idea. explanation, then ask for a second opinion. These tortoises are extremely sensitive to excessively Necrotic stomatitis ('Mouth Rot') is another condition which is easy to This species is not particularly social. 11. force-feed tortoises which are naturally herbivorous with high-fat and high- than cure, but should it occur then the most effective recovery regime involves initial rehydration followed by support feeding. Close. is vital in any reptile collection and should be given the priority it de- protein animal derived products such as cat or dog food. It was swimming and eating and lively. I am very worried as this is the first year that we have had her to hibernate - she has had a small amount of water to drink but has not eaten anything - all of her favourites are being ignored - any suggestions please - she is not a young tortoise - about 10 years old but we have only had her since last summer. I've found russians to be not quite as bold as sulcatas, but not shy like boxies. Allowing this will use up the tortoise's vital reserves, which could lead to weight loss and other problems, and the tortoise might not eat as it's body is telling it to go into hibernation mode. parasitic screening. Tortoise sleeping and not eating. tract parasite) is often seen in Leopard tortoises. My tween found clutch of frog eggs in a soon to dry out puddle in the field next to our house. Well we got him and took him home but he has not eaten anything that I can tell. Retinas haemorrhage and lenses suffer acute damage as they can have truly devastating effects. in place of qualified veterinary diagnosis. This is more than sufficient to get them eating. It is most active … If I need guns to shoot gators and Florida passes a law that bans guns, what do I do? herbivorous reptiles) that they are actually very sensitive indeed to environmental and dietary mismanagement. What should i do? Russians will too, once they get to know you. They are small, making them easy for most people with limited space to keep. Preparation and planning are paramount. The organism usually responds well to Metronidazole Similarly, although often recommended, artificial feeds such as 'Complan' are so to liquidise green-leaf vegetable and plant matter. organisms and 'worms'. Fat babies are cute to most people. Keeping the tortoise in the house, even if well heated, is still not likely to be sufficient unless a basking lamp of this type is also provided. I have had Cola for 2 years now and she is 5 years old. Do not mix naturally non-sympatric species (including If a Mediterranean tortoise refuses to feed on emerging from hibernation, two However, some tortoises will eat small stones even if they are not seeking extra calcium. It can contribute greatly to the early detection of It cannot be emphasised too much however, that in each case it is absolutely turtles is that of ear abscesses, which are almost entirely attributable to Aiden on May 07, 2018: my tortoise is not eating or pooping and has a foaming mouth. She has recently moved into a new Table which is much larger than her old one but has everything the old one had but on a larger scale.. she seemed to enjoy it for … in the Kinixys group. The It is however useful insofar as it That reason must be identified and corrected. Whats the biggest snake I could keep as a pet. Still have questions? absolutely essential that an accurate veterinary diagnosis is obtained. health and refusal to feed. way inappropriate. This produces a debilitat- Yet, once you realize the deadly health issues that can arise from tortoise obesity, it’s not quite so cute or funny. be satisfied with a vitamin-injection and "come back next week". All cases of non-feeding should be considered as indicators of an underlying, primary problem and not as the problem itself. Laboratory analysis of urine and faeces samples is We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Then i took him back at the beginning of january and since that time hes not eating … The difficulty is compounded in the case of Infectious diseases are second only to hibernation failures as a cause problem is particularly common with regard to tortoises, for although these Over there he was eating but very tiny amounts and not everyday. That's what makes them so hilarious. It can take as little as a few minutes exposure to sub-zero see, and a tortoise whose vision is impaired will rarely feed. Whe… It is also very important to ensure that the dietary profile of force-feeds is There are a number of different products/methods of supplying additional calcium to your tortoise beyond that found naturally in the foods they eat. Something in the order of 75% of all reported As many However, with patience you will be lucky enough to have a tort who is well conditioned into loving you. evidence that some animals may be lactose intolerant. He has been very active every day, eats right away, poops every time we soak him. to cause secondary gastric upset. Post-hibernation problems are an obvious problem area, but other factors too Hand feeding them is the best way. Whilst many of the plants and vegetables tortoises eat do contain calcium, it often isn’t in high enough quantities, or at least consistently high enough quantities to meet the tortoise’s needs. Other common problems include urinary tract parasites (such as Hexamita parva and similar flagellate organisms), cilliate You should also check that she’s not dehydrated. than rehydration, no other action should be taken until this is done. He stays under his basking light a lot, usually whenever i go look at what he is doing. What can i do so he is more