Tucker won't eat! :(

[Tort4u2love]

I just got a new baby, Charley, she's 1 month old. She eats well & very outgoing. However, Tucker doesn't seem to be eating like he was before Charley. He used to demolish a huge pile of grass & weeds in a matter of minutes but now he's only taking a few bites then he goes and hides ... Temps are great 80 in cool end, 106 in basking , & 90% humidity.

What is going on? Should I be worried?

 

[lismar79]

Are they housed together?

 

[Greg T]

Maybe he is just trying to adjust to the new tort in his house. You can try to feed them in separate areas, or give the new tort a soak while Tucker eats and see if that helps any. He may feel intimidated or nervous with the new guy right now.

 

[Tort4u2love]

OK I try that ... he's making me nervous Thanks Greg!

 

[ascott]

Did you practice a safe quarantine period ? I mean, the tortoise in your care is the first tortoise so if you are introducing any new tortoise and are forcing it to remain with the original tortoise you will first want to assure a safe quarantine period, so you don't jeopardize the health of your established tort.....

A pair of torts is a disaster in the making, a pair is hard if at all possible---one will always be the dominant one which means one must submit to the other...which is not natural, tortoise don't "hang out" together like dogs and people do...they are a solitary animal...to force two to live in the same space usually proves fatal for one....when ever you deal with trying to force a pair to co exist you must be fair and have in mind the ability to offer two individual enclosures, one for each---withdrawing is not normal, not eating is not normal, not basking is not normal--these are all signs your tortoise if making very clear to you...

 

[Tort4u2love]

Ascott, Yes Charley was quarantine and Tucker is acting better. He actually ate well the night I posted this and has been back to normal for the couple days. I know about the pair thing and I am hoping to add one more to make this a trio in the near future. However, Charley needed a home and I couldn't stand to see her not raised right. I understand that they are not dogs and do not need "buddies" to hang out with. They have a big closed chamber enclosures with two humid hides, two water dishes, two basking, lots of other hiding places, lots of visual barriers, and two feeding areas. I also have a 300sq ft outside area for them that they get to spend a couple area in a day. I hope this puts your mind at rest that I am not out to make my little ones miserable but I appreciate you looking out for my little ones

The picture is Tucker eating dinner last night Love his little tongue!

 

[Neal]

How is your tortoise doing now?

 

[Tort4u2love]

How is your tortoise doing now?

Tucker is doing great! Completely back to normal But My little Charley I am not too sure about...she is only little bits at a time, drinks great, love soaks, only poops a little bit and a couple time since I have had her (5/1/14). I have been feeding them at seperate times & theyve been eating grass, weeds, Hibiscus, and spring mix.

I am preparing to seperate them ..just ordered lights, heat, coco coir, plants, terra cotta saucer (water bowl), Thermo/Hydrometers, and thermostat-should get her Thursday. I am going to put her in a 50 gallon tub to see if she will eat & poop. I am not sure what else to do? I have watched Tucker & Charley very closely and He really doesn't seem to have much to do with her, so I don't think Hes bullying her.

I am not sure how she was started but she is hot & humid since I got her.

 

[Neal]

How are you measuring your temperatures currently?

Are you able to get them outside? Outside time will often encourage picky eaters to eat more readily.

 

[Tort4u2love]

How are you measuring your temperatures currently?

Are you able to get them outside? Outside time will often encourage picky eaters to eat more readily.

Here are my temps & humidity ... I get them outside daily weather permitting for a few hours. They have a playpen full of weeds, grass, 3 hides, water dish, tall plants.

Here's a pic of Charley just taken ...she looks lethargic to me

 

[Neal]

Well, it's hard to conclude anything from just one picture. But assuming you had just placed the tortoise on the floor I do think you might have a problem. A healthy tortoise would have eyes wide open with their head up and would appear to be a little more alert when placed somewhere new, like on the floor as in your picture, rather than how your tortoise appears.

If you say she appears lethargic, my recommendation would be to keep her between 90f - 95f around the clock. Keep food and water available 24/7 and be sure to soak her frequently to make sure she is hydrated.

 

[Tort4u2love]

Well, it's hard to conclude anything from just one picture. But assuming you had just placed the tortoise on the floor I do think you might have a problem. A healthy tortoise would have eyes wide open with their head up and would appear to be a little more alert when placed somewhere new, like on the floor as in your picture, rather than how your tortoise appears.

