He won't eat . . . ?

[PrayPeaceGod]

Disclaimer: Before you read this, please understand that I may be over exaggerating my frustration. I'm just really upset and I can't control my emotions.

Okay, so yesterday, I went out to buy a tortoise for my Christmas present with my family. I bought a 9 year old Russian Tortoise and he was really active in the store. The owner of the shop said that he had been in the store for 4 months so he was really healthy and used to the climate.
Today is my first day of owning a tortoise, so, I kind of wasn't sure of what to do. He looked fine, and when I put him outside for a walk, he was moving and seemed pretty happy. When I offered him his meal, a bowl of kale and shredded carrots topped with some calcium, he wouldn't eat it. He hasn't eaten yet and I'm somewhat worried. What should I do? Give him a bath? Or...is he sick? The owner said he eats a ton and relieves himself every now and then. He hasn't done any of that yet. Help?

 

[Jacqui]

Hi and welcome! First off take some deep breaths and relax. A brand new tortoise not eating is not unusual nor is it a really bad thing. Unlike your dog or cat who can't go without for food long, a tortoise can go for weeks without food, if it started with good weight. Normally a healthy tortoise will also not starve itself to death, especially a Russian. Okay, so are you calming down now?

Now the next thing you need to think about it stress. While the tortoise was at the pet store he felt at home and was pretty stress free, so he was acting active, eating and healthy. What you did yesterday was take him out of his home, traveled with him, and plopped him into a new home with all sorts of new things, smells, and sounds. If you were a normal new tortoise owner you also handled him a lot or atleast kept looking in at him, right? Today you took him outside which means more stranger handling, more new sights and smells, and no doubt another temperature change. All this is adding to his stress levels. A stressed tortoise often will not eat.

We touched on temperatures and keep it in mind those are very important to an active and eating tortoise. Tortoises get their body warmth from their surroundings, they don't make their own like we do. Temps are important as it is one of two key things that keep Russians from brumating (hibernation reptile style) and they need warmth to digest the foods they eat. This means you must be aware of what temps are around your tortoise... especially down at his level. Do you know what your enclosure temps are? What about the temp of the ground you had him on outside was? Do you have a temp gun? Those are a great thing to have.

Also do you have lighting for your Russian? What kind? How many hours a day are you planning to keep it on?

The food you offered, was that what he had been eating at the store? Or is it also strange to him?

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum, NomberPie!

Just expanding a little on what Jacqui has told you: Tortoises have to be able to get their core temperature up to at least 85F degrees in order to digest their food. That means they need to be able to sit on a rock being warmed by the sun, or be able to sit under a light in their indoor habitat. Directly under the light it should be about 100F degrees, fading to around 80-85 on one end and about 70 or so on the opposite end.

Russian, or steppe tortoises are great first tortoises. I'm sure once you get him warmed up and acclimated to his new surroundings, he'll be fine.

 

[Laura]

what were they feeding him at the store?
Also, Id be very careful about letting him walk around outside and not in some type of enclosure.
He also.. needs to adjust to his new surroundings.. let him be for a few days.. make sure his lights and temp are good.. and ENJOY!

 

[kare]

Hi and welcome! First off take some deep breaths and relax. A brand new tortoise not eating is not unusual nor is it a really bad thing. Unlike your dog or cat who can't go without for food long, a tortoise can go for weeks without food, if it started with good weight. Normally a healthy tortoise will also not starve itself to death, especially a Russian. Okay, so are you calming down now?

Now the next thing you need to think about it stress. While the tortoise was at the pet store he felt at home and was pretty stress free, so he was acting active, eating and healthy. What you did yesterday was take him out of his home, traveled with him, and plopped him into a new home with all sorts of new things, smells, and sounds. If you were a normal new tortoise owner you also handled him a lot or atleast kept looking in at him, right? Today you took him outside which means more stranger handling, more new sights and smells, and no doubt another temperature change. All this is adding to his stress levels. A stressed tortoise often will not eat.

We touched on temperatures and keep it in mind those are very important to an active and eating tortoise. Tortoises get their body warmth from their surroundings, they don't make their own like we do. Temps are important as it is one of two key things that keep Russians from brumating (hibernation reptile style) and they need warmth to digest the foods they eat. This means you must be aware of what temps are around your tortoise... especially down at his level. Do you know what your enclosure temps are? What about the temp of the ground you had him on outside was? Do you have a temp gun? Those are a great thing to have.

Also do you have lighting for your Russian? What kind? How many hours a day are you planning to keep it on?

The food you offered, was that what he had been eating at the store? Or is it also strange to him?

I am a newbie to this website and would just like to say that I recently purchased a 2 month old russian, we received him on Dec. 19 by mail. I immediately thought something wasn't right with him. I did everything possible after reading for hours online, numerous websites and calling the place I ordered him from (which I would like to see shutdown). I ended up taking him to the vet and was told he was very very sick and that this did not happen just in the week I had him. He passed today and I am saddened that there are probably many others like him at this place he came from. Anyway beware of him not eating and being lethargic, big red flags....

 

[lynnedit]

kare, so sorry to hear about your sad experience. There are a few tortoise supply sites that don't necessarily sell healthy torts. There are also some very good ones, some of them belong to this forum.

That said, most torts do take a few days to settle in. They can go quite awhile w/o eating.
NomberPie, yes, soak your tortoise in shallow (1-2" of warm water) for 10-15". Don't let it cool off too much.
Do this daily for a week, then 1-2x per week or so. Otherwise leave him alone.
Are his eyes/nose clear? no noisy breathing? does he feel sort of heavy, not light? if so, then he is very likely fine.
Pay attention to the advice given thus far; temps, enclosure, lighting. (pet stores are not always accurate, sadly, tho your store might have been OK).
If everything else is OK, give your tort time.

---

The other thing to add is that Russian torts, in particular, love being outside. If you can, start planning your outside enclosure for the warmer months!

 

[WITortoiseMom]

Thanks to all. This is comforting to me as well. One of our new Russians is not eating either (only 3 days). At least she is exploring her enclosure today.

 

[PrayPeaceGod]

Thank you guys! He's eating like crazy now, so I'm relieved to know that it was just a general shock from the moving. Thanks again!