Tortoise Not Eating!!

[Jweber1025]

Alright guys im new to this sight, I have read many things off here before I got my tortoise and when I got him. Grate sight love it all, lots of help.

So I ended up getting a 6inch Sulcata not even a week ago. Little dude was eating a bunch seemed happy, moving around a lot. Then all of the sudden (4days ago) he stopped eating. I was concerned at first and now as days go on im getting more concerned. This being the 4th day im starting to wonder how long a sulcata can go with out food?

I have owned many reptiles and I have a friend that is crazy reptile fanatic. My first thought with all this is to soak him make sure he is at least getting something into his system. Right now im to the point that he may be stressed so to leave him and offer him fresh food twice daily in case he wants to eat. Morning veggies, night time chopped fruit. All the temps are looking fine for him. He sprawls out under his heat lamp now.

I wasnt to concerned the first couple of days because he wasnt lethargic, still moving around and such. Now it seems as if he is getting more/ lethargic.

Any thing helps, if you guys have any information or any one that has had this problem please feel free to let me know.

 

[Yvonne G]

We hear this story over and over again with new tortoises and new keepers. The only thing we can offer you is to double check the temperatures (the usual cause of not eating is the tortoise isn't warm enough), soak him in warm water daily for 15 minutes, and give him some time to acclimate. I have no idea whey they always seem to be ok for the first couple days, then slowly stop eating and get lethargic. Very common story, but we don't usually get feed back telling us what was done to get the tortoise better. Either that, or they tell us the tortoise died.

 

[Jweber1025]

So the basking temp is hitting 90's and the cool side is 80's from what I read that should be good correct? I have read many of these same post but nothing exactly like mine. I figured soaking him was good so I will keep doing that in warm water.

 

[Jweber1025]

Ok so the last thing he ate was a meal with flower peddles and *flower stem.* So the "food" they put in flower water might be the cause?
So im thinking flush it out? do the 15 min soaks in warm water, and I have read that pumpkin is a good treat and clear bacteria? is this true? and if pumpkin isnt available what els?
Im guessing this isnt the cause of stress other wise it would have hit sooner?
Any other ideas on this as to what to do?

 

[wellington]

Flowers purchase from a florist is not tortoise safe. If I read your last post correctly, that is what you are feeding him, correct?

 

[CrystalsFamily]

I am one of those Yvonne references (see thread "worried about inactive tortoise" if you want many many details). Our tortoise is a Russian, and he had an initial adjustment of not eating much for a few days, then did well for a week and a half, now hasn't really eaten for 11 days. First thought it was temps, warmed them up and he perked up a bit but then flagged again. This week he was seen by a vet who found pinworm (intestinal parasite) and treated for that. We're waiting to see if that will help (may not have been causing symptoms as there's some controversy as to whether pinworm is natural for them). And after that, not sure what we can really do. But I learned that they can live a long time without food (like many months), so there's time to figure it out or for him to recover.

My advice: Don't get as caught up in every detail as I was (drove myself, and maybe the forum, nuts). Consider a vet who has seen reptiles, and bring a stool sample.

 

[Jweber1025]

CrystalsFamily!
Thank you very much that helps me a lot. I think I found the problem and I plan on pretty much flushing it out. I hope he comes to be ok. I will check out that other thread!
Thanks to Yvonne as well. i will post back if all goes will or doesnt will see what happens.

 

[Jweber1025]

Just want to follow up with everyone on this page & for any others looking for help. I left for vacation last sunday 3 day trip left my sulcata with a friend, he ended up pooping 3 times. This was grate news! Periods of soaking seemed to work 1-2 times per day seemed as if he was drinking a tun of water with the soaks. I completely left him alone and undisturbed over this time despite the soaking periods. from the poops it seems as if he is eating, I assume mostly hay or grasses. I have yet to catch him eating food. Plus side he is still alive and improving.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Jweber1025]

Seems as if he is back to not eating again. Now I am afraid he has/ had URI I am looking for any cures or recommendations any of you would have for this. Basking is 90/ 90+ and cool side is 80/ 80+ What kind of home remedies do you all have or what exactly kind of vet care would I need. He does have symptoms, wheezing, clicking & foaming. Have any of you had experience with baytril (enrofloxacin) injection/ orally?

Any information will help.

 

[Yvonne G]

I would much rather use Baytril orally than injecting it, as it is quite painful when injected. The antibiotic can be used either way. Another thing is to mix it 9 parts sterile saline to 1 part Baytril and use it as a nasal flush.

 

[Jweber1025]

Ok that seems to be what i have been reading. Any Idea where i can pick up baytril &sterile saline? how exactly would I administer this orally? force feeding a tortoise has always concerned me.

 

[Yvonne G]

It's always the best idea to get it from your vet. Baytril comes in different strengths and for us to give out dosages here on the forum, we might poison your tortoise if you don't have the same strength as what we're dosing.

You can draw it up into a syringe and then squirt it into a piece of fruit or something you can pop whole into your tortoise's mouth. Or you can take it into a dropper and squirt it on the back of the tongue.

PLEASE, MEMBERS - DO NOT GIVE OUT DOSAGES OF MEDICATIONS ON THE FORUM!

 

[Jweber1025]

have you herd of an F10 product? something about this used with a fogger

I 100% understand not giving out dosage thank you!