TortsMaGoats
New Member
Greetings from Northwest Ohio!
I just got my Russian tortoise, Squirt, last week and I am already in love!
While he is first and foremost my tortoise, I do bring him to school with me. I teach high school science - the kids are pretty calm and I don't allow anyone to touch him unsupervised.
I took him to the vet last night and found out that, prior to me, he was severely dehydrated and malnourished. I've been told to make him eat more and to soak him daily (I had soaked him 3x/week). The soaking I can do, no problem, but the eating more I am finding challenging. The vet tube-fed him yesterday, but I am not sure how to make him eat on his own. I have tried kale, red romaine, mustard greens, leaf lettuce medley, dill, cilantro, radiccio, and some semi-moist herbivorous pellets from National Geographic at the pet store (I know, I was getting desperate). I ordered some Mazuri tortoise diet last night, but what should I do in the mean time, or if he doesn't like that either?
Habitat: 45 gal Rubbermaid bin (temporary until I can build something better)
Basking temp: 92F
Cool temp: 72F
Substrate: coir with sand (I know the forum hates sand, but the vet said it was ok for now)
Light: basking light and ReptiSun 10.0
Food: leafy greens, herbs, semi-moist pellets, ReptiCal, cuttlebone
Hello again! Thank you for the info!
I just got my Russian tortoise, Squirt, last week and I am already in love!
While he is first and foremost my tortoise, I do bring him to school with me. I teach high school science - the kids are pretty calm and I don't allow anyone to touch him unsupervised.
I took him to the vet last night and found out that, prior to me, he was severely dehydrated and malnourished. I've been told to make him eat more and to soak him daily (I had soaked him 3x/week). The soaking I can do, no problem, but the eating more I am finding challenging. The vet tube-fed him yesterday, but I am not sure how to make him eat on his own. I have tried kale, red romaine, mustard greens, leaf lettuce medley, dill, cilantro, radiccio, and some semi-moist herbivorous pellets from National Geographic at the pet store (I know, I was getting desperate). I ordered some Mazuri tortoise diet last night, but what should I do in the mean time, or if he doesn't like that either?
Habitat: 45 gal Rubbermaid bin (temporary until I can build something better)
Basking temp: 92F
Cool temp: 72F
Substrate: coir with sand (I know the forum hates sand, but the vet said it was ok for now)
Light: basking light and ReptiSun 10.0
Food: leafy greens, herbs, semi-moist pellets, ReptiCal, cuttlebone
Hello again! Thank you for the info!