dry tortoise shell?

[Yingg]

I am so happy to hear she is eating, might sound weird but I was worrying about her. If she eats the pumpkin you should be able to put small amounts on other foods to 'put' the smell on them, enticing her to eat other foods. Example: rub pumpkin on some romaine or mix some grass in it.

@Yingg I wanted to let you know that your concern for her is great. In no way should you feel your asking to many questions or not doing the right thing being concerned. This is how you learn and build your "Tort Care Confidence'

yeah thank you for everyone's support so far, it really means the world to me 🙏 ❤️ i will definitely try rubbing pumpkin in.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

yeah thank you for everyone's support so far, it really means the world to me 🙏 ❤️ i will definitely try rubbing pumpkin in.

I really think she’s turned a corner by the sound of things! Keep us in the loop❤️🥰

 

[Yingg]

update: i think she pooped out the pumpkin???

 

[Yingg]

new fav food: pumpkin, but only if it comes from my hands or a similarly orange spoon

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

It is great that he is eating something, but sad that he doesn't do it on his own yet. Remember that tortoises recover slowly from everything, so patience is the key!

 

[EppsDynasty]

RIGHT ON !!!!!
I must apologize, I was referring to him as her. Please let him know I'll get it right for now on.

 

[Yingg]

RIGHT ON !!!!!
I must apologize, I was referring to him as her. Please let him know I'll get it right for now on.

oh she is a her!! hahahaha don't worry

 

[zovick]

new fav food: pumpkin, but only if it comes from my hands or a similarly orange spoon

It is now obvious that your tortoise is NOT constipated so you can stop feeding the mineral oil and aloe.

Try getting a very small head of radicchio (it's expensive) and shave some little slices off with a sharp knife. Make a small pile of those slices and put the tortoise right in front of the pile after you have soaked it. Hopefully it will start eating it. If not, mix a bit of the pumpkin in with the radicchio and try doing exactly the same thing the next day.

Hint: handling the tortoise and carrying it in and out of your house are all stressors and may slow down the animal's interest in eating. I would recommend leaving it inside 24/7 in its enclosure and soaking it once daily in the AM, then putting it in front of a pile of food and then leaving it alone until the next day. In this way the tortoise can get into a routine and not be constantly stressed by too much handling and moving from place to place (such as inside to outdoors) several times daily.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

It is now obvious that your tortoise is NOT constipated so you can stop feeding the mineral oil and aloe.

Try getting a very small head of radicchio (it's expensive) and shave some little slices off with a sharp knife. Make a small pile of those slices and put the tortoise right in front of the pile after you have soaked it. Hopefully it will start eating it. If not, mix a bit of the pumpkin in with the radicchio and try doing exactly the same thing the next day.

Hint: handling the tortoise and carrying it in and out of your house are all stressors and may slow down the animal's interest in eating. I would recommend leaving it inside 24/7 in its enclosure and soaking it once daily in the AM, then putting it in front of a pile of food and then leaving it alone until the next day. In this way the tortoise can get into a routine and not be constantly stressed by too much handling and moving from place to place (such as inside to outdoors) several times daily.

The problem with that is there inside enclosure is currently far too small hence they let them outside to get some needed roaming time

 

[zovick]

The problem with that is there inside enclosure is currently far too small hence they let them outside to get some needed roaming time

IMHO, an enclosure which is too small is still better than the stress of manipulating the tortoise at least 2-3 times daily and keeping it from being able to feel "safe" and develop a routine. It is already stressed from being handled several times daily for the last two and a half months and continual picking it up and worrying it won't help make it better.

I would just leave it alone most of the time and do as I suggested for a couple of months.

 

[Yingg]

IMHO, an enclosure which is too small is still better than the stress of manipulating the tortoise at least 2-3 times daily and keeping it from being able to feel "safe" and develop a routine. It is already stressed from being handled several times daily for the last two and a half months and continual picking it up and worrying it won't help make it better.

I would just leave it alone most of the time and do as I suggested for a couple of months.

oh, i think she is quite used to me bringing her out... when i come into the room she instantly walks out to me. is that alright? i want to train her to know when it's time to go outside. that way it won't stress her. if i leave her inside, i'll just efficient be training her to never go outside. Plus, she knows the yard. I can put her anywhere and she will locate her favorite log.

sorry if this sounds like arguing, i would rather stress her out for a couple of weeks and get her used to being both outside and inside then have her live inside for the rest of her life. Plus, she will have to remain indoors a lot for winter. (the enclosure is 34 inch x 44 inch.)

on a side note, i'm pretty sure she's alright with being picked up seeing that she walks to me when it's time to go outside. As i type this, she is walking on the sidewalk beside me!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

IMHO, an enclosure which is too small is still better than the stress of manipulating the tortoise at least 2-3 times daily and keeping it from being able to feel "safe" and develop a routine. It is already stressed from being handled several times daily for the last two and a half months and continual picking it up and worrying it won't help make it better.

I would just leave it alone most of the time and do as I suggested for a couple of months.

I understand where you’re coming from and don’t disagree, I’m just wondering if they can manage being in a 3x2 foot for that long? They’re trying to work on building her muscle strength as she already drags

 

[Yingg]

It is now obvious that your tortoise is NOT constipated so you can stop feeding the mineral oil and aloe.

Try getting a very small head of radicchio (it's expensive) and shave some little slices off with a sharp knife. Make a small pile of those slices and put the tortoise right in front of the pile after you have soaked it. Hopefully it will start eating it. If not, mix a bit of the pumpkin in with the radicchio and try doing exactly the same thing the next day.

Hint: handling the tortoise and carrying it in and out of your house are all stressors and may slow down the animal's interest in eating. I would recommend leaving it inside 24/7 in its enclosure and soaking it once daily in the AM, then putting it in front of a pile of food and then leaving it alone until the next day. In this way the tortoise can get into a routine and not be constantly stressed by too much handling and moving from place to place (such as inside to outdoors) several times daily.

oh and, another note, she ate fine before. I handled her a lot these past few months, and only up until now did her appetite drop and she wouldn't poo.

and i handled her almost two-three times a day. when she had a small enclosure (a few weeks ago) i even constantly opened it to mist her. her appetite was fine. i think she is completely used to my handling.