Hunger strike or sick?

My almost 3 year old tortoise, Arthur is eating very little at the moment. He has recently been treated for a parasitic infection but has never really regained his appetite. Does anyone have any suggestions for encouraging him to eat? I've run out of ideas. Thanks in advance

Antibiotics can make a tortoise not want to eat. Have you tried his favorite food? Maybe the infection isn't gone yet.

Thanks for replying . I want to try everything I can before going to the vet again. The cost is adding up. Any suggestions to tempt him into eating?

Curlybird said:

Thanks for replying . I want to try everything I can before going to the vet again. The cost is adding up. Any suggestions to tempt him into eating?

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What specie of tortoise do you have ? How warm is it in the enclosure of your tort ?
Torts are getting hungry when it is warm, humid and bright ( light ) in their enclosure.
What do you feed ?

A good way to entice a tortoise to begin eating again is to tempt them with candy. Not real candy, but tortoise candy in the form of fruit. You can squeeze the juices from a melon, grapes, berries, etc... and toss your tortoises food in it. Effectively coating the food with sweet smelling, sweet tasting fruit. Often times this will encourage a tortoise to begin eating it's regular foods. If after a few tries that doesn't work you can step it up a notch. Mash a small amount of the same fruit and mix it well with it's regular food. Offer your tortoise brightly colored foods if possible too. Make sure that the food is at room temperature or slightly warmed when offered so that all of the aroma and taste comes out. The only caution with the fruit bait is to not go overboard and not for a long period of time. Testudo species digestive systems aren't designed to process large volumes of fruits that are high in sugar and acids. But an occasional piece of fruit is not going to do any harm whatsoever.

My tortoise, Norbert, had several months where he was not really eating much. It took two rounds of treatment for pin worms, but he's been back to eating like a horse! Another round of treatment might do it for Arthur, too. While he didn't have an appetite, I found some success with hand feeding him his favorite foods or just setting a piece right in front of him - he wouldn't eat a whole lot but it was at least something.

Is he inside or outside? Considering you are in the UK and should he be outside he is just preparing for hibernation.
What are the temps in your enclosure? Colourful things usually help as well. Radicchio, Hibiscus, etc..

Is it warm enough? I know that torts tend to lose appetite when it's too cold.

Sprinkle some Benebac powder for reptiles (probiotics) on his food. It may help his appetite pick up. It's always a good idea after a course of antibiotics/antiparasitic.
That and check on the temperature and the possibility of hibernation?

Possibly in wind down mode.

My gut feeling is that your tort has detected the shorter and cooler days and is fighting an instinct to hibernate.

Make sure the temperatures as spot on. Basking at 35C and no cooler than 18C at night.

You may need a Ceramic Heat Emitter with a thermostat to keep temperatures up at night. It can be on 24/7 as the CHE will only cut in if needed.

You also need the lights very bright and on for 14 hours a day. You have to convince this tort that it’s summer. Use a timer for the lights. You may need an additional lamp to increase brightness as your home will be darker through the winter.

Is it that when a tortoise is not considered to be in good health, (underweight, sick) it is best to prevent him from hibernating?
Just curious, I live on a tropical island and hibernation to me is a mystery.

TammyJ said:

Is it that when a tortoise is not considered to be in good health, (underweight, sick) it is best to prevent him from hibernating?
Just curious, I live on a tropical island and hibernation to me is a mystery.

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Tortoises that are underweight must never be hibernated. They must be fully fit if they are to go for 3-4 months without food or water.