Hunger strike?

[mommybeegs]

My tortoise, just got him a week ago, refuses to eat anything besides lettuce. I can't get him to eat hay, or dandelion, only leaves. He hasn't eaten in two days. Will he eat eventually if I leave the hay in there and he gets hungry enough? Or do I need to find something else? Not sure what to do aand I don't want to overdo the lettuce.

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He is very active though and wondering Around all day long. Sleeps at night. And drinks water when I soak him.

 

[Spn785]

Generally Russians won't eat hay. I'm surprised that he won't eat the dandelion though. Try leaving the dandelion in there. Or you could chop up the lettuce with other foods real small and mix them together and mist with water, then slowly reduce the amount of lettuce. For other suggestions on food check out www.russiantortoise.net.

 

[mommybeegs]

Great thanks!! And he just had his first BM in two days also so I'm wondering if he will eat now. We will see!!

 

[Spn785]

If he has been having trouble pooping try giving him a little aloe. That helps, or so I'm told.

 

[Jenncure]

Spn, I gave my Russian Henry some aloe for a few days when he hadn't pooped for a long time and I was getting worried. It definitely worked, though the results were a bit runny :-/

 

[mommybeegs]

His was a bit runny anyway, so I'm just gonna skip the aloe for now. Just got some prickly pads in the mail today, gonna try if he will eat those this evening. He did eat some radish greens though!!

 

[rachael]

Mix 1/4 canned pumpkin puree with 3/4 greens ( like spinach and such). Each day use less and less pumpkin.

 

[mommybeegs]

Hmmm I live out in the boondocks lol not sure I can get the pumpkin but I will look online. Thank you!

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

Baby food. Mine go wacko for “winter squash purée" baby food. That's all I could find for organic squash at the grocery store in my closest town.

 

[rachael]

^^^^^^^ that

or the 'boondocks' is the origin of canned pumpkin. its called Libbys, ask your clerk :>

 

[biochemnerd808]

I have a very stubborn little Greek that had been fed nothing but romaine and carrots by his previous owner. I fed him a more varied diet, but he would manage to pick out the romaine and leave everything else. He wouldn't touch chopped food.

I finally had to give his some tough love: NO lettuce, romaine or other. He went on a hunger strike for several weeks, then slowly began eating the varied diet I offered... and now he eats like a little piggy!

It's all about being more stubborn than your tortoise. Just make sure you soak him every 2 or so days or even every day while he isn't eating.

Also, if his feces are consistently loose, you may want to have him tested for parasites (worms or coccidia or giardia). Any vet can do this, just call around to find a vet that is willing to run the fecal test without requiring an office visit. The test is the same for all animals, so even a regular vet can run the test. The vet here charges $26 for this. Then if it tests positive, you will likely have to set up an office visit appointment with a reptile vet to get treatment...

 

[mommybeegs]

Thanks for the help everyone!!! Gave him prickly pear pads this morning and he scarfed them down!!! And even started eating some hay this afternoon!!! Stubborn guy, but I won the battle

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Don't think these posted the first time so uploading again just in case

 

[mommybeegs]

Generally Russians won't eat hay. I'm surprised that he won't eat the dandelion though. Try leaving the dandelion in there. Or you could chop up the lettuce with other foods real small and mix them together and mist with water, then slowly reduce the amount of lettuce. For other suggestions on food check out www.russiantortoise.net.

Just wanted to share that my tort eats hay whenever offered as long as it isn't covered in his coco coir so might be worth offering. It has calcium and fiber and protein. So with a varied diet I have been told it is good to offer to torts