Not eating yet?

[pinkspore]

I've had A'tuin for a little over two weeks now, and I've yet to see him eat. The first week he spent hiding in various places around the yard, this last week he has been extremely active and seems to spend a lot of time pacing the yard.

I know he was kept in an indoor enclosure and fed almost solely Mazuri before he was given to me. I'm sure the transition to outdoors has been a huge stress for him. He has pooped a couple of times that I've observed, and again in the tub this morning.

Should I be concerned that I haven't seen him eating yet? Should I give him some more time to settle in and get used to all the space and freedom?

 

[JoesMum]

Being scared is the most likely problem, closely followed by the wrong temperatures. Your tort may also be dehydrated.

So I need to start with some questions:
1. What are the 4 important temperatures : warm side, cool side, directly under the basking lamp and overnight minimum?
2. What source of UVB do you use: the sun, UVB tube bulb, MVB bulb or Compact ( also known as Coil) UVB?

To help him settle and rehydrate, he needs routine so that he understands what to expect and when.

1. Put the lights on a timer so that they go on and off at roughly the same time each day. They need to be on for 12 hours and there needs to be complete darkness at night.

2. First thing in the morning, before your tort has warmed up properly, soak him for a good 20 minutes. If he is fully warmed up, he will get stresed and want to get out. Soaking helps to get him used to being handled too. Use a bowl that he can't see through or out of and use warm, not hot water. Experiment with the water temperature until you find the one that he likes to lounge in.

3. While he is soaking. Prepare his food and serve it in a flat stone or slate in his enclosure.

4. Pop him back in the enclosure and walk away. Don't feel tempted to stand and watch as it is intimidating. Give him peace, quiet and soace to get brave and explore. Leave the food there all day and don't worry if it goes a bit limp.

 

[Joanne]

yeah, just keep offering tasty greens daily and he will start munching soon. Have you got any of the mazuri you could mix in with fresh greens?

 

[Greg T]

If he is pooping then he is eating something. Being outside, he is probably eating when you don't see him. Mine will eat as they wander around, taking a bite here and there. Also try the mazuri trick Joanne said.

 

[pinkspore]

Being scared is the most likely problem, closely followed by the wrong temperatures. Your tort may also be dehydrated.

So I need to start with some questions:
1. What are the 4 important temperatures : warm side, cool side, directly under the basking lamp and overnight minimum?

He is kept out in the yard during the day so I can't give you specifics on temps, but we've been having highs of 75-85 the last couple of weeks. Half the yard gets full sun and the other gets dappled shade under a large tree, he prefers to bask in the patches of sun under the tree.
At dusk I bring him inside, where the temperature is always over 75 degrees. His indoor house has a pile of grass hay and some dry Mazuri in case he feels like snacking.

2. What source of UVB do you use: the sun, UVB tube bulb, MVB bulb or Compact ( also known as Coil) UVB?

I use the sun, I can't imagine an indoor enclosure large enough for a 10" leopard tortoise.

His normal routine begins with me setting him outside in the first patch of sun to hit the yard, around 7am. Originally I had placed his water dish there and would pour in some warm water and set him in there, but he always climbed out immediately. Now I'm soaking him in the bathtub and he stretches out and relaxes as soon as he gets in there.

Outside he has dandelions and hibiscus and a variety of weeds to eat. I put out dry and soaked Mazuri, fresh spring mix and kale, and fresh grass hay so he has plenty of options.

I guess I'll assume he is eating as long as he is pooping. He's gradually getting less shy now.

 

[JoesMum]

He sounds like he has a good enclosure He needs time and space now.

 

[Greg T]

He sounds like he has a good enclosure He needs time and space now.

I agree. You are giving him what he needs and it all sounds very good. As long as he poops, he is eating. It could be that he grazes enough during the day that he doesn't eat much of what you put out there for him.