Not Feeding enough

vwstarbug · 08-07-2006, 10:45 PM

My tortoise (hermanns) doesn't seem to be eating as much as I thought she should be. I put her a variety of weeds but to be honest she has been given the wrong things to eat for most of her life (by her previous owner, not me) ie. pears, bananas, lettuce, etc. I think she's used to having all that sort of stuff that she's not keen on the weeds, etc. Can anyone advise me?

michaela · 08-07-2006, 10:56 PM

how long have you had your tortoise some take a little while to adjust.

Becks · 08-07-2006, 11:00 PM

hi there cool name btw
i take it u have not had your tort very long if it has been fed a poor diet it will take a while for it to adjust .
keep with it and just bath her/him every day and keep an eye on her /his weight.
within time he/she will come around .. be strong and dont give in ...
luv becks xxxxxxxxx

**Eire_Ade** · 08-07-2006, 11:09 PM

Hi VW Star Bug,

Welcome to this forum.

Becks is right perserverence is the key, you will win in the end by keeping with the weeds only diet. In the mean time make sure you keep your tortoise hydrated by bathing regularly.

There was another post on here very recently with a similar question and the owner thought it would be a long drawn out process coverting from bad food stuffs to weeds but to her delight was working within 1 week. Just stay firm and it will and does work, try not to worry tortoises can last a good while without food like they do in the wild, water is the most imoprtant thing during this conversion process to a healthy diet.

Ade

Henry-flash · 08-07-2006, 11:18 PM

yes persevere. It took one of mine 3 weeks to start eating weeds but he eats nothing else now he hasnt looked back.

Tracy · 11-07-2006, 08:27 PM

Same thing keep going with the weeds & one day she'll surprise you, she just doesn't know what shes missing yet

veebee · 11-07-2006, 11:33 PM

I had the same problem with my horsefield, his last owners fed him chips and hobnobs!! as well as brocoli and cauliflower!!!
I was advised to persevere, it took six weeks before he eventually ate a dandelion leaf, now he eats weeds all the time. But I must admit he eats 100% more when outside, that sun does absolute wonders to them and their appetite.

Vivienne

vwstarbug · 12-07-2006, 09:51 PM

So shall I literally just sit there with a dandelion in my hand till she eats it? Is there a coaxing technique?

sandy · 12-07-2006, 09:58 PM

Dehydration is a bigger worry than feeding. No healthy tortoise will starve him/her self.
So please make sure you bathe at least once a day, this also will encourage feeding.
Make sure water is available all the time.

vwstarbug · 16-07-2006, 10:14 PM

Just to let you know I am still batheing my Flash once a day at least especially in this heatwave we are having. Still not having any weeds - but I am persevering. She is very active though. I will carry on trying to persuade her.

08-07-2006, 10:45 PM	#1
vwstarbug Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dudley, West Midlands Posts: 42	Not Feeding enough My tortoise (hermanns) doesn't seem to be eating as much as I thought she should be. I put her a variety of weeds but to be honest she has been given the wrong things to eat for most of her life (by her previous owner, not me) ie. pears, bananas, lettuce, etc. I think she's used to having all that sort of stuff that she's not keen on the weeds, etc. Can anyone advise me? __________________ Smoke me a kipper.....I'll be back for breakfast!!!

08-07-2006, 10:56 PM	#2
michaela Member Incubating Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 107	how long have you had your tortoise some take a little while to adjust. __________________

08-07-2006, 11:00 PM	#3
Becks Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset UK Posts: 4,035	hi there cool name btw i take it u have not had your tort very long if it has been fed a poor diet it will take a while for it to adjust . keep with it and just bath her/him every day and keep an eye on her /his weight. within time he/she will come around .. be strong and dont give in ... luv becks xxxxxxxxx __________________ horsfields ,redfoots ,southern and northan morrocans, map turtle . http://www.redfoottortoiseplace.piczo.com

08-07-2006, 11:09 PM	#4
Eire_Ade Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8,422	Hi VW Star Bug, Welcome to this forum. Becks is right perserverence is the key, you will win in the end by keeping with the weeds only diet. In the mean time make sure you keep your tortoise hydrated by bathing regularly. There was another post on here very recently with a similar question and the owner thought it would be a long drawn out process coverting from bad food stuffs to weeds but to her delight was working within 1 week. Just stay firm and it will and does work, try not to worry tortoises can last a good while without food like they do in the wild, water is the most imoprtant thing during this conversion process to a healthy diet. Ade __________________ Ade ----------------------------------------------- Y.O.B 1971 (40 years young! ) My Tortoises :- Dug (Testudo Graeca Ibera Terrestris (Syrian), Penny, JJ (JennyJack), Buttons and Gem (Testudo Graeca Ibera)

08-07-2006, 11:18 PM	#5
Henry-flash Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 9,304	yes persevere. It took one of mine 3 weeks to start eating weeds but he eats nothing else now he hasnt looked back. __________________ Peter Keeping: Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca (graeca & ibera ), Testudo horsfieldi, Astrochelys radiata, Malacochersus tornieri and Kinixys belliana. The North West Tortoise Group

11-07-2006, 08:27 PM	#6
Tracy Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hampshire Posts: 214	Same thing keep going with the weeds & one day she'll surprise you, she just doesn't know what shes missing yet

11-07-2006, 11:33 PM	#7
veebee Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Birmingham Posts: 1,109	I had the same problem with my horsefield, his last owners fed him chips and hobnobs!! as well as brocoli and cauliflower!!! I was advised to persevere, it took six weeks before he eventually ate a dandelion leaf, now he eats weeds all the time. But I must admit he eats 100% more when outside, that sun does absolute wonders to them and their appetite. Vivienne

12-07-2006, 09:51 PM	#8
vwstarbug Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dudley, West Midlands Posts: 42	So shall I literally just sit there with a dandelion in my hand till she eats it? Is there a coaxing technique? __________________ Smoke me a kipper.....I'll be back for breakfast!!!

12-07-2006, 09:58 PM	#9
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Dehydration is a bigger worry than feeding. No healthy tortoise will starve him/her self. So please make sure you bathe at least once a day, this also will encourage feeding. Make sure water is available all the time. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

16-07-2006, 10:14 PM	#10
vwstarbug Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dudley, West Midlands Posts: 42	Just to let you know I am still batheing my Flash once a day at least especially in this heatwave we are having. Still not having any weeds - but I am persevering. She is very active though. I will carry on trying to persuade her. __________________ Smoke me a kipper.....I'll be back for breakfast!!!

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