Help! (Hasn't Eaten In Five Days)

Levi Schweiger

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Mar 25, 2020
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22
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Bonny Lake
Hey so I got my tortoise 5 days ago and he hasn't eaten anything and it scares me. He has pooped like twice and they look healthy. But he wont eat idk why. He also barely moves HELP
 

turtlebean

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Feb 25, 2020
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Connecticut
Hey there!

Could you provide some other information on your enclosure that might help us solve this problem?

Maybe it’s too cold in your enclosure for your little one. What are all the temperatures inside your enclosure? How hot is the hot side and how cold does it get?

Maybe some pictures of the enclosure and even your new tort would help!

-Julia R
 

Levi Schweiger

New Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2020
Messages
22
Location (City and/or State)
Bonny Lake
Hey there!

Could you provide some other information on your enclosure that might help us solve this problem?

Maybe it’s too cold in your enclosure for your little one. What are all the temperatures inside your enclosure? How hot is the hot side and how cold does it get?

Maybe some pictures of the enclosure and even your new tort would help!

-Julia R
Okie yeah here's the enclosure, under the heat emitter on the right side it gets 89 on average and the cooler side is usually like 71

20200321_194310.jpg
 

turtlebean

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Messages
190
Location (City and/or State)
Connecticut
Okie yeah here's the enclosure, under the heat emitter on the right side it gets 89 on average and the cooler side is usually like 71

It might help to bump up his basking temps to about 95-100 degrees.

Do you know how old your tortoise is? I don’t know if it’s just because of the picture but he looks small. There are certain humidity and temperature guidelines to go by when you have a baby.

There is a beginner russian tortoise guide on these forums as well as a beginners mistakes forum that might be useful for you to check over and make sure everything is in order on your end.

Also what have you been trying to feed your tortoise that he is refusing to eat?
 

Levi Schweiger

New Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2020
Messages
22
Location (City and/or State)
Bonny Lake
Hey there!

Could you provide some other information on your enclosure that might help us solve this problem?

Maybe it’s too cold in your enclosure for your little one. What are all the temperatures inside your enclosure? How hot is the hot side and how cold does it get?

Maybe some pictures of the enclosure and even your new tort would help!

-Julia R
It might help to bump up his basking temps to about 95-100 degrees.

Do you know how old your tortoise is? I don’t know if it’s just because of the picture but he looks small. There are certain humidity and temperature guidelines to go by when you have a baby.

There is a beginner russian tortoise guide on these forums as well as a beginners mistakes forum that might be useful for you to check over and make sure everything is in order on your end.

Also what have you been trying to feed your tortoise that he is refusing to eat?
Okie I'll bump up the temperature. I do not know how old my tortoise is inwasnt sure if he is a baby or not. I tried to feed him kale,cabbage,and spinach. I have colored greens but I have not tried to feed him that yet. All organic
 

turtlebean

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Messages
190
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Connecticut
I have a heat emitter and a UVA lamp.


The heat emitter is great! I would make sure the UVA lamp also puts out UVB and it not blocked by any mesh or glass or plastic. As well, you should also have a heat lamp bulb that stays on 12ish hours a day to emulate the sun, usually in sync with the UVB bulbs. This will help your tortoise better regulate their own body temperature and activity and hopefully encourage their body to digest food!
 

Levi Schweiger

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Location (City and/or State)
Bonny Lake
The heat emitter is great! I would make sure the UVA lamp also puts out UVB and it not blocked by any mesh or glass or plastic. As well, you should also have a heat lamp bulb that stays on 12ish hours a day to emulate the sun, usually in sync with the UVB bulbs. This will help your tortoise better regulate their own body temperature and activity and hopefully encourage their body to digest food!
Okie so they need both UVB and UVA, my UVA bulb says it's a basking light. Would that count as the heat lamp bulb as well?
 

turtlebean

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Okie so they need both UVB and UVA, my UVA bulb says it's a basking light. Would that count as the heat lamp bulb as well?

Yeah they need the UVB as well. I use a tube style UVB bulb and it works wonders! and yes the basking light is the same as the heat lamp bulb. You can try moving it either closer or further to achieve the temperature you need for your little guy.
 

Levi Schweiger

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Bonny Lake
Yeah they need the UVB as well. I use a tube style UVB bulb and it works wonders! and yes the basking light is the same as the heat lamp bulb. You can try moving it either closer or further to achieve the temperature you need for your little guy.
Okie thank you so much
 

Levi Schweiger

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Bonny Lake
Okie thank you so much
Okie one more question, should the heat emitter be on the warm side of the enclosure providing its basking heat or should the spot light be providing his basking light. Because as of right now I have my uvb in the middle and my heat emitter on the warm side closer so it is warmer in the basking area. Or should they both be over at the basking area?
 

Levi Schweiger

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Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
Bonny Lake
Yeah they need the UVB as well. I use a tube style UVB bulb and it works wonders! and yes the basking light is the same as the heat lamp bulb. You can try moving it either closer or further to achieve the temperature you need for your little guy.
Okie one more question, should the heat emitter be on the warm side of the enclosure providing its basking heat or should the spot light be providing his basking light. Because as of right now I have my uvb in the middle and my heat emitter on the warm side closer so it is warmer in the basking area. Or should they both be over at the basking area?
 

turtlebean

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Joined
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Messages
190
Location (City and/or State)
Connecticut
Okie one more question, should the heat emitter be on the warm side of the enclosure providing its basking heat or should the spot light be providing his basking light. Because as of right now I have my uvb in the middle and my heat emitter on the warm side closer so it is warmer in the basking area. Or should they both be over at the basking area?

I’m not sure if it has to be in any area in particular. I keep all my lights on the hot side of the enclosure and then keep my heat emitter on the cold side. But my heat emitter is programmed to only kick in at 60 degrees so it is rarely if ever on, because my house is usually warmer than that.

I hope that helps! Please keep us posted on how your tortoise does!
 

Kipley

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Jul 17, 2019
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Seattle, WA
Okie one more question, should the heat emitter be on the warm side of the enclosure providing its basking heat or should the spot light be providing his basking light. Because as of right now I have my uvb in the middle and my heat emitter on the warm side closer so it is warmer in the basking area. Or should they both be over at the basking area?
Hey Levi, Bonny Lake, WA?

I'm in Auburn. You don't need a vet at this point, but for future needs should they arise, the only Tortoise savvy vet I have found in the area is at Pine Tree Vet Clinic in Maple Valley. One of the few clinics that has a nice group of experienced staff that works with exotics. Dr. Zellar is about to be board certified in reptile and amphibian medicine. Keep them in mind if you ever need a vet - this place won't be a waste of money as some are.
 

Levi Schweiger

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Joined
Mar 25, 2020
Messages
22
Location (City and/or State)
Bonny Lake
Hey Levi, Bonny Lake, WA?

I'm in Auburn. You don't need a vet at this point, but for future needs should they arise, the only Tortoise savvy vet I have found in the area is at Pine Tree Vet Clinic in Maple Valley. One of the few clinics that has a nice group of experienced staff that works with exotics. Dr. Zellar is about to be board certified in reptile and amphibian medicine. Keep them in mind if you ever need a vet - this place won't be a waste of money as some are.
Thank you so much
 

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