Can sulcata tortoises eat the same grass hay I feed my guinea pig?

The ideal hay for guinea pigs is a grass hay such as timothy or orchard grass hay. Guinea pigs cannot have clover hay or alfalfa hay as their main diet. You may need to ask the farmers what kind of hay this is to determine if it is the appropriate type of hay for your guinea pig!

Offer a high fiber, grass based diet. Almost any herbicide/fertilizer free grass will do for Sulcatas. Grasses should make up about 75% of the diet. Avoid large quantities of fruit or protein in the diet. The link below leads to a fairly comprehensive, but by no means inclusive, list of acceptable foods to feed Tobina. https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-diet-sheet.52677/

Fresh grass along with some green vegetables are a fine substitution for most small herbivore species like guinea pigs and rabbits, but any food change must be done gradually to avoid diarrhea. If you can get fresh grass year-round, this is a fine option, but make sure to stay away from legumes like alfalfa as this is too fattening for guinea pigs long-term and should only be used as a treat. Don't forget to add vitamin C either to the water or as a food supplement as this is required for pigs!

yes it is ok, and it is actually more valuable as it contains more Vitamin C. Avoid ornamental grass as it can be toxic. This diet should be supplemented, or better complemented, with mixed commercial one anyway. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hi, this is a great question! I’m glad to hear you’re feeding Geoffrey Timothy hay and cuttle bone. That’s a great start. You can also offer dandelion greens, mustard greens, collards, romaine, herbs, carrot tops, beet greens, etc. For more care information, you can visit www.anapsid.org and check under “chelonian.” I hope that helps!

Hello. Small amounts of fresh grass are acceptable as a treat. Most of the greens fed should be your timothy or oat hays as these are actually more nutritious than grass ( which is mostly water & sugars ). Never feed grass clippings from the mower, & the stemmier the grass is the better. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes, guinea pigs needs a high fiber diet to aid in digestion and to promote a healthy gut. If he was picking out select bits, he may not have been getting enough fiber. The Oxbow Orchard grass is an acceptable substitute.