Hi everyone! I'm having trouble with a picky tort. I have a 15-year-old female Hermann's, Henrietta, living in a 4x8 (I think) open tortoise table with a heat/UV lamp in one corner, a big bathing and drinking dish, plants, dirt, rocks, etc. She's been super happy and healthy for the three years I've had her. I've been feeding her weeds I researched and picked outside along my property line, flowers and leaves I pick from my hibiscus plants, and various other things I grow in my garden for her. In the winter when nothing grows, I've gotten her organically grown dandelion leaves from the grocery store.
She ate everything I put in front of her until a few months ago, when my husband had to have a serious surgery and my sister took care of my tort for a week. I didn't have anything picked or prepared, so Henrietta just ate romaine lettuce from the store for that week - not a great choice, I know, but I figured we could just go back to normal afterward.
Now, she literally stomps on all of the healthy food I put down for her. I try day after day, but she refuses to eat it. It's summer here, so I've tried all of her old favorites from outside. When I get worried she's never going to eat again, I break down and give her lettuce; she eats it immediately, then goes to sit under her lamp, all happy. What gives? I'd worry she was sick if she didn't seem to have a great appetite for "junk food." Is this just a battle of wills? Should I wait it out, no matter how long it takes? Any help would be much appreciated!
She ate everything I put in front of her until a few months ago, when my husband had to have a serious surgery and my sister took care of my tort for a week. I didn't have anything picked or prepared, so Henrietta just ate romaine lettuce from the store for that week - not a great choice, I know, but I figured we could just go back to normal afterward.
Now, she literally stomps on all of the healthy food I put down for her. I try day after day, but she refuses to eat it. It's summer here, so I've tried all of her old favorites from outside. When I get worried she's never going to eat again, I break down and give her lettuce; she eats it immediately, then goes to sit under her lamp, all happy. What gives? I'd worry she was sick if she didn't seem to have a great appetite for "junk food." Is this just a battle of wills? Should I wait it out, no matter how long it takes? Any help would be much appreciated!