I have had my sulcata for about 1 month now. He's still a baby. Not sure how old. Last week my boyfriend built him a new, much bigger cage. The temperature stays between about 80-90. (I think I might need a higher bulb) the humidity stays around 60 or 70%. I soak him daily for 20-30 minutes. feed him ochra everyday and sprinkle calcium on it from time to time. Ever since we moved him to his new cage I haven't seen him eat. I tried to put some food in his face and hand feed him but he didn't budge. He has also been less active since we put him in this new cage. What do you think could be wrong?
Baby sulcata not eating
- Thread starter krl2935
- Start date
A picture of your sulcata and the enclosure would help us give a more definitive answer. Also the types of lights and heating you are using and the photoperiod of the lights. Temperatures cool side, basking/warm side, overnight, and ambient are important information also.
A tortoise not eating is normally a stressed tortoise.
It could be from the move as tortoises don't like change. They have good memories and use that to program in where everything in their territory is. They get to know where the best food bushes are, where the grass comes up, where the good hides, or their burrow is, etc, etc. When you move them, they are lost for a while.
It could be the temps and/or humidity of the enclosure.
If could be no places to hide and feel secure in the enclosure.
It could be the diet. They need a varied diet and it sounds like you are only offering ochra? That could be a big part of the issues.
Read the thread on how to raise a healthy sulcata. Provide the information I asked for above and we can go from there.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
A tortoise not eating is normally a stressed tortoise.
It could be from the move as tortoises don't like change. They have good memories and use that to program in where everything in their territory is. They get to know where the best food bushes are, where the grass comes up, where the good hides, or their burrow is, etc, etc. When you move them, they are lost for a while.
It could be the temps and/or humidity of the enclosure.
If could be no places to hide and feel secure in the enclosure.
It could be the diet. They need a varied diet and it sounds like you are only offering ochra? That could be a big part of the issues.
Read the thread on how to raise a healthy sulcata. Provide the information I asked for above and we can go from there.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
It's a 75 watt basking bulb desert heat and a 10.0 uvb. He has a rock where I put his food, a place to hide, and a water bowl. I just recently read that it might help to soak him with baby food so I tried that and now he seems to be eating. I also put grass in his cage instead of ochra and he likes it
With the enclosure sitting on the floor, and lights/heat on only one side, it is probably too cold for a sulcata. The coolest part of the enclosure should not be below 80° at the coldest part of the day or night. That will dramatically change the way a sulcata acts. They love temps in the high 80°s to low 90°s. That is when they are most active and will feed the most.
You must have a compact fluorescent in as your UVB source. I do not like them for tortoises. They give off too low a level of UVB and in too small an area. The cheaper versions made in China can also be harmful. The long tube fluorescents are the way to go. I prefer the T5 HO fixtures and bulbs.
Sounds like the diet is a major part of the eating issue. Read that post I linked above for you and pay attention to the long list of good foods. Used weeds and grasses a lot for a young sully.
You must have a compact fluorescent in as your UVB source. I do not like them for tortoises. They give off too low a level of UVB and in too small an area. The cheaper versions made in China can also be harmful. The long tube fluorescents are the way to go. I prefer the T5 HO fixtures and bulbs.
Sounds like the diet is a major part of the eating issue. Read that post I linked above for you and pay attention to the long list of good foods. Used weeds and grasses a lot for a young sully.
The temp gauge you are using is in the wrong place. It should be down at tortoise level. Also, it is not a very accurate one. You need one that has a probe withe the probe down at tort level. Please go and read the sulcata care sheets in the species spacific area. There are changes that should be made for your tort to be happy and healthy.
Please don't be offended. We seem to be picking you apart, but it's for your baby's benefit. Here's what I see:
Those curly shaped bulbs have been known to harm baby tortoise's eyes. I would definitely get rid of that. I like to use the T-5 fluorescent bulb like this:
You can buy the bulb and the fixture to mount it in at lightyourreptiles.com. I would mount the light fixture in the center of that nice aquarium then a basking bulb on one end and a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) on the other:
Your substrate is way too jagged for a baby tortoise to be able to navigate easily. Maybe if you add some coco coir or clean fill dirt to help smooth it out. Or you can even pat it down with your hand.
Okra is a pretty darned good food for tortoises, however, it should NOT be used as the staple item in his diet. He needs a nice variety.
Do you have screen over the top of the aquarium? It really should be something solid so as to keep the cool air from the house out and the warm, humid air inside,.
Another way to get the humidity up inside is to add plants. I keep the plants in the pots and scrape away the substrate so the pot sits down on the bottom of the aquarium, then move the substrate back around the pot to hold it stable. You have enough room in there to add about three or four nice potted plants. . . spider plant, boston fern, pothos, hosta. . . there are many to choose from. Plants will also make him feel safer - more cover. This might be another reason he's not eating well. He's prey and they really don't like to be out in the open like that.
I just realized that's not an aquarium but I'm too lazy to go back and correct my mistake. So wherever you read "aquarium" substitute "enclosure" instead!
You've got a good start going there. The space is great, the tortoise is mighty cute. Just a few minor tweaks and you'll have a healthy, happy, eating machine! Please keep us informed of his progress.
Those curly shaped bulbs have been known to harm baby tortoise's eyes. I would definitely get rid of that. I like to use the T-5 fluorescent bulb like this:
You can buy the bulb and the fixture to mount it in at lightyourreptiles.com. I would mount the light fixture in the center of that nice aquarium then a basking bulb on one end and a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) on the other:
Your substrate is way too jagged for a baby tortoise to be able to navigate easily. Maybe if you add some coco coir or clean fill dirt to help smooth it out. Or you can even pat it down with your hand.
Okra is a pretty darned good food for tortoises, however, it should NOT be used as the staple item in his diet. He needs a nice variety.
Do you have screen over the top of the aquarium? It really should be something solid so as to keep the cool air from the house out and the warm, humid air inside,.
Another way to get the humidity up inside is to add plants. I keep the plants in the pots and scrape away the substrate so the pot sits down on the bottom of the aquarium, then move the substrate back around the pot to hold it stable. You have enough room in there to add about three or four nice potted plants. . . spider plant, boston fern, pothos, hosta. . . there are many to choose from. Plants will also make him feel safer - more cover. This might be another reason he's not eating well. He's prey and they really don't like to be out in the open like that.
I just realized that's not an aquarium but I'm too lazy to go back and correct my mistake. So wherever you read "aquarium" substitute "enclosure" instead!
You've got a good start going there. The space is great, the tortoise is mighty cute. Just a few minor tweaks and you'll have a healthy, happy, eating machine! Please keep us informed of his progress.
Similar threads
New Posts
-
Giant tortoises living outside in Scotland??- Latest: The_Four_Toed_Edward
-
-