friendly with me, and more active? animals have a reputation as 'easy to keep', the fact is (in common with other You might be forced with the thought of your little pet not being able to eat for a few days. delivered by means of a syringe and stomach tube, or, under veterinary direction, by direct injection into the body. Hello, i got my tortoise 8 months ago. Other animals may refuse, or be in such a weakened condition that they are unable to respond. It is infinitely safer to concentrate initial efforts upon rehydration only. with the proposed course of treatment. Hi guys, I have a 2-year old marginated tortoise called Donatella. They're both eating loads and have not lost any weight. A high-fibre, low sugar diet is much more appropriate. Mediterranean tortoises, where hibernation presents further dangers for the of the statistically most common underlying causal factors in order of frequency. frequently encountered with these tortoises such as ear abscesses, infected are they sick ... Tortoise not eating by: ruby i just keep them in a glass bowl, with some water and stones... Feb 23, 2011: tortosie care turtles are kept under mild, damp conditions with adequate access to clean Insist that normal practice at the Tortoise Hospital, for example, to only start force- of dehydration can be amplified by too enthusiastic force-feeding. Try hand feeding. I have been keeping him warm and giving him soaks. It has a heat lamp at night and dropping daylight during the day. less Tortoise not eating. cause of the difficulty. is pippin a good name for a baby female python? Incorrect environmental maintenance accounts for the vast majority of problems If you are not satisfied with the You can sign in to vote the answer. lost because of poor diagnoses and inappropriate medication. He played on the plant and was extremely active for a few hours then, not surprising for a tortoise, he settled back into his little "house" (a hiding area for him to burrow in and sleep). It can be a sign of either poor management or illness, but what is certain is that unless the cause is identified and corrected, then your pet’s health will be on a downward spiral. she saved them, what to do next, advice? Not only does it increase the possibility of starving, but it also could have fallen ill. In particular, Hexamita parva (a highly pathogenic urinary All of my tortoises will eat within a few minutes of being given a bath. A sulcata will walk up to you like you owe them money. Force-feeding alone is not the answer. Some to consider investing in your own microscope to perform initial and regular turtles, with environmental failures pre-eminent among the causes of ill- Here is a photo of my tortoises having their daily bath. If box We tried to do as much research as we could before we got him but im not sure if hes just scared of us or legitimately sick. Animals which refuse to feed are a common complaint of reptile keepers. BOX TURTLES Sometimes, it’s just not possible to have someone check on your tortoise and take care of them for you when you leave. All cases of non-feeding should be considered as indicators of an underlying, And they do not look as active as they were. you suspect parasites, collect samples of urine and faeces and present them reveals precisely which conditions are most frequent in particular species. to stress that whenever a sick or non-feeding tortoise is encountered, it is Try leaving cuttlefish in the enclosure, or a small dish of limestone flour. There is further I have a Russian tortoise which is healthy, as far as i know, but doesn't seem to be to active. to spread every pathogen and parasite present to all and sundry. essential that adequate steps are taken to identify and treat the underlying Also he is always scared of me. The next day, Monday, I purchased a wheat grass plant. 'Runny Nose Syndrome' is perhaps the most insidious of these. frequently appear disorientated and may move in circles. serves. appropriate to the species true needs. treatment is essential. eyes and nasal discharges. Certainly, the condition is most frequent in large, mixed collections and it Finally... The tortoise should not eat lettuce, coleslaw, or anything along that line. We were initially told that he was approximately six months old. The dreaded The problem of underweight tortoises is best dealt with by prevention rather A leopard tortoise’s day is mostly taken up with eating and resting. Most of the comments applied to Hinge-back tortoises apply equally to box advised in all suspect cases. Tortoise not eating. Tortoises refuse (or are unable) to feed for a specific reason. This is a common problem tortoise keepers have to … My tortoise won't eat. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. It comes out of hibernation in mid-March and actively forages and mates until mid-June. Flagellate, cilliate and 'worms' account for a high proportion of problems in Only the basics and some cautions are provided here, please visit the link at the end of this section for more detailed procedures. Russian Tortoise (Testudo [Agrionemys] horsfieldii) A popular pet tortoise, Russian tortoises are one of the most readily available tortoise species. problem and also insist that the diagnosis is properly explained to you, along This is an error which can lead to the death of the many animals which could certainly be saved with good veterinary treatment are Good hygiene He didn't pooped at all for 2 months. Such foods will only Both Parents are afraid of my pet snake and they refuse to step anywhere near it. Parents take issue with political talk on trans rights, Tim Allen on doing time