Reduced tortoise appetite

[CaggyQ]

Hi everyone,

Another day… another update!

I’m back to full health, but unfortunately Yoshi is still out himself. I bought him the UV long bulb and T5 setup, the thermostat, the ceramic heat bulb and some prickly pear cactus. All of this should be arriving on Monday/Tuesday (the wait is horrible). Yoshi is not eating well at all (since last Thursday, he’s ate one lettuce leaf and two dandelions).

I’ve lowered the wattage of the basking bulb in the viv to 75 watt, have been bathing him every three days and have been constantly changing his food. I feel so at a loss and so incredibly worried! The vet said he was stressed, but even with my minimal contact he’s not showing much desire to be active.

This is like a horrible, never-ending story 🙈 as soon as the lights are delivered he’ll be back into his brand new enclosure. I’m worried that’ll even stress him out.

Attached a picture of him today. In my head he looks so sad!

Any ideas would be greatly welcomed.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hi everyone,

Another day… another update!

I’m back to full health, but unfortunately Yoshi is still out himself. I bought him the UV long bulb and T5 setup, the thermostat, the ceramic heat bulb and some prickly pear cactus. All of this should be arriving on Monday/Tuesday (the wait is horrible). Yoshi is not eating well at all (since last Thursday, he’s ate one lettuce leaf and two dandelions).

I’ve lowered the wattage of the basking bulb in the viv to 75 watt, have been bathing him every three days and have been constantly changing his food. I feel so at a loss and so incredibly worried! The vet said he was stressed, but even with my minimal contact he’s not showing much desire to be active.

This is like a horrible, never-ending story 🙈 as soon as the lights are delivered he’ll be back into his brand new enclosure. I’m worried that’ll even stress him out.

Attached a picture of him today. In my head he looks so sad!

Any ideas would be greatly welcomed.

Hi!

I understand why you are worried. If my tortoise would stop eating - I would ring all the bells.

What are temperatures with the new basking lamp? Nighttime low, basking area, cold part during the day.

If he had any poops how do they look like?

Did you try offering him squash or zucchini/marrow? Of any other "tempting" foods like radicchio?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hello! I’m glad you’re feeling better!

Sorry Yoshi is still running you ragged😣
If you could let us know how your current temps are and if he’s been pooping?

 

[CaggyQ]

Hi team,

Sorry for the delay. I walked in to check his temps with the gun, saw he was out basking after eating another dandelion so I ran out of the room again 😂

Temperature is between 36-37 degrees Celsius. He is going to the toilet, but not in huge quantities. The vet says that’s because of his lack of food; he has no obstruction thankfully.

He absolutely adores radicchio, but I’m finding them hard to source in Ireland (apart from those Italian salad mixes). My stepdad is an organic gardener so he supplies me with a variety of greens which he usually loves, but he’s no longer that interested. I have never thought of enticing him with a zucchini though… I’m going to call to the market in the morning to get one! I’ll also chop up some fresh squash too. He loves that.

I’ve started to grow dandelions but they’re not showing any signs of life yet. But I did get a few tortoise friendly flowers at the market this morning but he just marched through them. 🙄

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Temperature is between 36-37 degrees Celsius. He is going to the toilet, but not in huge quantities. The vet says that’s because of his lack of food; he has no obstruction thankfully.

Sorry to be a pain, but are those readings just directly under the bulb? That’s a perfect basking temperature reading, but I’m thinking if you mean that’s his all over temp, that would be too warm for an all over ambient, is the rest of the enclosure ranging 75-80f(24-26c) with the basking on? And are his night temps around 65f?(18c)

 

[CaggyQ]

Sorry to be a pain, but are those readings just directly under the bulb? That’s a perfect basking temperature reading, but I’m thinking if you mean that’s his all over temp, that would be too warm for an all over ambient, is the rest of the enclosure ranging 75-80f(24-26c) with the basking on? And are his night temps around 65f?(18c)

You are not being a pain at all! Honestly both you and @Alex and the Redfoot have been so supportive.

That’s just directly under the bulb. Cooler side is about 24.5c. He hasn’t even left his cave at all today!

Waiting desperately for the new lights to arrive just in case he’s feeling psychological stress being in a smaller enclosure. I put in some extra food today but I haven’t been able to entice him out for a wander. He’s definitely an unhappy tortoise at the moment.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

That doesn't sound right.
Can you rise nighttime temperature to 27-28?
I forgot if you have ambient light in the enclosure.. Can you adjust basking lamp and ambient lights timers to 14 hours?

 

[CaggyQ]

That doesn't sound right.
Can you rise nighttime temperature to 27-28?
I forgot if you have ambient light in the enclosure.. Can you adjust basking lamp and ambient lights timers to 14 hours?

Hi Alex,

I could - do you think it’s too cold currently? I have a 100w basking bulb but I thought that the over all enclosure was overheating, hence the reduction.

I actually don’t have any ambient lights at the moment. Just the UV tube and the basking bulb in the vivarium. I have a thermostat that’s coming in the post to regulate both the daytime and night time temperatures, and I’ll be able to set a timer with that.

(His new home should be properly set up either tomorrow or the day after… whenever this delivery arrives!)

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

That doesn't sound right.
Can you rise nighttime temperature to 27-28?
I forgot if you have ambient light in the enclosure.. Can you adjust basking lamp and ambient lights timers to 14 hours?

Out of curiosity, which bit is throwing you? Do you think she needs to raise temps due to inactivity? Those suggestions sounded a little high for night heat, but I always trust your judgement Alex. Let’s wait to see what he says🙂

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hi Alex,

I could - do you think it’s too cold currently? I have a 100w basking bulb but I thought that the over all enclosure was overheating, hence the reduction.

I actually don’t have any ambient lights at the moment. Just the UV tube and the basking bulb in the vivarium. I have a thermostat that’s coming in the post to regulate both the daytime and night time temperatures, and I’ll be able to set a timer with that.

(His new home should be properly set up either tomorrow or the day after… whenever this delivery arrives!)

I have two crazy (or not so) ideas:
1. He might heat "pre brumation" mode because of low temperatures. Increasing photo period to 14 hours may kick him out back to "yo, man, it's summer" mood.
2. He is sick and raising nighttime ambient could perk him up and boost immune system.

With your current setup both aren't doable, as I understand. So don't rush, wait for delivery and set things right in the enclosure.

The third idea is that he is confused with all the commotion and vet visits so we just need to leave poor guy alone for a couple days (of course, with feeding and other routines staying the same).