Can Tortoises Eat Grass?

Yes – tortoises can and do eat grass! Grass has nutritional value for most tortoises. This does depend on what type of tortoise you have – some species will eat large quantities of grass while others, like Mediterranean tortoises, won’t eat any grass. 

Read on to learn about grass nutritional value, exactly how and when to feed tortoises grass, and safe feeding tips. 

Grass is a plant, so why don’t humans and many other animals eat it regularly? Doctors recommend we eat lots of plants and vegetables, so why exactly isn’t it a part of most of our diets?

In actuality, grass (especially wild grass) does have nutrients – it has vitamins A, C, and some B vitamins, as well as several minerals. However, it also contains something called lignin, and a lot of it. Humans can process lignin in small qualities, but grass contains so much that it usually passes through without giving any nutrients. Meanwhile, other animals like cows, with their famed multiple stomachs, are able to eat grass and thrive on it. 

Although many animals can thrive on diets consisting largely of grass (see a full list of animals that eat grass here), for many animals including hamsters and humans, grass isn’t a viable source of sustenance. 

So why can tortoises digest grass? This is just the genetics of their unique and elaborate digestive system, and how they’ve evolved over time. They’re able to eat grass and extract nutrients from it, while some other animals can not. 

Eating grass gives tortoises: 

• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Vitamin A 
• Vitamin E 
• Vitamin K 
• Vitamin B6 
• Fiber
• Protein 

Yes. If the grass or plants outside have been treated with chemical pesticides, or are contaminated with other animal’s feces, your tortoise could get poisoned. Some signs to watch out for: 

• Seizing
• Lack of appetite 
• Listless and lack of energy

If any of these symptoms occur after they’ve consumed wild grass, take your tortoise to the vet immediately. They could have eaten a toxic amount of insecticides or something similarly harmful to their bodies. 

Below is a non-exhaustive list of common grasses that tortoises eat: 

• Chia Grass
• Wheatgrass
• Oat Grass
• Barley Grass
• Bermuda grass
• Timothy Grass
• Meadow Grass 

• Yes, tortoises can eat grass!
• Make sure to avoid grass that’s been touched by insecticides as this will poison them

What do desert tortoises eat?

Desert tortoises mostly eat leafy plants, flowers, and grass. The grass they eat in question is likely Indian ricegrass and button grasses. They also eat shrubs and cacti. Since food can be scarce, they eat most plants, cacti, and flowers they find. 

What do sulcata tortoises eat?

Sulcatas need a lot of fiber and calcium to thrive. The most important thing is that they get plenty of grass and hay (80% of their diet). The remaining 20% of their diet should be flowering plants, vegetables, succulents, weed, pellet-type foods, and the occasional fruit. 

What is the best grass for a sulcata tortoise? 

The best grasses for a sulcata tortoise are: orchard grass, meadow grass, Bermuda grass, and Timothy grass. 

Can sulcata tortoises eat radish?

Yes! Sulcata tortoises eat radish and it’s good for them. Radishes have a ton of nutrients and are a good source of fiber for tortoises. 

What can’t tortoises eat?

Below is a list of foods to avoid. This does vary depending on the species of tortoise (for example, gopher tortoise can eat mushrooms), but in general, tortoises can not eat: 

• Beetroot
• Asparagus
• Dates
• Peaches
• Apricots
• Mushrooms
• Sugar
• Dog and cat food 

• What is the best tortoise grass seed mix?

This is Amazon’s top tortoise food mix, with over 1,500 reviews. 

What do russian tortoises eat?

Russian tortoises should eat weeds, grass, succulents and vegetables to keep their diet high fiber and low protein. Yes, Russian tortoises can eat grass. 

What do gopher tortoises eat?

Gopher tortoises eat flowers, vegetables, grasses, and fruits. They can eat more types of food than most turtles. Although they can eat animals, they prefer plant matter. 

If you have any further questions, feel free to email me!

Related articles: 

• Do Butterflies Eat Grass?
• Can Chinchillas eat grass?
• Can Guinea Pigs Eat Grass?