My Russian tortoise stopped eating overnight

Qwertyuiopgsggs

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Ive had my Russian tortoise for about 2 weeks and a half and he was eating a lot, I served him romaine lettuce dandelion with calcium supplement and shredded carrots, but for the past 5 days or so he just stopped eating, the basking area is about 36 C and he does drink a lot so I am really confused about what is going on with the loss of interest in food
 

Lyn W

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He needs a much more varied diet.
There isn't much nutritional value in Romaine and carrots have too much sugar to be a regular food.
Only a small pinch of calcium is needed a couple of times a week - too much can do more harm than good.

I think I've sent this link to you before, but in case it wasn't you please read the caresheet below which will recommend good foods

www.thetortoisetable.org.uk will also help you find safe foods and dark leafy weeds - aim for the green coloured foods.
My tort loves ribwort plantain and broadleaf plantain, sow thistle, clover as well as dandies. There are plenty of weeds around at the moment but if you need to bulk it out, Aldi do a Crispy leaf salad bag (57p) with a mix of 4 better salad leaves; lambs lettuce is good too but you'll have to shop around for that.
 

Qwertyuiopgsggs

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He needs a much more varied diet.
There isn't much nutritional value in Romaine and carrots have too much sugar to be a regular food.
Only a small pinch of calcium is needed a couple of times a week - too much can do more harm than good.

I think I've sent this link to you before, but in case it wasn't you please read the caresheet below which will recommend foods

www.thetortoisetable.org.uk will also help you find safe foods and dark leafy weeds - aim for the green coloured foods.
He needs a much more varied diet.
There isn't much nutritional value in Romaine and carrots have too much sugar to be a regular food.
Only a small pinch of calcium is needed a couple of times a week - too much can do more harm than good.

I think I've sent this link to you before, but in case it wasn't you please read the caresheet below which will recommend foods

www.thetortoisetable.org.uk will also help you find safe foods and dark leafy weeds - aim for the green coloured foods.
He needs a much more varied diet.
There isn't much nutritional value in Romaine and carrots have too much sugar to be a regular food.
Only a small pinch of calcium is needed a couple of times a week - too much can do more harm than good.

I think I've sent this link to you before, but in case it wasn't you please read the caresheet below which will recommend foods

www.thetortoisetable.org.uk will also help you find safe foods and dark leafy weeds - aim for the green coloured foods.
I do not offer him carrots all the time about trice a week, what I feed him is sliced romaine with dandelions, the first week I got him I tried feeding him collards too but he was not interested. I dont think that the food itself is the problem, what else could it be?
 

Lyn W

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I do not offer him carrots all the time about trice a week, what I feed him is sliced romaine with dandelions, the first week I got him I tried feeding him collards too but he was not interested. I dont think that the food itself is the problem, what else could it be?

He still needs a more varied diet - I just edited my last reply with some suggestions.
If not food it could be temps. or something in his enclosure affecting him.
If you post pics of it with the lamps you use and give the temps - ambient, basking and overnight it will help members work out what's going on.
 

SasquatchTortoise

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does anything on his body seem to be bothering him?
Did he have a temperature shock recently?
he probably wants more variety
just guessing
 

Qwertyuiopgsggs

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does anything on his body seem to be bothering him?
Did he have a temperature shock recently?
he probably wants more variety
just guessing
He did have a slight wound on his back leg and I am already using antibiotics, could that be the reason?
Should I forcefully open his jaw and put food inside?
 

TammyJ

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Please do not try to force feed him now. You have been well advised and need to take notice of what has been said, regarding diet, temperature, humidity and substrate in the link that was sent to you. We can absolutely help you to help your tortoise if you just try to be patient and follow the advice and care sheet.
 

Lyn W

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He did have a slight wound on his back leg and I am already using antibiotics, could that be the reason?
Should I forcefully open his jaw and put food inside?
Antibiotics supress appetite, so it could be that.
Can you post a picture of his injury and tell us what antibiotic the vet gave him - oral or injected?

Never try to force feed - if it goes down the airway and the food/water enters his lungs it could be very dangerous.

Torts can go quite a long time without food but they need hydration so make sure he has clean water available daily and soak him regularly in shallow luke warm water which should only come up to where the carapace and plastron meet and always below head level even when he's resting.
 
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