Best Hay for Sulcata Tortoise: Top Picks & Tips

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Sulcata tortoises are big eaters. As the third-largest tortoise species in the world, they can put away a surprising amount of food every single day. And while most keepers focus on fresh greens and grasses, hay is actually one of the most important staples in a sulcata's diet.

But not all hay is equal. Some types are nutritional goldmines for your tort. Others are too rich in protein or calcium, which can cause real health problems over time. Choosing the right hay matters more than most people realize.

This guide breaks down the best hay for sulcata tortoises, explains what to look for, and helps you avoid the most common mistakes keepers make at the feed store.

Why Hay Is So Important for Sulcata Tortoises

In the wild, sulcata tortoises roam the semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Their natural diet is almost entirely made up of dry grasses, weeds, and fibrous plant material. They're built to digest high-fiber, low-protein food.

Hay mimics that natural diet really well. It's dried grass, which means it delivers the fiber your tortoise needs without the extra moisture and sugar found in many fresh vegetables. That high fiber content is critical for a few reasons:

• It keeps their digestive system moving properly
• It helps wear down their beak naturally as they chew
• It reduces the risk of metabolic bone disease by balancing calcium intake
• It prevents the "pyramiding" shell condition linked to protein-heavy diets

Hay also gives your tortoise something to do. Sulcatas are grazers by nature. Letting them forage through a pile of hay keeps them mentally engaged and mimics natural behavior. It's enrichment and nutrition at the same time.

If you're building out a full diet plan, check out Best Greens for Sulcata Tortoises: Top Picks for what to serve alongside hay.

What Makes a Good Sulcata Hay?

Before we get into specific types, let's talk about what you're looking for. A good hay for sulcata tortoises should tick these boxes:

High fiber, low protein. Sulcatas need fiber — not protein. Too much protein causes rapid growth and shell pyramiding. Look for hays with a crude protein content under 10%, ideally closer to 6-8%.

Low calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. You want a balanced ratio. Alfalfa, for example, is extremely high in calcium and protein, which makes it unsuitable as a staple hay.

Dry and mold-free. Moisture breeds mold, and moldy hay can make your tortoise seriously ill. Always buy hay that smells fresh and grassy — never musty or dusty.

Leafy and soft enough to eat. Very coarse, stemmy hay can be hard for younger tortoises to chew. Softer grass hays work better for juveniles.

No additives or pesticides. Avoid hays treated with pesticides, herbicides, or artificial preservatives. Organic or untreated is always better.

The Best Hay Types for Sulcata Tortoises

Orchard Grass Hay — The Top Pick

Orchard grass hay is widely considered the best hay for sulcata tortoises, and it's easy to see why. It's soft, palatable, and has a nutritional profile that's almost perfectly matched to what a sulcata needs.

• Crude protein: ~7-9%
• Fiber: high
• Calcium: moderate
• Palatability: excellent — most tortoises love it

Orchard grass is leafy and fragrant, which makes tortoises want to eat it. Compared to timothy, it's a bit softer and easier for younger animals to process. You can usually find orchard grass hay for tortoises at pet stores and online retailers.

Many experienced sulcata keepers use orchard grass as their primary hay, supplemented with fresh grazing grasses when the weather allows. It's a reliable, year-round staple.

Timothy Hay — A Solid Runner-Up

Timothy hay is probably the most widely available grass hay on the market. It's sold everywhere, it's affordable, and it works well for sulcata tortoises as a regular part of their diet.

• Crude protein: ~8-10%
• Fiber: high
• Calcium: moderate to low
• Palatability: good

Timothy is a bit coarser than orchard grass, especially the stems. Most adult sulcatas handle it just fine, but younger tortoises may prefer the softer texture of orchard grass. You can find timothy hay for tortoises in bags ranging from small pet-store sizes to 50-pound bales from farm supply stores.

Tip: If you're buying from a farm supply store, ask for "second cut" timothy. It tends to be leafier and softer than first cut, which is coarser and stemmier.

Bermuda Grass Hay — A Natural Favorite

Bermuda grass is one of the grasses sulcatas actually eat in the wild. In dried hay form, it makes an excellent feed with a very appropriate nutritional profile.

• Crude protein: ~6-8%
• Fiber: very high
• Calcium: moderate
• Palatability: very good

Bermuda grass hay is especially popular among keepers in warmer climates, where it's easy to source locally. It's lower in protein than timothy or orchard grass, which makes it an ideal choice if you're worried about pyramiding or rapid growth in your tortoise.

You can often find Bermuda grass hay at feed stores or ordered in bulk online. If you live in the American South or Southwest, you may even be able to cut your own from untreated lawns.

Meadow Hay — Great for Variety

Meadow hay is a mix of different grass species and sometimes includes dried wildflowers, herbs, and forbs. It's not a single species like timothy or orchard grass — it's a blend.

This variety is actually a feature, not a bug. In the wild, sulcatas don't eat just one type of grass. A diverse meadow hay gives your tortoise a range of nutrients and a more interesting foraging experience.

