appetite stimulants
- Thread starter miss28
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The only stimulant I know of is variety. Maybe try some different lettuces or plants. Perhaps throw in a little pumpkin, strawberry or melons. If you aren't feeding mazuri then consider adding that also.
Mine are usually hungry after a warm soak.
Hi Melissa:
Try to remember back when you first got your tortoise and all the information you got about his care, then put on a different hat...the hat of a person who doesn't know you and your tortoise, but who is critical of tortoise set-ups. Take a good look at your set-up...the lights, the habitat itself, the hiding places, the substrate, even the food you are feeding. Make some corrections and do some tweaking.
There's something just a bit off in his environment when a tortoise stops eating. If he has only stopped eating for a day, then maybe he's not hungry. But if he has lost his appetite for longer than a day, something is wrong and needs improvement.
Try to remember back when you first got your tortoise and all the information you got about his care, then put on a different hat...the hat of a person who doesn't know you and your tortoise, but who is critical of tortoise set-ups. Take a good look at your set-up...the lights, the habitat itself, the hiding places, the substrate, even the food you are feeding. Make some corrections and do some tweaking.
There's something just a bit off in his environment when a tortoise stops eating. If he has only stopped eating for a day, then maybe he's not hungry. But if he has lost his appetite for longer than a day, something is wrong and needs improvement.
Agreed. Check your setup. Make sure your bulbs are in good condition, humidity is right, temps are right, etc. Give him a good warm soak then put him in front of a plate of new foods. Maybe rub a little bit of fruit around the plate, to stimulate hunger through smell.
Does your little guy get any real, direct sun?
Does your little guy get any real, direct sun?
thanks guys! I have a critter cageand I have a basking rock with moss on one side the temp is from 95-100> then I made an incline with rocks and organic dirt as well as coco fiber substrate. The last side I made even more of an inclineadded Timothy hay that side averages from 80-85. I have live plants in there two hide houses. As far as food Im giving watercress, endive, fresh grass, dandelions, clovers, baby spinach. I have given alfalfa sptouts. Thats the only thing different. I cant figure out what Im doing wrong. I also use the powersun 100 watt lamp on the incline side.
ok thanks guys! I have tree sections in a 40 gallon critter cage. The basking side is from 95-100 with a basking rock surrounded with moss. Humidity is 70-80 percent. Then i made an incline with organic soil and coco fiber substrate with a hiding place and live plants. Next I added timothy hay to the mix also. This side averages 85 temp. It also has live plants as well as a hiding rock/cave. I use a heat lamp on the hot side and a 100 watt powersun lamp in the middle. The only thing different I gave him alfalfa sprouts. I soak twice a day and he usually has a diet of watercress, endive, baby spinach, chard, fresh grass, clovers. I have used mazuri food once a wk but shows absolutely no interest in it. Im racking my brain trying to figure out what Im doing wrong.
I was putting him out but when he got sick I asked the guy from ivory torrtoise him what to do and he said do not have him out. He does have an outdoor enclosure but its been extremely hot out here. I do give him D3 three times a wk.
ok thanks guys! I have tree sections in a 40 gallon critter cage. The basking side is from 95-100 with a basking rock surrounded with moss. Humidity is 70-80 percent. Then i made an incline with organic soil and coco fiber substrate with a hiding place and live plants. Next I added timothy hay to the mix also. This side averages 85 temp. It also has live plants as well as a hiding rock/cave. I use a heat lamp on the hot side and a 100 watt powersun lamp in the middle. The only thing different I gave him alfalfa sprouts. I soak twice a day and he usually has a diet of watercress, endive, baby spinach, chard, fresh grass, clovers. I have used mazuri food once a wk but shows absolutely no interest in it. Im racking my brain trying to figure out what Im doing wrong.
I was putting him out but when he got sick I asked the guy from ivory torrtoise him what to do and he said do not have him out. He does have an outdoor enclosure but its been extremely hot out here. I do give him D3 three times a wk.
Lots Of Natural Sunlight Outside, and Or a Nice Warm Soak Shall Work 
Also You Can Try To Feed Some New, Or Something Very colorful, That Will Get His Attention
Such As Rose Pedals, Hisbisis, Or AnyThing Color
Also You Can Try To Feed Some New, Or Something Very colorful, That Will Get His Attention
Such As Rose Pedals, Hisbisis, Or AnyThing Color
Ok its 100 outside with a heat index of 115. Is this to hot for a little guy? I have a water dish out there. plenty of shade for him and natural food.
Hi I posted the living conditions for my leopard. Would you mind looking at it and see if you can see what Im doing wrong? This is killing me. I really appreciate your help and guidance.
emysemys said:
Hi I posted the living conditions for my leopard. Would you mind looking at it and see if you can see what Im doing wrong? This is killing me. I really appreciate your help and guidance.
that is a bit hot.. mabe first thing in am just he gets the suns benefits.. but babies can dehydrate quickly.. good daliy soaks is a must.
try something colorful or something that smells good. maybe those new red sticks from Coastal will help stimulate him to eat.
try something colorful or something that smells good. maybe those new red sticks from Coastal will help stimulate him to eat.
Warmth
Sorry if I missed it, but what kind of tortoise do you have? Depending on that, is the cooler side a bit warm?
could you get him outside earlier in the am with shade option to get some sun?
could you get him outside earlier in the am with shade option to get some sun?
I agree with Yvonne on this one. How old of a leopard are we talking about? Where are you?
Here is how I like to house and care for baby leopards. Maybe some of the details will help you figure out what might be the problem. Your temps sound okay to me as long as you have some humidity and your tortoise is well hydrated.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-How-To-Raise-Sulcata-Hatchlings-and-Babies#axzz1Si9fJGmq
Spinach is really not good as a regular part of their diet. A little bit, once in a while is not going to hurt them under normal circumstances, but if you feed it regularly to a young one it could cause a problem. I'm not sure, but I think watercress and alfalfa sprouts are also pretty high in oxalates. Just something to consider...
Here is how I like to house and care for baby leopards. Maybe some of the details will help you figure out what might be the problem. Your temps sound okay to me as long as you have some humidity and your tortoise is well hydrated.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-How-To-Raise-Sulcata-Hatchlings-and-Babies#axzz1Si9fJGmq
Spinach is really not good as a regular part of their diet. A little bit, once in a while is not going to hurt them under normal circumstances, but if you feed it regularly to a young one it could cause a problem. I'm not sure, but I think watercress and alfalfa sprouts are also pretty high in oxalates. Just something to consider...
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