Advice - tortoise not eating again

[Max2024]

Hi
My tortoise who is 5 years old had a feeding tube earlier this year but was then able to eat naturally again. But since the weather has changed, he is not interested in eating. He has a good vivarium, 24 degrees. He had a worm infestation earlier this year and since then, his eyes have not been open very often. My vet said he may have vitamin A deficiency. He had a vitamin jab last week, but even though he is warm, he has a variety of food, warm baths and vitamin supplements, he only wants to sleep. He is not ready to hibernate and was checked by my vet last week. Any suggestions on what I can do?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!
You can check this post on brumation: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/toms-brumation-thread.201823/

There is a step-by-step guide on how to keep (or at least try to) tortoise awake. In short: higher ambient temperature (26-27C), bright ambient lights for increased photoperiod (13-14 hours a day). If nothing helps you can try a short brumation (2-3 weeks) and then wake him up.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hello! Sorry to hear this!

When you say 24c, does that mean all over? Because that temperature is only good down the cooler end during the day if we’re talking a Russian?

May I ask some further questions? Might help advising!

What kind of tortoise is it?
What are your different temp readings? Ie basking temp(directly under the bulb), overall day temps, night temps?
What kind of basking bulb are you using specifically? Packaging photos are good if you have any
What’s your indoor uv type?
How’s humidity reading?
What kind of substrate?

If you’re willing to share more a photo of the full set up would wonderful!

 

[Max2024]

Hello! Sorry to hear this!

When you say 24c, does that mean all over? Because that temperature is only good down the cooler end during the day if we’re talking a Russian?

May I ask some further questions? Might help advising!

What kind of tortoise is it?
What are your different temp readings? Ie basking temp(directly under the bulb), overall day temps, night temps?
What kind of basking bulb are you using specifically? Packaging photos are good if you have any
What’s your indoor uv type?
How’s humidity reading?
What kind of substrate?

If you’re willing to share more a photo of the full set up would wonderful!

Hi
I have a Horsefield tortoise. The whole area is 24c day/night as it has a thermostat control, which I can increase/decrease. The vivarium has a UV tube light which is on for 8 hours, but having read a message I realise this may not be long enough. The substrate is for reptiles, 100% natural. I can send a couple of photos. The vivarium has a tortoise run underneath it which I can use in the summer months if it is raining outside for example.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hi
I have a Horsefield tortoise. The whole area is 24c day/night as it has a thermostat control, which I can increase/decrease. The vivarium has a UV tube light which is on for 8 hours, but having read a message I realise this may not be long enough. The substrate is for reptiles, 100% natural. I can send a couple of photos. The vivarium has a tortoise run underneath it which I can use in the summer months if it is raining outside for example.

Thanks the reply! Some things of note that I think address the issues you’re having, first up temperatures, your Russian needs a basking temperature reaching 95-100f(35-37c)directly under the basking bulb(which should be an incandescent reptile floodlight), do you know what it’s measuring directly underneath? If they can’t get warm enough during the day, they can’t digest their food properly, and they will definitely slow down. The rest of the enclosure should be ranging 75-80f during the day, an overall of 24c both day and night is much too cool and would explain the decrease in activity.
Substrate looks to be some kind of Reptisoil mixed with sand/small calcium pieces which unfortunately isn’t appropriate for a few reasons.
Lastly the vivarium size is very small for an adult Russian to be spending long periods, it’d work as somewhere safe to be at night, but during the day, they need a good sized, well lit, well heated enclosure, if you’re not wanting to brumate, ambient needs to be nice and warm, lights can be on a few extra hours to simulate summer days.
4 hours uv is sufficient with the correct uv bulb, what brand is it you have?

Hopefully you’ll find this indoor housing thread I made useful, it covers correct equipment(lighting, heating, uv), levels, sizing, appropriately maintaining humidity, substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, a food list and a really handy diet link to check out!

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

If wanting to stick with a closed chamber to better maintain your heat, this includes some options, but bear in mind it needs to be a much larger scale now he’s an adult

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one is also really good to familiarise yourself with, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, explains more about the substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

I hope they help!

I think most importantly for now will be having basking temperature reading correctly which should increase the ambient and perk him updid you plan to brumate him?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Also do you have a photo of him by any chance?

