Can all tortoise species eat grass?

Mediterranean species that naturally graze — Hermann's, spur-thighed, Horsfield — can eat grass as part of a mixed diet. Tropical or forest species with a more varied, less grass-based natural diet should not be fed the same way, so check what is right for your specific species.

Is lawn mower grass safe for tortoises?

Freshly cut clippings left in a pile ferment quickly and can upset a tortoise's digestion, so it is better to let a tortoise graze standing grass directly rather than offering mowed cuttings. Never use clippings from a treated lawn.

How much grass should a tortoise eat compared to weeds?

Grass should be a supporting part of the mix rather than the majority of it, with dandelion, plantain, clover and similar weeds making up a bigger share where they are available. A varied grazing patch achieves this naturally without needing to measure proportions.

Can tortoises eat grass with dew or after rain?

Yes, a bit of moisture on the grass is not a concern, though very waterlogged grass after heavy rain is worth avoiding as it tends to sit heavier and can loosen droppings.

Can tortoises eat grass?

Yes, most Mediterranean tortoises can eat grass safely, but it should be one part of a varied grazing diet of weeds and edible flowers rather than the main feed on its own, since grass alone falls short on the calcium a tortoise's shell depends on.

Picked for your pet

Tortoise Feeding Kit

Komodo tortoise salad mix, hay cakes, a flower treat bar and calcium supplement for a balanced tortoise diet.

£20.49

Pettex Reptile Tortoise

Calcium-added tortoise substrate, 10 litres, for arid-habitat tortoises and lizards

£9.99

Komodo Tortoise Eco Terrain

Soil and sand substrate for arid tortoises, deep enough to burrow in, 10 litres

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Komodo Tortoise Leaf Mix

A 100G dried botanical leaf mix as a complementary treat for tortoises and other reptiles

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Why grass alone is not enough

Grass is lower in calcium and higher in sugar and water content than the weeds a Mediterranean tortoise — Hermann's, spur-thighed, Horsfield — would naturally graze on in the wild, things like dandelion, plantain, sow thistle and clover. A diet that is mostly grass, with little else, tends to be too rich in the wrong way and too poor in the calcium a tortoise's shell and bones depend on.

The better approach is to think of grass as one ingredient in a varied grazing mix rather than the whole lawn. A tortoise allowed to graze a mixed patch of grass and weeds together, rather than a monoculture lawn, is getting much closer to a natural diet.

What to watch for with garden grass specifically

Never let a tortoise graze grass that has been treated with weedkiller, fertiliser or slug pellets, and keep them off a lawn for as long as the product label recommends after any treatment. Freshly mown clippings are also worth avoiding — cut grass left in a pile starts to ferment quickly, and fermented grass can cause digestive upset.

Very lush, fast-growing spring grass is another one to go easy on, since its higher sugar and water content is more likely to cause loose droppings than the tougher, more established grass later in the season. Little and often, mixed with other forage, works better than a big feed of one thing.

Signs it has not agreed with your tortoise

Loose or unusually wet droppings after a grazing session are the most common sign that something in the mix — often too much grass, or grass that was too lush — has not suited them. A tortoise that stops grazing altogether, seems lethargic, or has swollen or sunken eyes is showing signs worth acting on quickly rather than waiting to see if it passes.

These signs are rarely down to grass alone and more often reflect the balance of the whole diet, or an unrelated husbandry issue like temperature or hydration. A vet experienced with reptiles is worth contacting if anything persists beyond a day or two.

Building a better grazing patch

If you can, let part of the garden or an outdoor enclosure grow a genuine mix of grass, dandelion, plantain, clover and similar edible weeds rather than a mown, treated lawn. This gives a tortoise the variety it would naturally seek out, with grass playing a supporting role rather than the starring one.

For tortoises kept mostly indoors or in a smaller run without natural forage, a good quality tortoise-specific dry food or supplement alongside fresh forage helps fill any gaps, though fresh varied grazing should always come first where it is available.

A light dusting of a reptile calcium supplement over fresh food a few times a week is a common way keepers make up for what a grass-heavy diet lacks, particularly for a tortoise with limited access to natural weeds.

More for your pet

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Komodo Tortoise Hay Cakes

A dried grass and dandelion hay cake for tortoises

£4.19

Komodo Tortoise Fruit Mix

A fruit-based treat mix for tortoises, made from dandelion, aronia berries, strawberry and redcurrants

£5.29

Komodo Tortoise Food Salad Mix

A complete holistic tortoise diet flavoured to taste like fresh salad

£7.29

Komodo Tortoise Food Cucumber

A complete holistic tortoise diet in cucumber flavour, high in fibre

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Common questions

Can all tortoise species eat grass?: Mediterranean species that naturally graze — Hermann's, spur-thighed, Horsfield — can eat grass as part of a mixed diet. Tropical or forest species with a more varied, less grass-based natural diet should not be fed the same way, so check what is right for your specific species.
Is lawn mower grass safe for tortoises?: Freshly cut clippings left in a pile ferment quickly and can upset a tortoise's digestion, so it is better to let a tortoise graze standing grass directly rather than offering mowed cuttings. Never use clippings from a treated lawn.
How much grass should a tortoise eat compared to weeds?: Grass should be a supporting part of the mix rather than the majority of it, with dandelion, plantain, clover and similar weeds making up a bigger share where they are available. A varied grazing patch achieves this naturally without needing to measure proportions.
Can tortoises eat grass with dew or after rain?: Yes, a bit of moisture on the grass is not a concern, though very waterlogged grass after heavy rain is worth avoiding as it tends to sit heavier and can loosen droppings.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.