Force feeding "how to" tips?

[ZEROPILOT]

I don't think I'm at the point just yet to need to force feed my big female Redfoot. It's only been a week as of yesterday that she's decided to not eat.
I have done this before with very large tropical fish caught in a big net and a pipette placed partially down the throat.
My question is how the heck can you do this with a fully grown and very strong adult tortoise who can pull in her head and forelimbs at will?
She drinks regularly and I thought about putting bird vitamins or something in the water, but she needs about 2.5 gallons of water to climb her big butt into, so it wouldn't be simple to add baby food like I would for a small tort.
Also, on a related subject, what would be critical as far as how long can she go with out eating before I MUST take her to a vet? She drinks daily and has good weight and is pretty active still. Maybe not AS active as in the past.
There have been no changes in diet or housing. I don't know what distressed her.
Thanks.

 

[puffy137]

Dunno a thing about redfoots , but she could be just off her food for a while . They i.e. torts can go for long periods without food. Has the temperature dropped of late ? Could she be broody like a hen ready to lay eggs? Forcing something down her throat might do damage , especially if she's going to fight it. I would wait a while , she might buck up soon .

 

[Tom]

Force feeding should really be a last resort. There is a reason she is not eating. I would spend the time and effort to diagnose and correct this issue first. Often increased soaks and warmer temps will help solve problems. She should be able to go two or three weeks without food with no problem. After that, I would prefer a stomach tube to force feeding.

I think the first step is to diagnose the issue.

 

[Turtlepete]

Agree with Tom. Force feeding is more stress then it is worth, and stress is the core issue to begin with. Just keep her comfortable and secure and keep offering food. She will come around. A week is nothing for an acclimating adult tortoise.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thanks. She has spent most of the last two days sitting in her pool.
I don't know what's going on.
I just don't want to throw away another 300 to 500 bucks at the vet if she is just being difficult.

 

[Jodie]

It's tough to know when to go to the vet. I do this too. All the soaking would make me think eggs. Does she have a good place to nest? I don't have or know redfoots, but that is what I would think with my Leopard.
Good luck.

 

[Turtlepete]

Thanks. She has spent most of the last two days sitting in her pool.
I don't know what's going on.
I just don't want to throw away another 300 to 500 bucks at the vet if she is just being difficult.

Have you tried meat and meaty products? Cooked chicken, turkey, shrimp, boiled eggs, any kind of protein like that. Moistened dry cat food, wet cat food, fish, etc.. Anything stinky that will get her attention, and anything brightly colored. Even freshly killed rats/mice is an option, since most adult reds will devour them.

Whenever I get tortoises that refuse to eat, I just try pretty much every kind of food you could possibly imagine, regardless of its nutritional value. Corn, even. Each animal always has their preference, you just have to find it. Sometimes these preferences don't make any sense. For example, I have a forstenii that is obsessed with romaine lettuce hearts and the spring mix boxes from Publix, but won't touch any other greens. Think outside the box.

 

[Yvonne G]

...and to add to what Pete said, offer something that wiggles - nightcrawlers, grasshopper with it's jumping legs removed, etc.

Staying in the water all the time sometimes means parasites too.

 

[naturalman91]

i agree with Yvonne give it something that movies like a night crawler my red loves them as a occasional treat.

also i wouldn't try force feeding either it's to stressful

is there any chance she could be gravid?

 

[newCH]

How about go to Whole Foods and buy a big bottle of carrot juice, or you could juice them yourself ! ?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I've offered everything I can imagine except live foods.
She could be gravid.
There is a full blown thunderstorm outside right now and all four RF are running around like children playing in the sprinklers.
Earlier I offered corn on the cob and banana. Nothing!