If you say she appears lethargic, my recommendation would be to keep her between 90f - 95f around the clock. Keep food and water available 24/7 and be sure to soak her frequently to make sure she is hydrated.

Neal , that is exactly what I did .. picked her up and placed her on a towel on the top of her enclosure. But she did not open her eyes I got a hot wash rag and wrapped her in it to get her to open her eyes. I will get her set up with the heat temps as you said and provide all the food /water & soaks she can take I have to wait til her lights and other stuff arrive Thursday but I will bump up the heat in CC that she is in till then. Do you think I should seperate them?

 

[Tort4u2love]

Neal , that is exactly what I did .. picked her up and placed her on a towel on the top of her enclosure. But she did not open her eyes I got a hot wash rag and wrapped her in it to get her to open her eyes. I will get her set up with the heat temps as you said and provide all the food /water & soaks she can take I have to wait til her lights and other stuff arrive Thursday but I will bump up the heat in CC that she is in till then. Do you think I should seperate them?

Her shell is hard, I just weighed her and she is the same as she was when I got her. 5/01/14= 26g & 1.3/4" ... I also just got a text back from the guy I got her from and he said that He did a dry enclosure, Greens, danolions, strawberries, and soaked her once a week.

 

[Neal]

Do you think I should seperate them?

I would definitely recommend that. Although I am not as against keeping tortoises in pairs as most here, I do think there is a greater increase for stress caused by the presence of another tortoise. With a tortoise that might already be stressed or ill, I think it would be best to keep it by itself.

 

[Neal]

Her shell is hard, I just weighed her and she is the same as she was when I got her. 5/01/14= 26g & 1.3/4" ... I also just got a text back from the guy I got her from and he said that He did a dry enclosure, Greens, danolions, strawberries, and soaked her once a week.

Depending on his definition of dry, that might have been a contributing factor to what you are observing with your tortoise. More likely though it is the infrequent soaking...assuming the tortoise had no other access to water. That's a good way to start a hatchling off on the path to a short life in my opinion.

 

[Tort4u2love]

I had and will seperate them as soon as I can and will bump up the temp, more food/water, and soaking. Plus frequent trips outside. Is there anything else I should do? Maybe carrot soaks? I don't even know what that does but just thought I would ask cause I know people have done them for sick torties. Thanks for being so kind and helpful! So what is you best quess...can she pull out of this?

 

[Neal]

I believe the primary purpose for recommending baby food soaks would be if your tortoise is not eating well and there is concern for lack of nutrition. I think it's a good recommendation though and certainly couldn't hurt your situation.

Keep the humidity up along with the heat. It might be a little tricky to balance both elements, so it will require a bit of effort. Just keep with it and make frequent observations. If you notice her condition beginning to worsen, I would then recommend a vet visit assuming you have access to a good vet in your area.

I really don't know how likely it would be for her to pull out of it. If she's eating, even if not a lot, she definitely has a greater chance.

 

[Tort4u2love]

I did find a good vet here.. I have not taken her to one but I know she speicalizes in exotics and tortoise. I will watch the temp & humidity closely and Hopefully she will make it. I also will run out and get some carrot baby food for her soak tonight. I did not have any problems or issues with Tucker, like this. He came home went right to eatting & has soared ever since! I got him from Greg T!

 

[Tort4u2love]

I just took Charley to the vet and this is what she said. (1) She thinks Charley and Tucker are both male (2) no signs of RI=no runny nose or breathing issues (3) She thinks that its from the lack of nutrition from the previous owner. The vet told me to change her substate from the 1/3 soil, 1/3 peat moss, & 1/3 coco coir to a hard shelf lining because the coco coir is toxic & the substrate is to soft and will cause paralization due to loose foundation. What do you all think? I really don't think I need to change the substrate ... She also told me to Nebulize Charley with Saline every other day just in case she may be coming down with a virus that is not showing any signs yet.

I am still hoping for a female and I have her in her own seperate enclosure with heat, humidity, and all the food & water she can want. She actually took several bites tonight. I also have been doing carrot baby food soaks 2x/day.

Can anyone give me any feedback on what the vet said? I would appreciate it

 

[mikeh]

Your vet has absolutely no clue about tortoises.