• Protein: varies (generally low to moderate)
• Fiber: high
• Palatability: excellent — the variety keeps things interesting

Just make sure the meadow hay you buy doesn't contain plants that are toxic to tortoises, like buttercups or foxglove. Reputable brands that sell meadow hay for tortoises usually vet their mixes for safety.

Oat Hay — Use Sparingly

Oat hay is the dried whole oat plant, harvested before the grain fully matures. It's high in fiber and most tortoises find it very tasty.

The catch? Oat hay is a bit higher in simple carbohydrates than pure grass hays. It's not harmful in moderation, but you probably shouldn't use it as the only hay you offer. Mix it in with orchard grass or timothy for variety.

What to Avoid: Alfalfa Hay

Alfalfa is a legume, not a grass. It's extremely high in both protein and calcium — both of which are bad news for sulcata tortoises in large amounts.

Alfalfa can be used occasionally as a treat for underweight or sick tortoises that need a calorie boost, but it should never be a regular part of the diet. The excess calcium and protein contribute to the exact health problems — pyramiding, kidney stress, abnormal growth — that good tortoise keeping tries to avoid.

How Much Hay Should You Feed?

For adult sulcata tortoises, hay can make up the bulk of their diet — think 60-80% of what they eat on a given day. This is especially true during winter or when fresh grazing isn't available.

Younger sulcatas (under 5 years) should still get plenty of hay, but they also benefit from more variety. Rotate between hay types and supplement with fresh broadleaf weeds, grasses, and leafy greens.

A simple way to think about it: offer hay freely at all times. Sulcatas are grazers. They'll eat as much as they need and ignore the rest. Don't worry about overfeeding hay — it's the protein-rich and sugary foods that require portion control.

For a complete picture of what to feed alongside hay, take a look at Best Sulcata Tortoise Food: What to Feed Your Giant.

Where to Buy Hay for Your Sulcata

You have several options, each with pros and cons.

Pet stores are convenient but expensive for large tortoises. A small bag of timothy hay from a pet store won't last an adult sulcata very long.

Farm supply stores (like Tractor Supply Co. or local feed stores) sell hay in larger quantities for much less per pound. A 50-pound bale of orchard grass or timothy is usually significantly cheaper than buying it in small bags. (Estimates only — actual prices on Amazon may vary.) You might pay $15–$30 for a bale that lasts weeks.

Online retailers like Amazon offer a wide selection and convenient delivery. Brands like Small Pet Select and Grandpa's Best are popular with tortoise keepers and ship clean, fresh hay in various quantities.

Local hay farmers are the most cost-effective option if you have a large sulcata or a collection of tortoises. You can often buy directly in bulk at very low prices. Just make sure the hay hasn't been treated with pesticides.

Storage Tips: Keeping Hay Fresh

Bad storage ruins good hay fast. Follow these tips to keep your supply clean and mold-free:

• Store in a dry location. Moisture is hay's worst enemy. A dry garage, shed, or closet works well.
• Keep it off the ground. Use a pallet or storage bin to prevent moisture from wicking up from the floor.
• Don't seal it airtight. Hay needs some airflow. Use breathable bags or leave bales loosely covered.
• Check for mold before feeding. Smell it — fresh hay smells sweet and grassy. Any musty, sour, or earthy odor is a red flag. Toss it.
• Rotate stock. Use older hay before opening new bags so nothing sits too long.

Proper storage means less waste and a healthier tortoise. It takes almost no effort and makes a big difference.

Hay vs. Fresh Grass: Do You Need Both?

Ideally, yes. Fresh grass is always the gold standard for sulcata nutrition. If you have a yard and your tortoise can graze on untreated grass — grasses like Bermuda, St. Augustine, or rye — that's fantastic. Let them.

But most keepers can't provide unlimited fresh grazing year-round. That's where hay comes in. It's a practical, storable substitute that provides the same core benefits: fiber, beak wear, low protein, and foraging behavior.

In practice, the best approach is:

• Fresh grazing when available (spring and summer)
• Hay as a staple during colder months or when fresh grass isn't accessible
• Fresh leafy greens as a supplement a few times per week

This rotation keeps the diet diverse and nutritionally balanced throughout the year.

A Quick Note on Bedding vs. Eating Hay

Some keepers use hay as substrate or bedding in addition to food. This works fine — sulcatas will naturally forage through loose hay on the ground, eating as they go. Just make sure the bedding hay is the same quality as the feeding hay. Your tortoise will eat it regardless, so don't use low-quality or chemically treated hay as bedding.

For more on enclosure setup, check out Best Sulcata Tortoise Substrate: Top Picks & Setup Guide to see how hay fits into the overall habitat.

Final Thoughts

Picking the best hay for your sulcata tortoise doesn't have to be complicated. Start with orchard grass or timothy as your staple, add Bermuda grass or meadow hay for variety, and skip the alfalfa. Buy in bulk when you can, store it properly, and offer it freely so your tortoise can graze whenever they want.

It's one of the simplest, cheapest ways to dramatically improve your sulcata's long-term health. And when your tortoise is happily chomping through a fresh pile of orchard grass, you'll know you got it right.