Very worried - just not eating!

vwstarbug · 25-08-2006, 09:15 PM

Worried about my tort. Just not eating anything. Putting weeds down for her and just ignoring them. Really worried because hasn't ate anything for a few weeks. Just won't have anything! I'm at my wits end. Worried about hibernation. Regularly batheing her. Moving about ok. Seems alert and clean (ir no runny nose, etc). Someone please help!! She is a Hermanns

Jeremiah · 25-08-2006, 09:22 PM

Hi there,
How long have you had her? Is she indoors or out? Where did you get her (breeder or petshop). Is she housed wiith any other tortoise. Have you recently changed her diet? Just a few questions to help us figure out whats going on with her?
Louise

SCiARA · 25-08-2006, 09:23 PM

hiya

how long have you had her for and where did you get her from?
(guessing its a her!

)

vwstarbug · 25-08-2006, 09:27 PM

OK I've had her 2 months from my Aunty who had her for 29 years. Fed on lettuce, apples and pears! Now I know that's not good so here I am trying to do the right thing to re-educate her on what she should be eating but it just isn't happening. She has always lived outdoors. I considered making an indoor space for her with heating but decided not to when I spoke to my Aunty who said she had always been outdoors.

SCiARA · 25-08-2006, 09:38 PM

wow a stubborn little thing!

I'm sure I read a post where someone was going through the same thing the reply was to just keep at it as they wont starve themselves and perseverance is the key.

maybe a way to persuade her might be to have a small amount of lettuce amongst weeds? and did I also read somewhere that a tiny amount of strawberry water on weeds might help?

saucysqueezy · 25-08-2006, 09:45 PM

I woulnd't worry they won't starve they will eat eventually! it's cruel to be kind I guess and it's like us - if we're happily used to eating something and then have something shoved in ouor faces we'll turn away until we have to eat!

sandy · 25-08-2006, 10:09 PM

If I were you so you both dont stress<g> is mix in the wrong foods with the good ones. Then
lesson the amount of wrong foods, and put more of the good ones in. Untill he/she is eating
only good foods.
I had one male that went cold turkey as I refused to feed him wrong foods, it took three months
of me not seeing him eat.
But others I have mixed the foods.

sandy · 25-08-2006, 10:10 PM

I forgot to say, maybe a feacal test needs doing, to check for worms.

vwstarbug · 25-08-2006, 11:26 PM

I'm so worrying about hibernation as well though

sandy · 26-08-2006, 09:34 AM

We all worry about hibernation, its normal. But most know that this is the best thing for them.
If your tortoise has been hibernated before, then you probably wont have a choice<g> as they
will go into windown themselves. All of my adults do. Some just take longer than others.
There will be lots of keepers here to help you and themselves through the hibernation thing.
www.thetortoisehouse.com will give you step by step instructions on how to do it too.

25-08-2006, 09:15 PM	#1
vwstarbug Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dudley, West Midlands Posts: 42	Very worried - just not eating! Worried about my tort. Just not eating anything. Putting weeds down for her and just ignoring them. Really worried because hasn't ate anything for a few weeks. Just won't have anything! I'm at my wits end. Worried about hibernation. Regularly batheing her. Moving about ok. Seems alert and clean (ir no runny nose, etc). Someone please help!! She is a Hermanns __________________ Smoke me a kipper.....I'll be back for breakfast!!!

25-08-2006, 09:22 PM	#2
Jeremiah Member Egg Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wexford, Ireland Posts: 69	Hi there, How long have you had her? Is she indoors or out? Where did you get her (breeder or petshop). Is she housed wiith any other tortoise. Have you recently changed her diet? Just a few questions to help us figure out whats going on with her? Louise __________________ 1.1.0 Hermanns 0.0.1 Sulcata 0.0.1 Spur thighed http://www.madeforanangel.etsy.com

25-08-2006, 09:23 PM	#3
SCiARA Member Incubating Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Romford, Essex Posts: 181	hiya how long have you had her for and where did you get her from? (guessing its a her! ) __________________ Barry 3 female Hermanni Boettgeri 2 5yr & 1 6yr olds

25-08-2006, 09:27 PM	#4
vwstarbug Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dudley, West Midlands Posts: 42	OK I've had her 2 months from my Aunty who had her for 29 years. Fed on lettuce, apples and pears! Now I know that's not good so here I am trying to do the right thing to re-educate her on what she should be eating but it just isn't happening. She has always lived outdoors. I considered making an indoor space for her with heating but decided not to when I spoke to my Aunty who said she had always been outdoors. __________________ Smoke me a kipper.....I'll be back for breakfast!!!

25-08-2006, 09:38 PM	#5
SCiARA Member Incubating Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Romford, Essex Posts: 181	wow a stubborn little thing! I'm sure I read a post where someone was going through the same thing the reply was to just keep at it as they wont starve themselves and perseverance is the key. maybe a way to persuade her might be to have a small amount of lettuce amongst weeds? and did I also read somewhere that a tiny amount of strawberry water on weeds might help? __________________ Barry 3 female Hermanni Boettgeri 2 5yr & 1 6yr olds

25-08-2006, 09:45 PM	#6
saucysqueezy Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 166	I woulnd't worry they won't starve they will eat eventually! it's cruel to be kind I guess and it's like us - if we're happily used to eating something and then have something shoved in ouor faces we'll turn away until we have to eat! __________________

25-08-2006, 10:09 PM	#7
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	If I were you so you both dont stress<g> is mix in the wrong foods with the good ones. Then lesson the amount of wrong foods, and put more of the good ones in. Untill he/she is eating only good foods. I had one male that went cold turkey as I refused to feed him wrong foods, it took three months of me not seeing him eat. But others I have mixed the foods. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

25-08-2006, 10:10 PM	#8
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	I forgot to say, maybe a feacal test needs doing, to check for worms. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

25-08-2006, 11:26 PM	#9
vwstarbug Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dudley, West Midlands Posts: 42	I'm so worrying about hibernation as well though __________________ Smoke me a kipper.....I'll be back for breakfast!!!

26-08-2006, 09:34 AM	#10
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	We all worry about hibernation, its normal. But most know that this is the best thing for them. If your tortoise has been hibernated before, then you probably wont have a choice<g> as they will go into windown themselves. All of my adults do. Some just take longer than others. There will be lots of keepers here to help you and themselves through the hibernation thing. www.thetortoisehouse.com will give you step by step instructions on how to do it too. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

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