Hi, im new here, been lurking for awhile and I keep seeing that many people like to leave "hay" available for their torts. Try as I might I can't find any for sail on any pet suppliers' websites. I was just curious if there's a brand or distributor in the states that you like to get it from. Also I'm curious what kind of vitamin is used to supplement their diet. I couldn't find turtle vitamins either...
Tortoise Hay
- Thread starter Bthumpsta
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Most pet shops and and department stores with a pet section carry packaged timothy hay, usually found in the small animals section (hamsters, guinea pigs). You won't normally find it in the reptile section. I'm sure that the big chain pet stores like PetSmart and Petco carry it as does Wal-Mart.
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Most petstore hay is way too dry and most torts won't touch it. If you have to order or buy from a shop - this is about as good as you'll find - and they specialize in torts:
http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/ca...ath=33&zenid=15b2f06c509fef00618d6069c94abbd6
http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/ca...ath=33&zenid=15b2f06c509fef00618d6069c94abbd6
My local feed store lets me bag up any hay that I find on the floor, anytime, for free. Just make sure it is good quality, stored inside, and horse hay with no alfalfa. Also make sure not to get the real dusty or dirty stuff.
Kristina
Kristina
Like Chad said, most torts won't touch it.... I would buy it with the intention of using it as a bedding, if anything, and not as a food source. The only tortoises I have that will eat hay is large (60lbs+) sulcatas - even the medium ones don't usually care for it.
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TylerStewart said:
Hmm. So, is Timothy Hay an acceptable bedding? At least for short term? We bought a ton of it based on a post I read, and turns out you all are right - he hasn't touched it. Wouldnt want to throw it out, but wouldn't mind using it as bedding for awhile if it means it gets used. Thoughts?
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I use bedding hay baled for livestock as a substrate with all of my adult tortoises while their awake indoors before hibernation. Usually for 3-4 months in the fall. It's very inexpensive, easy to spot clean and replace and many of them will graze on it because of the weed content. "Clean" hay has a very low weed content and tortoises rarely show any interest in grazing on it.
My Russians eating well on his own but i may pick some up to put down on top of my substrate, i find he has trouble walking on the coconut coir alone. Plus i tend to feed him once a day, but i suppose if he were to get hungry later in the evening he would always have something to eat 
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