is my tortoise blind

[Lemons]

Hi - I've recently noticed my tortoise runs towards his food when I put it in his habitat but runs right over it like he doesn't see it. It takes him a little time to find it. He wasn't always like this. In his old habitat he'd slowly walk over and eat -never just walk all over his food. I don't have a coil bulb. I have a 100 watt power sun.

 

[mike taylor]

Some times them lamps are too bright . Show pictures of your setup . This way we can see what you're working with.

 

[leigti]

Sometimes my tortoise does this also. I don't know why but she eats just fine.

 

[Yvonne G]

It seems to be a bit hard for a tortoise to separate your hand from the pile of food. All of my tortoises will do the same thing. They think I'm the food, and just walk right through the nice, clean pile of goodies to get to me.

You have to move the tortoise out of sight of the food dish, place the food, then quickly step back so you are nowhere near the food.

 

[biochemnerd808]

Also, keep in mind that tortoises aren't necessarily programmed (or built) to eat things right off the surface of the ground. They normally graze, and plants grow anywhere from a centimeter or so off the ground up to half a foot up (in which case they might bulldoze the stem to get at the leaves that are higher up, or might even climb a little). A pile of leaves on the surface is not entirely a natural situation - though it is the reality of most of our tortoises.

Maybe try creating more of a 'grazing' environment? You could clamp some greens into those chips-bag-clips, and wedge the clip into a crack between some rocks. That way the tort has to go find it. Or you can get one of those plastic baby balls with those holes, and put the food in there... make the tort work a little to have to get the food out.

Of course double checking that the MVB is at least 12" away from the top of the tortoise's shell, as well as double checking the temperatures with a temp gun would never hurt, just to rule out those things as a cause....