Some concerns with cherry head hatchling

ZEROPILOT

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My Redfoot won't eat mango either.
Wow.
My sick Redfoot that had her own thread a few years ago. Ate nothing BUT mango as she was recovering from an illness/ near death.(Queen Bertha)
In fact, she went almost 4 months without eating.
 
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SMK

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Wow.
My sick Redfoot that had her own thread a few years ago. Ate nothing BUT mango as she was recovering from an illness/ near death.(Queen Bertha)
In fact, she went almost 4 months without eating.
Wow, I guess it kept her alive.
How old was she? And what was her illness?
 

Toddrickfl1

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Wow.
My sick Redfoot that had her own thread a few years ago. Ate nothing BUT mango as she was recovering from an illness/ near death.(Queen Bertha)
In fact, she went almost 4 months without eating.
I've read that thread, amazing story!
 

Pearly

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I’m raising a Brazilian cherryhead (and a Northern) they are this same age, going on their 4th year now. I went through a little feeding trials and tribulations with my little “cherry” as well. He didn’t want to eat! Period! I have a “feeding thread” here somewhere. Will try to find it and share the link for you. Maybe you get some tips there that help with yours. My 2 hatchings were so different! My RF (Northern) girl- Shellie, LOVED TO EAT! Fruit was her favorite! Tucker (my “cherry” was rejecting pretty much anything I put him in front of. Oh, btw I would put little pile of fresh food on their slate rocks and get them out if their hides at least 2x day and sat them in front if their food, often redirecting them back to their meals when they’s start walking away. It was that way their 1st year. With Tucker it had gone one to lesser extent for another 2 years. Now, he is an eating monster![emoji6][emoji38] the first thing he ever really ate with gusto was the commercial tortoise food pellets soaked in water till soft. Any kind. Mazuri you may have to look for the crocodilian type (it has good enough protein content for our tort species). I would call the breeder to ask what he/she was feeding this baby. Mine was probably not eating much at all, his yolk sac scar was still raw when he arrived (shipped way too early IMO) but I worked my rear off and was on this forum almost 24/7 posting questions, reading, bugging “anyone who knew” and things started getting easier. My Tucker happened to love his protein! I tried wax worms (get those live at petco in fridge) I was very surprised to watch him nab that worm off my forceps. Then I bought cooked frozen shrimp. Thawed it out and diced it in very small pieces (his mouth was tiny back then) and, boy oh boy! My little tortie was eating passionately! You can imagine my joy! And relief! And i kept searching and one by one expanding his list of favorites. Soon I had found out that he wouldn’t touch anything with calcium powder on it, so I replaced that with cuttle bone which i keep handy for them to this day, though now the pillbugs seem to eat more of it than my torts. @Anyfoot has had better experience with the greens, and he has multiple torts to compare. I only have 2 and neither was interested in the greens much. Maybe with the exception of radicchio which Tucker did like, so I made sure it was part of his menu. Like Zeropilot said it does get better but you must be patient! Remember, your pet is a TORTOISE and we do things in his/her own time. Meanwhile you stick around here and be open to people’s advise, can’t go wrong with that. Than in a year or two you will be reminiscing on how challenging but yet FUN to raise a little baby tortoise. I’m going to look for that thread now. Meanwhile if you haven’t already, I’d encourage you to look for TORTOISE LIBRARY- just google it online. It’s a great site dedicated to RF torts, the author is one of our members. Also look on here for a user name RedfootNERD (I’m probably messing up the user ID) maybe @Anyfoot can help with it? This user is a long time RF KEEPER/breeder (RFs and other species), absolute wealth of knowledge ! With lots of practical advise. Look up his threads and I promise you, you will learn SOOOOO MUCH! And I’m off to digging for my old thread now
 
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Pearly

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Pearly's tips to feed picky eater
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Pearly's-tips-to-feed-picky-eater.139381/ see if you can ioen this link, check out the pictures. There are other better feeding threads I will try to post for you here. You sound like a conscientious person who is dedicated to doing the right thing for your pet. Myself and many others here will help. Try to not forget that this is the HAPPY time and enjoy your little tort! They do grow fast! I know I miss my little baby torts. Now carrying a 16 lbs tub with “moving rocks” from their garden into the upstairs bathroom for their bath gives me a little work up for my legs and back muscles[emoji38]
 
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SMK

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Here is a great thread/


@ZEROPILOT
@Pearly

I've been reading your threads and trying my best not to worry. I've been keeping an eye on temperature and humidity, trying to stay in low 80s for both, and continue to give her soaks twice a day.

Not yet had any luck with :
dandelion greens,
mustard greens,
spring mix,
chard,
chicory,
kale,
or mushrooms.
It bothers me to no end that she continues to reject
Mazuri and RepCal pellets soaked in warm water or natural apple juice.
She's not getting calcium
.☹️

All of the above she will sniff but NEVER take a bite.

What she will readily DEVOUR are things she should get only once per week☹️:

-cooked shrimp
-bits of hard boiled egg yolk and white
-soaked organic chicken and peas cat kibble
-banana
-a bit of cantaloupe and red leaf lettuce

If she had her way, the above list is what she would live on. PERIOD.

Should I just "starve her out"???
I keep breaking down, thinking she'll become anorexic.
Will those animal protein foods harm her if given more than once per week?


Thanks
 
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SMK

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Addendum:
Tried Critical Care herbivore with warm water, pumpkin, natural apple juice.
No dice. ☹️
Ditto Tortoise Bites.

Have been putting unflavored, unsweetened Pedialyte in her soaking water.
 

SMK

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A healthy animal will not starve itself to death. And will eventually eat ANYTHING when its hungry enough. Especially a Redfoot. They are nature's vacuum cleaners.
OK. I will stop breaking down and giving in for fear her liver will shut down.
Thanks much.
 

SMK

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Mango?

My little guy loves mango ... and kale.

Jamie
Sadly, the one time I found fresh mango spears she rejected them.
Kale as well. :(
You'd think she was a box turtle hatchling, the way she craves only animal
protein. They are 100% carnivorous until older, when they eat 50% animal protein and 50% fruits and vegetables.

I am really saddened that she hates redfoot diet.:(
 

SMK

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Was just reading an older thread here, someone had 2 hatchlings; one was thriving and eating, the other was not. All kinds of advice was given, but she died. It's as if she was a runt and failed to thrive. The lack of appetite is an indication that something is amiss.
I pray that's not true in my case. Very disheartened. ☹️
 

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