Danny's situation!

[philipgreece]

Hello all again! Danny started eating! He only eats these 2 for now on though! Cheeseweed and plantain! He finally poops and I give him warm soaks! I expose him everyday 2 hours in sun and he eats! But the limping still remains! Not so bad though like the first time! At night I keep the temperature in 23 degrees! Is 2 hours sun good for him? I use thermo gun in sun indicates 32 degrees on his shell and in shadows 26 until 24! The only way I could find to boost his appetite the first days is with some bites of banana and apple! I don't know if this is good about fruits but he found his appetite somehow!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello all again! Danny started eating! He only eats these 2 for now on though! Cheeseweed and plantain! He finally poops and I give him warm soaks! I expose him everyday 2 hours in sun and he eats! But the limping still remains! Not so bad though like the first time! At night I keep the temperature in 23 degrees! Is 2 hours sun good for him? I use thermo gun in sun indicates 32 degrees on his shell and in shadows 26 until 24! The only way I could find to boost his appetite the first days is with some bites of banana and apple! I don't know if this is good about fruits but he found his appetite somehow!

Sounds like he's getting better! Hopefully, his leg will fully heal soon.

Two hours of sunlight between 10AM and 3PM is good.

You are lucky to have cheeseweed and plantain growing around, I still have only dried out grasses nearby and no rains on the forecast

Fruits, generally, are bad for Russian tortoises but a few bites won't do harm. If he eats on his own now - hold the fruit (or try steamed squash or pumpkin, prickly pears or a bit of dragonfruit).

 

[philipgreece]

Sounds like he's getting better! Hopefully, his leg will fully heal soon.

Two hours of sunlight between 10AM and 3PM is good.

You are lucky to have cheeseweed and plantain growing around, I still have only dried out grasses nearby and no rains on the forecast

Fruits, generally, are bad for Russian tortoises but a few bites won't do harm. If he eats on his own now - hold the fruit (or try steamed squash or pumpkin, prickly pears or a bit of dragonfruit).

I remember always that Danny when season changes he eats different food! I remember he likes cheeseweed! Its thats is difficult to give him multivitamins and calcium with normal foods! The only way to offer him calcium powder is with banana! In summer yes he was eating all the time cactus! Now both of my tortoises won't touch it!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I remember always that Danny when season changes he eats different food! I remember he likes cheeseweed! Its thats is difficult to give him multivitamins and calcium with normal foods! The only way to offer him calcium powder is with banana! In summer yes he was eating all the time cactus! Now both of my tortoises won't touch it!

It's better to avoid bananas, though. Try to add a very tiny amount of calcium daily or every other day (so you can barely see it on greens). If he eats cucumbers or lettuce - you can try these.

And, yes, it's a good observation that their preferences change with seasons. My redfoot does the same (except, that she hates cacti all year round).

 

[philipgreece]

It's better to avoid bananas, though. Try to add a very tiny amount of calcium daily or every other day (so you can barely see it on greens). If he eats cucumbers or lettuce - you can try these.

And, yes, it's a good observation that their preferences change with seasons. My redfoot does the same (except, that she hates cacti all year round).

It's better to avoid bananas, though. Try to add a very tiny amount of calcium daily or every other day (so you can barely see it on greens). If he eats cucumbers or lettuce - you can try these.

And, yes, it's a good observation that their preferences change with seasons. My redfoot does the same (except, that she hates cacti all year round).

Yes only 2 days I used fruits! I try aoth cucumber now! Both of them they don't eat! Only some bites! They run all the time to dig and sleep! I know its brumation time but I try! I think i give them stress and I let them to sleep! I think i have to skip one day per week to let them sleep and not to feed them!

 

[COmtnLady]

Its good to hear that he's eating again.

About the calcium, you only need to add a very small pinch of it, twice per week. More than a couple small pinches per week and you risk having problems with too much. Do you keep a cuttlebone in each of their enclosures all the time? It is a very good idea to do this so that your tortoise can nibble on it if they feel they need some calcium. Then you don't have to worry about putting calcium on their food.

You like to eat every day, so do your tortoises. Don't skip any days.
If they are seeming less interested, then give a bit less, if they eat everything, give them more, but give them something to eat every day. It is a good idea to leave the food sit in the enclosure until the next day. Your tortoises may want to eat later when you aren't watching them. They may want to eat a few bites, then go away for a couple hours, come back for a few more bites, then take a nap or a walk, come back again, go away again, and so on. Let them choose, don't take the food away.

The fruit upsets their ability to digest their food, and will give them cramps and make them feel sick. It was ok to use a small amount of fruit to get him eating again, but stop now.

 

[philipgreece]

Its good to hear that he's eating again.

About the calcium, you only need to add a very small pinch of it, twice per week. More than a couple small pinches per week and you risk having problems with too much. Do you keep a cuttlebone in each of their enclosures all the time? It is a very good idea to do this so that your tortoise can nibble on it if they feel they need some calcium. Then you don't have to worry about putting calcium on their food.

You like to eat every day, so do your tortoises. Don't skip any days.
If they are seeming less interested, then give a bit less, if they eat everything, give them more, but give them something to eat every day. It is a good idea to leave the food sit in the enclosure until the next day. Your tortoises may want to eat later when you aren't watching them. They may want to eat a few bites, then go away for a couple hours, come back for a few more bites, then take a nap or a walk, come back again, go away again, and so on. Let them choose, don't take the food away.

The fruit upsets their ability to digest their food, and will give them cramps and make them feel sick. It was ok to use a small amount of fruit to get him eating again, but stop now.

I use 2 times per week calcium! I have cuttlebone too but they won't touch it! I use the calcium from vetark! I sprinkle a little bit! And once per week multivitamins from vetark again! When I have sun i let them outside but they don't eat so much! In their enclosures when I have bad weather they don't wake up despite I have good temperatures! They want to sleep!

 

[COmtnLady]

Don't sprinkle the calcium, use a literal tiny pinch between your finger and thumb, then brush/rub it off your fingers over their food. You shouldn't be able to see much on the salad, just a very light dusting.

And you should be offering lots of varieties of weeds and greens.

The point of the cuttlebone is IF they want it, it is available for them.

 

[philipgreece]

Don't sprinkle the calcium, use a literal tiny pinch between your finger and thumb, then brush/rub it off your fingers over their food. You shouldn't be able to see much on the salad, just a very light dusting.

And you should be offering lots of varieties of weeds and greens.

The point of the cuttlebone is IF they want it, it is available for them.

Ah ok thank you! I think i was giving more! But its 2 times only! For now they eat specific food! I try to find sow thistle to feed them!