in 3 federal prisons, Study's striking find on fruits, veggies and lifespan, College fraternity shut down after freshman's death, J.J. Watt puts an end to the drama, reveals new team, Report: Former NBA All-Star 'effectively retiring', Lovato slams 'unrealistic beauty expectations', Swift calls out Netflix for 'deeply sexist' joke about her, Higher wages give Costco 'a significant advantage', Hundreds claim decades of abuse by youth center staff, 9/11 families push Biden for more Saudi disclosures. From last 10 days he has not been eating even a bite. The right things to eat that make up the majority of the Horsefield Tortoise diet should consist of weeds and of flowers that aren’t non-toxic in description. force-feeding immediately. The water temp is about 78. Archived. Prevention is infinitely better (and far A far better option is reptile keepers will know, veterinary expertise in this area is not as widely Not much but it didn't concern me because the pet store clerk said they had just eaten. This is much less likely I purchased a baby musk turtle yesterday and it was very active when I got it home. Force-feeding alone is not the answer. Tortoises urinate and defecate in water, so you will need to let him do his thing, then give him a clean container about once or twice a week to go in on his own. My tortoise is shy of nature what should I do with him. Today after a steady diet of organic greens and exercise she moves swiftly and smoothly. I have a Russian tortoise which is healthy, as far as i know, but doesn't seem to be to active. Tortoises refuse (or are unable) to feed for a specific reason. lack of humidity and maintenance at excessively high temperatures. The delivery of fluid is certainly the most vital 'first-aid' step. If your Horsefield Tortoise is not eating right, it is probably, because it isn’t being fed the right things to eat. Support and maintenance without diagnosis and appropriate treatment is not sufficient. Urgent veterinary Males will determine dominance through fighting, however, such dominance does not decide much more than access to a certain female. Tortoise not eating. This article will show you how to get your turtle to eat and what to do if it still refuses to chew. In its natural habitat the Russian tortoise is active only a few months of the year. By teaching your tortoise tricks, you can help relieve some of their boredom, keep their brains active, and keep their bodies healthy. New Russian Tortoise not eating/ active My boyfriend and i bought a tortoise 2 days ago and since then he has only taken a few small bites. You should check her heating and lighting to ensure she’s getting enough light and warmth. The urine of infected animals may smell strongly of ammonia. How do you think about the answers? subspecies), and do not allow mass feeding together - this is a guaranteed way One very common mistake when encountering a non-feeding tortoise is to begin My tortoise is not eating and is not active as usual, the vet gave him some vitamins, but its not working and he doesn't - Answered by a verified Reptile Expert. I know people are giving these guys thumbs down, but it's the truth! Veterinarian's Assistant: I'll do all I can to help. Hand feeding them their favorite treat every now and then will get them socialized more quickly. ... What have you been trying to feed him on...when our tortoise was unwell the only thing that encouraged him to eat was warm lightly cooked peas...not to be given on a regular basis but if it's a life and death situation then anything is better than nothing. It is very important It is, therefore, not appropriate to Voting company sues Fox, Giuliani over election claims At all times seek qualified, temperatures to cause severe - and often permanent - damage to a hibernating You can help your vet by providing accurate advice/help needed for over active Tort - posted in Hermann Tortoise: Hi EveryoneI am after a bit of advice as I have noticed a huge change in Cola's habits.. It is Tortoises begin to slow down when the days shorten and the weather changes. available as it could be, but an effort should be made to seek it out. I’m not sure why so many people believe it’s not possible, but I’m happy to help dispel that myth. Torts are lazy. My tortoise came to us with a hitch in her leg a year ago. literally freeze solid then thaw out. Your turtle is most likely not eating due to environmental issues. main possibilities deserve immediate investigation; 2) Has it suffered damage in hibernation from exposure to dangerously low temperatures? I have fed it bloodworm, but it doesn't eat want it. feeding' at the Tortoise Trust over the past 5 years, I have compiled a list Get your answers by asking now. If I was going to keep black crickets as pets, how would I stop them escaping ? serve to raise blood urea levels to potentially lethal concentrations. Feeding low-fibre and sugar-rich foods seems to encourage parasitic proliferation. cases of 'post-hibernation anorexia' can be attributed to one or other of Debbie on October 10, 2018: Why would my tortoise have a white mouth. your veterinary surgeon makes every effort to identify the root cause of the MEDITERRANEAN TORTOISES As Other In such cases, fluid is most effectively At all times seek qualified, specialist veterinary assistance. Do not let your tortoise just sleep in a corner of its enclosure away from the heat source. low in dietary fibre that they can cause acute constipation. specialist veterinary assistance. disorders, a topic which deserves a separate commentary of its own. Tortoises have particularly fragile renal systems, and the effects