Eating a lot!

[Aya A.R]

Hi guys

My little greek guy has been eating at least 5 times a day these days and this behavior is recent and it is not how has he always been so should I be worried ? He used to eat once or twice a day for the past couple of years but ever since Spring started and he started to get active after some hibernating he has been hungry a lot and its not like I haven't tried to cut him off but when I do he simply keeps walking and doesn't sleep till he is fed (this can take hours-geesh, they're so patient!) So should I be concerned ? Would it be dangerous if I just give him food 1-2 times like old days and don't add more even though I'm pretty sure that would upset him but if its for his own good I'll do it I'm just not sure if it is. Help!

 

[Yvonne G]

I put down enough food to last all day long. The babies come out several times a day and eat from the pile. By the end of the day its pretty dried up, but they still eat it.

 

[Aya A.R]

Yeah, but for the past couple of years or more that I have had him for he never ate this much and there would be left overs but nowadays he finishes all and needs more or he doesn't rest :/ He eats to the very last bite also, he wasn't like that

 

[Alex77]

Hi I'm a novice here too but that sounds like it could be parasites - as was explained to me today at the vet, worms consume all the nutrients from the food and that leaves the tort hungry, even after eating. It's not very expensive to get a test done (locally it wouldn't be more than 30 euros including the visit) so I think you should bring the tort in for a check-up.

 

[Aya A.R]

Oh ok, thanks Alex77, I'll try to get it done asap. But I just wanna be sure, it isn't deadly, is it ? And did your vet give something ?

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Maybe he just grew and the weather supports an eating binge?

 

[Aya A.R]

Maybe he just grew and the weather supports an eating binge?

I truely hope so mate! -- After all its getting warm.

 

[Tom]

Sounds like normal springtime behavior. If you are feeding the right foods and your tortoise has lots of space to exercise, you can just put out a big pile and let him eat as much as he wants. Continually leaving him hungry will create what I call a "psychological hunger". It makes them ravenous all the time. It is actually a training technique we sometimes use with a variety of animals. I don't like my tortoises to be that hungry. It can lead them to eat things they shouldn't in our un-natural captive environments.

 

[Alex77]

Oh ok, thanks Alex77, I'll try to get it done asap. But I just wanna be sure, it isn't deadly, is it ? And did your vet give something ?

Hi, I didn't mean to scare you... just that I have a tortoise who has been stuffing her tiny face left right and center, and recently I learned from the vet that she does in fact have worms. I have been reading, however, that all new torts should be taken to the vet for a worm test. You can probably just pack up a recent poop and take it there to save time. My vet did the test immediately and was able to give meds.

I can't say if worms are a big deal, but I do know my Gaia is quite ill because of them. I'm sooo glad I checked and if you feel the tort is lethargic or just eating a ridiculous amount it's a good idea to visit a vet. Mine was only about 10 euros for an office visit. Good luck!