Leopard tortoise not eating

[Michellegonc]

Hello my leopard tortoise has not been eating ( that I know of) and hasn’t really been moving around. He also sleeps most of the day. He is about a year old when I last weighed him his was 228g. I feed him romaine collard and dandelion leaves with Timothy hay mixed in and also have grass and clover growing in his enclosure. From what I can tell he doesn’t eat anything I give him it still looks the same it did when I put it down. I take him out to soak about every other day nd when he’s soaking he moves around and seems to drink some water. He doesn’t have any health concerns that I can see no runny nose or eyes and I hold him to my ear I don’t hear any wheezing. Sometimes he’ll move from the cold side to the warm side but that’s about it.
My main concern is that he’s not eating and it’s also been awhile since he pooped.
I’m not sure what to do and I’m getting worried something is wrong.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Welcome to the forum! How long has this been going on?

 

[wellington]

How are the temps? Basking and all over, day and night
What's the cold side you mentioned? The whole enclosure should never go below 80 day and night. Basking temp needs to be 95-100. Humidity needs to be 80%.
Without these temps, your tortoise will not move around as much and without a proper basking temp, they can't digest their food and will stop eating.

 

[Michellegonc]

How are the temps? Basking and all over, day and night
What's the cold side you mentioned? The whole enclosure should never go below 80 day and night. Basking temp needs to be 95-100. Humidity needs to be 80%.
Without these temps, your tortoise will not move around as much and without a proper basking temp, they can't digest their food and will stop eating.

Cool side is about 82 all around is about 90 and basking is at 98. The humidity moves around more bc I have to spray throughout the day. But this started about a month ago. Before he was eating a lot and moving around now I have to move him out or else he’ll stay in one spot all day.

 

[Michellegonc]

Welcome to the forum! How long has this been going on?

About a month

 

[wellington]

Cool side is about 82 all around is about 90 and basking is at 98. The humidity moves around more bc I have to spray throughout the day. But this started about a month ago. Before he was eating a lot and moving around now I have to move him out or else he’ll stay in one spot all day.

Wet the substrate not spray. Spraying it really isn't doing much. You want it damp all the way thru. Pour warm water into it and mix. This will keep humidity up where it's supposed to be and keep it there longer. You should only have to do this maybe once a week, depending on how closed the enclosure is. It should be an enclosed chamber enclosure.

 

[Michellegonc]

Wet the substrate not spray. Spraying it really isn't doing much. You want it damp all the way thru. Pour warm water into it and mix. This will keep humidity up where it's supposed to be and keep it there longer. You should only have to do this maybe once a week, depending on how closed the enclosure is. It should be an enclosed chamber enclosure.

Ok I will do that. I am working on getting it more enclosed. I have a wooden enclosure with an exposed lid that I’ve covered with a thick curtain for now. I’m going to be upgrading to a galvanized planter with a green house cover. I live in California and right now it is under 50 but he’s been indoor since I’ve had him when he was about 2-3 months old

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Try feeding him right after soaking, place him in front of his food or hand feed him.

For constipation you can try:

• Long (40 to 60 mins) warm soaks with room to move around in.
• Foods with high water content like zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin, lettuce and aloe vera.
• Mineral oil, roll this up in a lettuce and feed it. You can also swap some carefully around the cloaca with a q tip.

 

[TammyJ]

Welcome to the forum.
Please tell us the size of the tortoise and the size of the enclosure, and post some pictures of both?

 

[COmtnLady]

Definitely post pictures of your tortoise and the enclosure. A lot of times we can spot a problem faster that way.

All the advice above is really good. Follow it/do it.
Until your tortoise is back to eating and pooping in a normal way, you need to keep it warmer than normal and keep the humidity up. Aim for mid-80s F or higher (90sF is good when a tort isn't feeling well) and mid-80% humidity or higher.
Soak in water that is kept warm the whole time your baby is in it. That water should only be as deep as where the top and bottom shell come together - which is quite shallow and cools down quickly, so watch it closely to make certain it is about 95F all through the soak (20-60 minutes). Always put your tortoise away when it is maximumly warm. Don't think that because it is time to replenish the water to make it warmer, that it is a good time to put your tort back into the enclosure... Always err on the side of warm and comfy.

I have to spray throughout the day

Spraying is very bad for your tortoise. It creates droplets that are larger than your tortoise's "nose holes" which can cause reparatory problems. It also evaporates away faster than humidity, causing temperature instability - it cools things down.


.

 

[Michellegonc]

Welcome to the forum.
Please tell us the size of the tortoise and the size of the enclosure, and post some pictures of both?

This is what I have right now. I am going to be upgrading to a galvanized planter with a green house cover to help with humidity and warmth retention. He’s about the size of my husbands hand and is 226g

 

[Michellegonc]

This is what I have right now. I am going to be upgrading to a galvanized planter with a green house cover to help with humidity and warmth retention. He’s about the size of my husbands hand and is 226g

 

[TammyJ]

How's your progress with the upgrade and your tortoise?