Wont eat ANYTHING

TurtisTime

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She finally ate her food today! Just wanted to update in case this is useful to someone else someday.
Over the past week her stools have normalized and are full of leaves. I caught her eating only a tiny bit of dry leaves everyday. It would seem her tummy was upset by the fruit she was fed in the past? Also, she was shy at first but slowly became braver and began to explore the last few days. Or maybe that was from not feeling well? Anyway now she's eating and I'm SO HAPPY!
 

TurtisTime

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Just when I thought she was feeling better. She did this in her bath this morning around 11am. Does anyone know what this is?
 

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Maro2Bear

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Are you referring to the substance/particles to the right of mr tort? If so, looks like a small amount of urates.

  • Tortoises produce urine and urates. Urine is the liquid portion stored in the urinary bladder. Urine contains waste products and toxins that are filtered from the bloodstream. Reptiles also have one more type of excretion product, called urates or uric acid. This is the end product of protein digestion and is also stored in the urinary bladder as a creamy, off-white pasty semi-solid. In reptiles, uric acid is cleared from the bloodstream by the kidneys. When the tortoise urinates, it will pass the liquid urine and the semi-solid urates at the same time. A tortoise may urinate and defecate at the same time, which may leave urate deposits on the fecal material. This will make the feces appear as if it is white or off-white.
  • Source: http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Turtles-Tortoises/Turtle-Care/White-Tortoise-Feces/
 

TurtisTime

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Are you referring to the substance/particles to the right of mr tort? If so, looks like a small amount of urates.

  • Tortoises produce urine and urates. Urine is the liquid portion stored in the urinary bladder. Urine contains waste products and toxins that are filtered from the bloodstream. Reptiles also have one more type of excretion product, called urates or uric acid. This is the end product of protein digestion and is also stored in the urinary bladder as a creamy, off-white pasty semi-solid. In reptiles, uric acid is cleared from the bloodstream by the kidneys. When the tortoise urinates, it will pass the liquid urine and the semi-solid urates at the same time. A tortoise may urinate and defecate at the same time, which may leave urate deposits on the fecal material. This will make the feces appear as if it is white or off-white.
  • Source: http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Turtles-Tortoises/Turtle-Care/White-Tortoise-Feces/

Yes I'm referring to the yellowish cloud that is under and around her. So this is a normal urine? I was concerned because I haven't seen her do this before.
 

Maro2Bear

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Yes I'm referring to the yellowish cloud that is under and around her. So this is a normal urine? I was concerned because I haven't seen her do this before.

Very very normal for urination to occur like this when you are soaking in warm water. I’m kind of surprized you are seeing or noticing this just now. All part of the process.
 

TurtisTime

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Very very normal for urination to occur like this when you are soaking in warm water. I’m kind of surprized you are seeing or noticing this just now. All part of the process.

WOW. Yea I'm impressed with my ignorance too. I've known this tortoise for a year and I don't think I've ever seen her make a "cloud" quite like this. Usually her urine is clearer and not so thick. This almost looked like it came out in a sack, to me. I hope I'm just thinking about it too much or her diet change is helping. Thank you so much for helping me. I feel dumb but I'll take it. Especially if it means my little buddy isn't sick!
 

Lyn W

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Urine can be coloured sometimes - pinkish if eating dandelions etc but I've never seen anything like that dark patch with my tort - could it have come from the bowel? Has a faecal test been done?
I am certainly no expert when it comes to tort illnesses but I found this article when my tort stopped eating - it may help you rule out a few things but it stresses that a faecal examination should be done by a vet. https://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/proto.html
 
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TurtisTime

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Urine can be coloured sometimes - pinkish if eating dandelions etc but I've never seen anything like that dark patch with my tort - could it have come from the bowel? Has a faecal test been done?
I am certainly no expert when it comes to tort illnesses but I found this article when my tort stopped eating - it may help you rule out a few things but it stresses that a faecal examination should be done by a vet. https://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/proto.html
Thank you. I haven't had a decal done. I hope more people reply, too. I'm confused. Is this weird or not?
 

TurtisTime

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She's been eating a lot of dry leaves for over a week. Maybe that's why?
 

