Please help me!!

[Adão]

I have a Leopard Tortoise since August 29th, but since then she didn't eat anything at all! I gave her hibiscus flowers, dandelion, rocket plant, watercress...
The temperature of the enclosure is on the warmer side 90 degrees Fahrenheit and on the cold one 70 degrees.
Please help me I dunno what else to do and I'm really worried for my friend.

 

[mctlong]

Is your leopard an adult or a hatchling? It sometimes takes tortoises time to adjust to their new environment. They may not eat for days.

An adult can go weeks without food and still be okay. The situation is different with a hatchling.

 

[Adão]

It is a baby... It´s probably one year old.

 

[Greg T]

If you have some green lettuce, try some of that. It could be a few things causing this, like the change in environment, shock from shipping, or you are providing the same food it is used to. Torts are not big on change, so it does take some time to adjust. Your temperatures are good, so just make sure you have food available and water. You should also soak him in a little water each day to help with hydration.

Let us know how it is going.

 

[mctlong]

Its the 31st, so its been 2 days without food? Is that correct? I understand your concern. I don't think its time to worry yet, he may just be stressed from all the changes associated with his new home. Do you know what his previous owner was feeding him?

Does he have any other symptoms, such as a runny/bubbly nose or trouble breathing?

Keep soaking him daily. Soaking may get his digestive system moving and make him hungry. If he's still not eating within a week or if he has any other symptoms of concern, take him to a vet.

 

[Adão]

I thought that green lettuce was really bad for them :/ I read it but i can´t remember where. I soak him yesterday but I will do the same today, so it's OK to soak him everyday is that it?

 

[Tom]

Your temps are too cool. 90 is fine for the warmer side, but make sure you have a basking spot near 100. 70 is too cool on the cool side. Keep it around 80 over there day and night. Have you been soaking. Some shallow warm water soaks might help. How about lighting? Are you using normal daylight bulbs. No colored special reptile basking bulbs, or anything. Are you using one of those coil type fluorescent UV bulbs? What about outside time? Do you have a suitable outdoor enclosure for your little one to get some sun? Often the sunshine and being outdoors will make them feel better and stimulate their appetite.

 

[mctlong]

I soak him yesterday but I will do the same today, so it's OK to soak him everyday is that it?

Yes, daily.

 

[Adão]

Its the 31st, so its been 2 days without food? Is that correct? I understand your concern. I don't think its time to worry yet, he may just be stressed from all the changes associated with his new home. Do you know what his previous owner was feeding him?

Does he have any other symptoms, such as a runny/bubbly nose or trouble breathing?

Keep soaking him daily. Soaking may get his digestive system moving and make him hungry. If he's still not eating within a week or if he has any other symptoms of concern, take him to a vet.

That is correct 2 days that I have him. Those symptoms he doesn't have he just seems shy and low in activity. OK I will soak him right now.

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Your temps are too cool. 90 is fine for the warmer side, but make sure you have a basking spot near 100. 70 is too cool on the cool side. Keep it around 80 over there day and night. Have you been soaking. Some shallow warm water soaks might help. How about lighting? Are you using normal daylight bulbs. No colored special reptile basking bulbs, or anything. Are you using one of those coil type fluorescent UV bulbs? What about outside time? Do you have a suitable outdoor enclosure for your little one to get some sun? Often the sunshine and being outdoors will make them feel better and stimulate their appetite.

I thought that 100 was to hot for him. :/ I will change the temperature then to see the result. The outside enclosure I'm still on the process on building it. Isn't to many changes right away? I mean is inside and then I will change him outdoors but before night he must return inside... You know what a mean?

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Just one question to soak him do I need to touch him or just leave him there?

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I soak him yesterday but I will do the same today, so it's OK to soak him everyday is that it?

Yes, daily.

Just one question to soak him do I need to touch him or just leave him there?

Read more: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/newreply.php?tid=54195&pid=519604#ixzz258Hj39qk

 

[Neal]

2 days might be a little early to see him eat very much, but you should see at least some activity from him if he is a good healthy tortoise.

I agree that the first thing you need to do is bump up your temperatures about 10 degrees on both ends if he is a hatchling. 100 for a high and about 80 for a low. If the tortoise is kept too cool, he won't want to eat. To soak him, you will need to actually pick him up and place him in a tub of water. You could leave a water dish out for him, but if you don't ever observe him drinking it would be a good idea to force soak him.

 

[Tom]

I dont mean to make the entire enclosure 100. Just one spot directly under the basking bulb. This way your tortoise can choose to warm up or move away from the heat source and regulate his own temperature. They like to keep their body temperature similar to ours during their daily active times, so a 90 degree hot spot might not be warm enough. Our temp is regulated from within, but the reptiles must move in and out of warm areas to regulate theirs. If 90 is the hottest spot in the whole enclosure, he might not feel warm enough. Real sunshine is the best way to let them warm up.

 

[mctlong]

Just one question to soak him do I need to touch him or just leave him there?

Get a bowl, fill it with luke-warm water until it reaches about the bottom of Charlie's chin. Leave Charlie in the water for about 20 minutes or until he poops. You do not need to touch him while he's soaking, just leave him in the water.

 

[Adão]

Just one question to soak him do I need to touch him or just leave him there?

Get a bowl, fill it with luke-warm water until it reaches about the bottom of Charlie's chin. Leave Charlie in the water for about 20 minutes or until he poops. You do not need to touch him while he's soaking, just leave him in the water.

I did that this afternoon and he pooped a bit, i left him there for about 15 minutes then back to his enclosure I left him food I when I return home from work it seems that he ate some carrot not 100 % sure but I left more there... So that could be good news
And now he is sleeping under the heat lamp :/ is that normal? Is pretty hot there 110 degrees... :O

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I dont mean to make the entire enclosure 100. Just one spot directly under the basking bulb. This way your tortoise can choose to warm up or move away from the heat source and regulate his own temperature. They like to keep their body temperature similar to ours during their daily active times, so a 90 degree hot spot might not be warm enough. Our temp is regulated from within, but the reptiles must move in and out of warm areas to regulate theirs. If 90 is the hottest spot in the whole enclosure, he might not feel warm enough. Real sunshine is the best way to let them warm up.

Well to do that I need to buy another heat lamp the enclosure is kind of big for one lamp...

 

[Adão]

My Charlie ate his food this night I'm so happy I was getting really worried...
Thanks so much for your help

 

[Julius25]

good news cool

 

[Adão]

Good news indeed Thanks