Newbie ?.

[AndyW]

Hi everyone .Here goes ?. Having taken onboard a lot of advice from a guy who I think seems to know his stuff ,I have a 14 year old Horsfields Tortoise from a friend of my Wife ,who needed to get it rehomed desperately .I am led to believe that ,although the previous owner thought she was doing everything right, she may well not have been .One major problem was that his beak was almost twice as long as it should have been .. ( now rectified by an expert who has been in the hobby a long time . Anyway ,with a delay in a piece of equipment ,on Saturday it went to my local Reptile shop ,they were concerned as once they witnessed a bubble from its mouth and it hasn't eaten since being there last Saturday .It's home now and VERY active .. as it was in the shop .No signs of any bubbling now ... should I be concerned ... I am trying my best for it. ?.Any advice would be appreciated.It has a vivarium ,heat lamp and uv .

 

[Ink]

Welcome to the forum. For now I would soak him everyday for 30 minutes in warm water and change the water if it gets cool. Wait for an expert to offer any other help. So have you seen any bubbles or heard chirping sounds from him?

 

[AndyW]

Ok will do ,no I haven't .The last owner apparently said it was not unusual for him to do this ..go without food but this was also when his beak was twice as long as it is now ,and surely this isn't really normal .Thanks for the advice .

 

[Ink]

Can you post pictures of his beak and his enclosure? Have you ever soaked him?

 

[Toddrickfl1]

He's not eating because he's not comfortable most likely. Tortoises don't like change. He needs time to settle in somewhere.

 

[AndyW]

Can you post pictures of his beak and his enclosure? Have you ever soaked him?

 

[AndyW]

I just rang the specialist vets and they said soak him twice a day .He has only been actually at my home for a few hours , before that he was just being held at a reptile centre for me .I will secure the heat lamp wire more safely now .

 

[AndyW]

He's not eating because he's not comfortable most likely. Tortoises don't like change. He needs time to settle in somewhere.

Ok ,yes that would seem only natural as he's been in 3 different situations since Saturday morning .

 

[Ink]

Good luck and I am glad you took him into your home.

 

[Yvonne G]

His enclosure either needs to be three times bigger, or outside in a secure area.

 

[AndyW]

Good luck and I am glad you took him into your home.

Thanks Ink , I just hope I'm doing the right thing , I've taken advice from the Reptile shop ,but from the last post ,I need some 3 times the size .I was told a vivarium would be better for him as it would be draft free and the temp would be more stable as they like a hot and dry atmosphere .My plan is to let it out every day .. under supervision ..in a garden pen . weather permitting and in the house if not .