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).

 

[CaggyQ]

Look at what arrived today (slippers not included 😉)! I decided not to bother him this morning with a bath, and will just set up his new enclosure and introduce him to it this evening (with your advice firmly in mind). Do you think, if he’s upset, this will upset him more? I don’t want to add to his stress, but this little dude is about to experience the full delights his new home has to offer. 😂

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Look at what arrived today (slippers not included 😉)! I decided not to bother him this morning with a bath, and will just set up his new enclosure and introduce him to it this evening (with your advice firmly in mind). Do you think, if he’s upset, this will upset him more? I don’t want to add to his stress, but this little dude is about to experience the full delights his new home has to offer. 😂

View attachment 375819

Yay! Goodies!
I would offer him a test-drive of the new enclosure. If he will settle in nicely from the first try - fine. If not, take him back in 15-30 minutes.

 

[CaggyQ]

Yay! Goodies!
I would offer him a test-drive of the new enclosure. If he will settle in nicely from the first try - fine. If not, take him back in 15-30 minutes.

Will do! In the process of being a builder. Will keep you all updated 😎

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Yay awesome! Alex’s advice sounds good here, keep us posted🥰

 

[CaggyQ]

Have you all any suggestions of how I could set up the T5? Here’s the set up for the basking side. The basking lamp still is the UV one I bought earlier. I’m planning to get another light stand so I can close the lid, but in the meantime Yoshi is getting impatient! The T5 is lovely and runs the length of the enclosure. I could buy a stand for it, but I was also thinking of drilling it in to the back (but the reflector may send the UV in the wrong direction then! 😵‍💫

 

[CaggyQ]

Sorry forgot to post the pics!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Sorry forgot to post the pics!

1. Whoa, that's a long tube!
2. If you plan to use a greenhouse top, then just hang the tube from a central bar of greenhouse frame.
3. Don't use UVB-emitting bulb and T5 UVB lamp at the same time - UVB strength is additive (just like two usual lamps giving a brighter light).

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I’m just noticing on the box it’s the 6% and not the 12%, is there a reason they sent you that one and not the 12?

I’d switch that uv basking bulb to a floodlight(example attached)before using the new uv

To mount it, I’d get a piece of timber wood the same length, screw some hooks into it, then on the opposite side, screw the metal clips that come with the kit, then clip the reflector into it. Then you could use chains(you can find them cheap on rolls I believe) to hang onto the hooks, that hang from either a handmade stand or store brought, kind of like the ones pictured below. Hang it more over the basking side👍

You can adjust to the height needed, I’m not sure what to suggest it be for the 6% as I always recommend the 12%, but maybe @Alex and the Redfoot can help🙂
As he suggests, if using a topper you could use the frame of that

 

[CaggyQ]

It’s amazing how panic makes you buy giant bulbs 😂

Oh those visuals are soooo useful! I’m going to become a proper DIY expert now 😂 I’ll get this sorted tomorrow. Thank you so so much.

I’m not sure why they opted for the 6%. Perhaps it was because of the bulb length?

@Alex and the Redfoot Would you have any visual examples of the greenhouse top? So sorry for all of the questions again 😅

In the meantime, can I use the UV basking bulb as pictured? I didn’t realise the light was addictive! 🙈

 

[CaggyQ]

I also saw something like this…