picky sulcata

Question
Mark,
 I recently received a 9 inch 1400gram sulcata tortoise who had been raised on tortoise pellets and romaine lettuce.  I now supply her with various dried grasses, which she refuses to eat.  Although she will readily consume mustard/collard greens (which Ive only offered twice).  I have had her for almost 2 weeks now, how long is too long for her to refuse to eat?

Answer
Ha! 2 weeks for a healthy tortoise is nothing.

OK, time to try the Big Guns... dandelion leaves and flowers, cactus (Opuntia) pads/flowers/fruit, hibiscus leaves or flowers... Stuff with lots of flavor and lots of nutrients.

Dried grasses take some time to get used to. Try mixing them in slowly- about 1/8th of the meal for a week, then 1/4th, etc. Go ahead and add some pellets at first, and even toss in a rare strawberry to add some color and juiciness.

Make sure the tortoise has access to water and a more humid hide- we don't want it to get dehydrated or constipated.

I would also try skipping a couple days when it starts acting snotty.

How long will it take? If the tortoise is basically healthy, defecating, drinking, etc., a month is not really a big deal- not great, you understand, but not a big deal.