Healthy tortoise not eating. Help please!
 

Our Horsefield tortoise was a regular eater (about six times a week) until mid-May. I live in Southern England. Then his eating went down to about three times a week and he has now not eaten at all for three weeks. I have taken him to two vets, one a specialist reptile vet, and both have said that they do not think he is ill. The reptile vet got some food into him and gave me Reptoboost to bathe him in. The vet said the problem may be behavioural and possibly linked to the urge to breed. In every way, out tortoise appears healthy and lively - walking around the garden at good speed. I've tried to tempt him with all sorts of foods but nothing works. Does anyone have experience of a healthy tortoise that just stopped eating?

Perhaps he is eating things in the garden?
And tortoises dont have to eat every day, thats a human thing. They can go weeks without food, but not water.
They also in the wild eat seasonal things, rather than the same foods:0)

I see your previous posts have all been about his eating habits since you rehomed him TessaRuth. It’s definitely something you’ve been worrying about a lot, I can see.
I think that if he’s not losing weight and he’s not lethargic, you should try not to worry quite so much. Their appetites alter with temperature changes and all sorts of things. I have some torts who wait patiently for their food and gobble it immediately and others who ignore it and go to it in their own good time.
Bathing in Reptoboost is fine and might kick-start his appetite, but as Sandy says, hydration in the important factor so if he’s drinking and there’s no signs of dehydration I’m sure he’s just being a little pernickety.
It’s amazing how these little creatures can make us worry. How did you get on changing his diet from what his previous owners gave him? Does he enjoy weeds and flowers?
Hopefully he is eating in the garden without you realising it and you’ll spot what he is going for.
Let us know how things go.

No, I'm sure he's not eating outside and I had already considered that. To test the theory, I kept him inside for a few days and he still didn't eat. He has lost about 50g in weight since this started. I know I'm worrying but the fact is animals don't just stop eating without a reason. I am making sure that he drinks. I just wondered whether others had had the same experience.

Hello Sandy and Emma, I just thought I'd update you. I spoke to the specialist reptile vet again this morning and have supplied a sample in case it's parasites. However, the vet says that it is quite common for a male tortoise's lust for a lady to overcome his instinct to eat. He's advised that, as my tortoise is still active and lively, that we just hang on for a while before panicking. Easy to say!! Still, if you ask a professional for advice, then you have to follow it. Thank you for your interest.

It’s difficult not to worry I know but thanks for the update.
I’ve never experienced this with any of my males so that’s a new one for me. I’ve experienced females losing their appetite when gravid but never a male when he’s looking for some female company. We live and learn.
Really hope he starts to eat more regularly soon for you.
Checking for parasites is always an idea if only to eliminate it.

I dont keep horsfields but ibera. My male when after the females can go days without eating. Its the females that stuff their faces:0)
If he is active then he will lose weight, if he does not eat.
How much does he actually weigh?

When he arrived last August, he weighed 823g. His weight gradually rose to when he went into hibernation at 871g. He came out at about the same weight which then rose to 880g in May. He's now gone down to 835g. :( You can see why I'm worrying. How long, Sandy, do your girls go without food?

They can go up to a week or so without food:0)
It might seem that 45grms seems a lot, but its not in an adult tortoise. Activity will keep them trim:0)
I do find with my male, his weight tends to stay the same, rarely puts on weight. As males move around a lot more than females.
Also if you have only had him since last August, he is still settling in. I would only worry if he is lethargic, or has a runny nose or affected eyes. These are the signs of an unhealthy tortoise.
Also check his stools, so he does not have an over load of worms. Tortoises carry worms, but if they get over loaded then it can affect eating.
Other than that, try not to stress over the eating, as long as he has water available and food he should be fine, especially after a visit to a vet:0)
What sort of diet are you feeding him?

Quick question : are you certain this tort is a male? 880 grams for a male hf is huge! Much more a typical female weight.