Store-bought Grass?

[MeAndMyTort]

This is my first real post, so please bear with me.

As you all know, fall is ending and winter will begin in a few days. That means that my grass level is going way down. I didn't get to pick as much grass as I wanted this summer, and my whole yard only lasted a few weeks. I was wondering if there was a safe "store-bought grass" to feed to my tortoise this winter. If there isn't, what are some other solutions?

 

[wellington]

if you can get it chemical and fertilizer free. Also be careful of the plastic mesh some have on the bottom of the grass roles.
Take a look at this site, of edible items to feed http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/tortoise_home_1.asp

 

[MeAndMyTort]

if you can get it chemical and fertilizer free. Also be careful of the plastic mesh some have on the bottom of the grass roles.
Take a look at this site, of edible items to feed http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/tortoise_home_1.asp

Thank you very much!

 

[Prairie Mom]

Pick and freeze whatever grass you still have left. Just snatch it, put it in freezer bags, and try to squeeze all the air of the bag. Grass thaws perfectly. There are quite a few leaves you can freeze and thaw perfectly too. Here's a link to a thread that may give you more ideas of foods you can save for winter: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/these-can-be-frozen-thawed-and-retain-good-texture.128563/
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Grass is also super easy to grow indoors. It can be a challenge for me to find grass seed that is not coated in fertilizer. I've bought them from amazon quite a few times.

Here's some on Amazon that is not coated: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AZ03DQ/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Wheat and Barley seeds also produce really fast and nutritious grass. Regular grass take weeks before you can clip and feed. Wheat and Barley is good and long in about a week. You'll have to keep reseeding it, but it's worth it.

Here's a good sized bag of wheat: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KHYAM48/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

small bag of Barley (kind of expensive for size of bag, but I've used it and it works): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001156C5K/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
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Get yourself some potting soil. For grass, I have had good results using trays like these, but you can use any free recycled garbage to grow in:

Here is a set of trays on amazon with drainage holes...
http://www.amazon.com/Plant-Growing...TF8&qid=1448860742&sr=1-5&keywords=plant+tray

Here's a set without holes
http://www.amazon.com/Durable-Black...TF8&qid=1448860742&sr=1-1&keywords=plant+tray
If you don't have drain holes you have to be really careful to keep moist but not over-water or your grass and seeds will turn to mold.

Put these in a sunny window. Good luck and get in touch if you need any help!

 

[TerrapinStation]

@Prairie Mom Awesome info! Just read two of your plant-related posts and I learned more in 5 minutes than I have all week! Thanks

 

[Tom]

This is my first real post, so please bear with me.

As you all know, fall is ending and winter will begin in a few days. That means that my grass level is going way down. I didn't get to pick as much grass as I wanted this summer, and my whole yard only lasted a few weeks. I was wondering if there was a safe "store-bought grass" to feed to my tortoise this winter. If there isn't, what are some other solutions?

What species, size and age?

 

[Prairie Mom]

@Prairie Mom Awesome info! Just read two of your plant-related posts and I learned more in 5 minutes than I have all week! Thanks

awww...so nice of you to say! Thanks!

 

[MeAndMyTort]

Thanks so much Prairie Mom! I learned so much!!

What species, size and age?

1. Mediterranean Spur Thighed Tortoise

2. Very large hamburger

3. Unknown; He's a rescue

 

[Tom]

1. Mediterranean Spur Thighed Tortoise

Ahh. These are really not grass eaters. Broadleaf weeds and a variety of leaves, leafy greens should be the primary diet. Its not that its necessarily bad if they eat some grass, it just that they are not really equipped to deal with grasses as their primary food source.

 

[MeAndMyTort]

He just gets grass as a treat occasionally, but he really likes it. In the summer when he goes into his outdoor enclosure, there is minimal grass. He eats mostly fresh veggies and weeds.

Thank you for the information everyone.

 

[GeorgeUK]

Here's some on Amazon that is not coated: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AZ03DQ/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Ah, I wish I lived across the pond! These look great, but $135 shipping fee from the USA to the UK!
I hope they are coated in gold dust!

 

[Prairie Mom]

Ah, I wish I lived across the pond! These look great, but $135 shipping fee from the USA to the UK!
I hope they are coated in gold dust!

Here you go, George!
No need to move Especially since there aren't any good chip places over here

From Amazon UK:

-lawn grass seed (this says nothing about being coated in fertilizer, but I would post that question on Amazon to previous sellers on Amazon) : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grass-Seed-...8&qid=1450715744&sr=8-3&keywords=fescue+seeds

Wheat grass: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thompson-an...=1450716328&sr=8-5&keywords=wheat+grass+seeds

Barley grass: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Organic-Bar...716580&sr=8-2&keywords=barley+seeds+sprouting

 

[GeorgeUK]

Here you go, George!
No need to move Especially since there aren't any good chip places over here

From Amazon UK:

-lawn grass seed (this says nothing about being coated in fertilizer, but I would post that question on Amazon to previous sellers on Amazon) : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grass-Seed-...8&qid=1450715744&sr=8-3&keywords=fescue+seeds

Wheat grass: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thompson-an...=1450716328&sr=8-5&keywords=wheat+grass+seeds

Barley grass: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Organic-Bar...716580&sr=8-2&keywords=barley+seeds+sprouting

That's brilliant, thank you!

 

[Lyn W]

That's brilliant, thank you!

I'll be looking out for those too.
Do you have any Readigrass stockists near you George?
Lola won't eat grass unless he can graze it himself, so to add fibre to his diet in the winter (or summer if too cold to go out) I grind Readigrass and sprinkle it on his wet salads.
Although Lady D eats hay doesn't she? Or was that someone else's tort?

 

[GeorgeUK]

I'll be looking out for those too.
Do you have any Readigrass stockists near you George?
Lola won't eat grass unless he can graze it himself, so to add fibre to his diet in the winter (or summer if too cold to go out) I grind Readigrass and sprinkle it on his wet salads.
Although Lady D eats hay doesn't she? Or was that someone else's tort?

Hi Lyn,

I think I can buy that at Pets At Home, but I'm not sure. I'll buy some as a back up

At the moment Lady D is eating grass, hay and mixed leaves, but the grass is disappearing fast & I don't trust it from other people's lawn encase they use pesticides.

She will eat grass if I pick it and wash it, but as soon as it dries up, she won't touch it. Yet, she eats hay haha.

It's funny, I think we all become grass chefs when we get a grassland tortoise =D

 

[Lyn W]

I couldn't get Readigrass at my PaH but if you look on the Friendly Readigrass website they list stockists in the UK.
Yes chef is the right word - I spend far more time preparing Lola's 'salads' than I do my own.
I can add ground readigrass with quite a professional flourish now!!

 

[GeorgeUK]

I couldn't get Readigrass at my PaH but if you look on the Friendly Readigrass website they list stockists in the UK.
Yes chef is the right word - I spend far more time preparing Lola's 'salads' than I do my own.
I can add ground readigrass with quite a professional flourish now!!

Haha, I often sit & watch Lady D basking with her legs stretched out, munching on a mixture of grass and leaves & wish that was my life. What luxury they have! It's no wonder they live so long