Julie Sanchez
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2015
- Messages
- 10
Hi everyone,
I have a baby russian tortoise that refuses any food. We got him on Friday and he hasn't eaten since Saturday morning. (I fed him spring mix sprinkled with tortoise hay).
I originally had a coil UVB bulb in his enclosure but then discovered that they can be dangerous, I removed the bulb and replaced with a 100W Mercury Vapor Bulb (both heat and UV). Lights are 12 inches from the substrate - enclosure is 24" by 54", indoor. The warm end stays around 85 and 90 degrees F, humidity is between 30 and 50% in the enclosure. There is another ceramic fixture toward the middle of the enclosure that has a regular (NOT UVB) bulb in it, per the breeders advice. I have given him 35 minute baths daily.
I have read lots of advice on the forum and I will try the baby food carrot bath for him. I am very afraid the use of that UVB coil bulb damaged him....any ideas on how to stimulate his appetite? Someone on here said you can feed them cilantro? I wonder if the strong scent would entice him?
THanks everyone!
I have a baby russian tortoise that refuses any food. We got him on Friday and he hasn't eaten since Saturday morning. (I fed him spring mix sprinkled with tortoise hay).
I originally had a coil UVB bulb in his enclosure but then discovered that they can be dangerous, I removed the bulb and replaced with a 100W Mercury Vapor Bulb (both heat and UV). Lights are 12 inches from the substrate - enclosure is 24" by 54", indoor. The warm end stays around 85 and 90 degrees F, humidity is between 30 and 50% in the enclosure. There is another ceramic fixture toward the middle of the enclosure that has a regular (NOT UVB) bulb in it, per the breeders advice. I have given him 35 minute baths daily.
I have read lots of advice on the forum and I will try the baby food carrot bath for him. I am very afraid the use of that UVB coil bulb damaged him....any ideas on how to stimulate his appetite? Someone on here said you can feed them cilantro? I wonder if the strong scent would entice him?
THanks everyone!