keep it mowed down. And different seeds sprout at different times. Its probably just that the clovers haven't sprouted yet.

Yvonne

Well I had replied to you, and then AJay (my cat) decided to hit a key and it erased it all, so here it goes again.

The purpose of the weeds/grass for his indoor enclosure is so he doesn't get as bored and to stimulate him. I can't use fake plants as he tries to eat and eat them, and has gotten a very small piece once, that passed thankfully. I tried a ping-pong ball, and he'd bite/play with it, but twice he knocked it near one of his hides, and then tried climbing it, flipping himself. So I took that out. He can't correct himself, even if he's on his side sadly. So i'm hoping this will stop the "wall climbing" even though he can't see out, and intern the flipping.

If he doesn't or can't eat it in there it's not a big deal. I have another container going I can feed him weeds/grass from and the other various weeds from my yard, spring mix and all the different greens I will still be feeding him.

Right now, he has two hides, two piles of timothy hay (which he ignores) and a smaller piece of slate, that's maybe half an inch high to climb on. Any higher and he could flip. So it's really the only other thing I could think of. Figure I will bring a little outside, inside