 

[Max2024]

Thanks the reply! Some things of note that I think address the issues you’re having, first up temperatures, your Russian needs a basking temperature reaching 95-100f(35-37c)directly under the basking bulb(which should be an incandescent reptile floodlight), do you know what it’s measuring directly underneath? If they can’t get warm enough during the day, they can’t digest their food properly, and they will definitely slow down. The rest of the enclosure should be ranging 75-80f during the day, an overall of 24c both day and night is much too cool and would explain the decrease in activity.
Substrate looks to be some kind of Reptisoil mixed with sand/small calcium pieces which unfortunately isn’t appropriate for a few reasons.
Lastly the vivarium size is very small for an adult Russian to be spending long periods, it’d work as somewhere safe to be at night, but during the day, they need a good sized, well lit, well heated enclosure, if you’re not wanting to brumate, ambient needs to be nice and warm, lights can be on a few extra hours to simulate summer days.
4 hours uv is sufficient with the correct uv bulb, what brand is it you have?

Hopefully you’ll find this indoor housing thread I made useful, it covers correct equipment(lighting, heating, uv), levels, sizing, appropriately maintaining humidity, substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, a food list and a really handy diet link to check out!

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

If wanting to stick with a closed chamber to better maintain your heat, this includes some options, but bear in mind it needs to be a much larger scale now he’s an adult

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one is also really good to familiarise yourself with, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, explains more about the substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

I hope they help!

I think most importantly for now will be having basking temperature reading correctly which should increase the ambient and perk him updid you plan to brumate him?

I don't plan to brumate my tortoise and my vet didn't suggest it either. My tortoise is the width of my hand, still only small and he is still likely to grow a bit more yet. The vet did not raise concerns about the size of his vivarium. The bulb is for reptiles only, basking and measures 600mm in length. We made the mistake of keeping him in the open run (previous photo which I shared) last year, with a round basking bulb/timer and heated room. His vivarium is warmer and fully enclosed. As for the soil, I would not know where to purchase another type of soil. I live in the UK & options for alternatives is limited. Thanks for all your help so far, its really appreciated.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I don't plan to brumate my tortoise and my vet didn't suggest it either. My tortoise is the width of my hand, still only small and he is still likely to grow a bit more yet. The vet did not raise concerns about the size of his vivarium. The bulb is for reptiles only, basking and measures 600mm in length. We made the mistake of keeping him in the open run (previous photo which I shared) last year, with a round basking bulb/timer and heated room. His vivarium is warmer and fully enclosed. As for the soil, I would not know where to purchase another type of soil. I live in the UK & options for alternatives is limited. Thanks for all your help so far, its really appreciated.

1. I'm not sure why vet wasn't concerned about enclosure size. From the photo it looks like 90x60cm - it's not much at all. Open area + vivarium make a decent space, though. So if you can enclose the open run (e.g. with a greenhouse top), this will be a better option.
2. You have a good selection of substrates in UK. At least, both coco coir and orchid bark are available (bark is preferred for adult tortoises but you can mix both - a layer of coco coir covered with orchid bark). Popular "tortoise beddings" made of sand, soil and limestone pieces aren't safe (when ingested such substrates often cause impaction) and sometimes cause other issues like eyes irritation. SwellReptile online shop usually have everything in stock (substrates, heating and lightning equipment).

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I don't plan to brumate my tortoise and my vet didn't suggest it either. My tortoise is the width of my hand, still only small and he is still likely to grow a bit more yet. The vet did not raise concerns about the size of his vivarium. The bulb is for reptiles only, basking and measures 600mm in length. We made the mistake of keeping him in the open run (previous photo which I shared) last year, with a round basking bulb/timer and heated room. His vivarium is warmer and fully enclosed. As for the soil, I would not know where to purchase another type of soil. I live in the UK & options for alternatives is limited. Thanks for all your help so far, its really appreciated.

Ok if you aren’t planning to brumate he’ll need to stay warm and well lit, 24c overall isn’t warm enough. Vets often have zero clue how to appropriately house tortoises, we’re still so far behind with care! The viv is far too small for a 5 year old, he’s sounding very undersized and the viv size could be a leading factor.
Do you have a photo of the bulbs packaging? Just because it’s for reptiles, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best choice for a tortoise.
I agree that in the uk it can be best keeping them in a closed set up to better retain the heat, this still needs to be an appropriate size though.
I’m from the uk too! And can tell you, you definitely have better substrate options! Orchid bark and coco coir! Please give those links a read, everything will make much more sense and you can look at the better substrate choices, we use orchid bark