Lyn W

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Thank you. I haven't had a decal done. I hope more people reply, too. I'm confused. Is this weird or not?
My tort has a faecal every year - it doesn't cost much about £12 in the UK - and if there are any parasites they can eventually cause renal failure if left untreated which is fatal, so I like to check. It's worth doing for peace of mind.
Have a read of that article it gives symptoms which sound similar to your torts in Flagellate Organisms.
 

TurtisTime

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My tort has a faecal every year - it doesn't cost much about £12 in the UK - and if there are any parasites they can eventually cause renal failure if left untreated which is fatal, so I like to check. It's worth doing for peace of mind.
Have a read of that article it gives symptoms which sound similar to your torts in Flagellate Organisms.
Thanks you. I may try to get a fecal done soon anyway. She was constipated with blackberry seeds and a rock last week until she finally eliminated them. Only wanted to eat dry leaves until yesterday. Otherwise she's acting pretty normal now.
 

Lyn W

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Sooner the better - because if they are off colour it's one of the first things a vet will check for and if there are parasites present it could end up becoming a very expensive vet bill or the end of your tort. :(
It really could be something simple that becomes a very serious issue so I wouldn't delay any more for the sake of your tort and wallet.
 

katieandiggy

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Sooner the better - because if they are off colour it's one of the first things a vet will check for and if there are parasites present it could end up becoming a very expensive vet bill or the end of your tort. :(
It really could be something simple that becomes a very serious issue so I wouldn't delay any more for the sake of your tort and wallet.

Where do you get your fecal done Lyn? At a regular vet or specialist?
 

Lyn W

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Where do you get your fecal done Lyn? At a regular vet or specialist?
I have them done at a vets with a herp specialist, although I'm not sure how experienced with tortoises the first few vets were, but they can see if there's worms or other parasites present in the poop. I think ZEROPILOT has a microscope and does the tests himself but you would need to know what to look for - I don't think I would know without being shown.
 

katieandiggy

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I’ve found a website for a reptile specialist here in the east so I may email to find out the cost. She has a picture of a 200lb sulcata that she did bladder stone surgery on so hopefully she is good.
 

Lyn W

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I’ve found a website for a reptile specialist here in the east so I may email to find out the cost. She has a picture of a 200lb sulcata that she did bladder stone surgery on so hopefully she is good.
I bet any vet could tell if there were parasites in poop but, should they find them, it's having a vet who knows how to treat torts correctly that matters. You may have to pay a consultation fee as well as the test fee but good luck with the vet and hope it's not too costly for you.
 

TurtisTime

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I'm still a little confused, one person said it was normal and another thinks maybe not? Well she seems back to her usual self today. This morning she was eating grass, cosmos and coleus leaves! As well as finding some of the dry leaves she loves. She mad a healthy poo. She's going to the water on her own and found her cool hide. She has drastically improved the past 2 days. As long as she seems to be doing so well I think I can stop freaking her out now lol. A fecal test is still a really great idea though.
 

lizzyb23

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hello all,
can i jump on this bandwagon?! my 9 yr old Horsefield has been doing fine, but since the heat wave hit (I live in the UK) he has stopped eating and just sleeps all day. i thought torts were meant to be more active and eat more in the sun?
i wake him up with baths and hand feed him and then he eats a couple of leaves, but barely anything compared to normal and then he slopes off to his house to sleep again.
anyone else experienced this?
TIA
 

Lyn W

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hello all,
can i jump on this bandwagon?! my 9 yr old Horsefield has been doing fine, but since the heat wave hit (I live in the UK) he has stopped eating and just sleeps all day. i thought torts were meant to be more active and eat more in the sun?
i wake him up with baths and hand feed him and then he eats a couple of leaves, but barely anything compared to normal and then he slopes off to his house to sleep again.
anyone else experienced this?
TIA
It would be better idea to cut and paste this message onto your own thread Lizzy.
It will be seen by more members and you will get more replies.
If you post pics of your enclosure and lights etc members can see if there's a problem that can be easily solved - and it's something that is usually asked for.
Does he live outside?
 

lizzyb23

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thanks Lyn, i have no idea how to do it! i am very new. how do i make a thread please? thanks
 

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