not eating

Horace2 · 26-03-2012, 01:31 PM

Horace is loving this weather. He is outside and all over the place. he looks great, is well, but has not eat much for 5 days now. Horace love's his pellets but now will not eat them. Horace had a bath yesterday and did both

Horace as never liked weeds. I have payed loads of money over the 3 years I have had him, on weeds, a green house to grow them

will only now and again eat them.
Would love some advice of you guys.

Catwoman63 · 26-03-2012, 02:57 PM

When i put my lot outside lately they havent been eating much, graze a bit but not alot, think they too busy exploring, as long as horace is eating small amounts every day i wouldnt worry too much, x

Catwoman63 · 26-03-2012, 02:59 PM

Oh apart from the hatchling who would gorge himself silly if he had loads of plants in his pen, so i put a tray in then remove it after a bit otherwise he'd scoff the lot ha ha x

JoesMum · 26-03-2012, 03:27 PM

It sounds like Horace has become a practiced manipulator. Think fussy kids wanting sweets and not their greens. It's not that he doesn't like weeds, but he knows that if he holds out he'll get other stuff!

Joe still keeps trying it on from time to time, even now!

If he's not eating properly and you don't see him drinking, then soak him daily for the time being to ensure hydration. Twenty minutes in warm water in a high sided box where he can't escape... do it in the morning before he's properly warmed up. Then feed him straight after... Joe eats most straight after he's toileted

Horace will eat when he's hungry and, if only nice healthy weeds are available, he will give in and eat those. It will hurt you more than it hurts him to make him see things your way! It may take a week or two, be warned!

EJ · 26-03-2012, 04:02 PM

The first factor you should consider whenever a tortoise stops eating is the temperature.

As long as the temperatures are 16C or better with the tortoise having access to full sunlight the tortoise should be behaving better than normal indoors.

What are the temperatures outside and does the tortoise have access to full sunlight?

Pelleted diets should not be looked at as a treat, sweets or junkfood. Most of the pellets that have been around for a long time have much better nutritional value than most green based diets that are provided in captivity... and in some cases... the wild. Unless you are providing a highly varied green diet... pellets are going to be your best source of nutrition.

shellonia · 26-03-2012, 10:36 PM

Mine aren't eating a great deal yet outside. It's only March and not really as warm for tortoises as you or I feel it is. If they can find an ideal basking spot and stay there and get really warm then mine eat in the early afternoon at the moment. The sun is still low and the ground takes some time to warm up.

Robster · 26-03-2012, 10:43 PM

I am currently having similar issues

JoesMum · 27-03-2012, 06:58 AM

I think the key to outside eating is not to put them out too early. At the moment, Joe doesn't go out until about 11am when he's properly warmed up.

I put him straight in his cold frame which is in full sun (through the door, not the lid so the heat doesn't escape) and when he's ready, he trundles out.

If I think he's gone to ground somewhere too cool, I'll move him back into his frame

Catwoman63 · 27-03-2012, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shellonia

Mine aren't eating a great deal yet outside. It's only March and not really as warm for tortoises as you or I feel it is. If they can find an ideal basking spot and stay there and get really warm then mine eat in the early afternoon at the moment. The sun is still low and the ground takes some time to warm up.

I agree, it is only march and takes a while to warm up, mine walk around eat a bit bask a bit then go in their hutches by 5 because the sun is low and casts more of a shadow, when they are all inside their hutchs thats when i brjng them inside x

Horace2 · 27-03-2012, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catwoman63

Oh apart from the hatchling who would gorge himself silly if he had loads of plants in his pen, so i put a tray in then remove it after a bit otherwise he'd scoff the lot ha ha x

Thank you but Horace just will not eat. There is plenty of weeds to eat, which I know from having him 3 years he will not eat

What worries me is, he will not eat his pellets. Horace is up when I put his lights on at 7am. I have put him out the last few days at 10am. His nose is dry, his eyes are lovely. He looks great but the SOD will not eat

Looking at him he seems like a "little tank" outside, really loving the sun.

26-03-2012, 01:31 PM	#1
Horace2 Member Hatched Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 377	not eating Horace is loving this weather. He is outside and all over the place. he looks great, is well, but has not eat much for 5 days now. Horace love's his pellets but now will not eat them. Horace had a bath yesterday and did both Horace as never liked weeds. I have payed loads of money over the 3 years I have had him, on weeds, a green house to grow them will only now and again eat them. Would love some advice of you guys.

26-03-2012, 02:57 PM	#2
Catwoman63 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South East England Posts: 6,739	When i put my lot outside lately they havent been eating much, graze a bit but not alot, think they too busy exploring, as long as horace is eating small amounts every day i wouldnt worry too much, x __________________ BEV XXX 0.3.0 - T Horsfieldii (Xena, Zelda & Lilly) 2.2.0 - TG Terrestris (Zeus, Astreus / Zagreus & Alexia) 1.2.0 - Zebra Finches (Gunner / Bonnie & May) 0.1.0 - SBT (Hazel) 1.0.0 - FBD (Ted)

26-03-2012, 02:59 PM	#3
Catwoman63 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South East England Posts: 6,739	Oh apart from the hatchling who would gorge himself silly if he had loads of plants in his pen, so i put a tray in then remove it after a bit otherwise he'd scoff the lot ha ha x __________________ BEV XXX 0.3.0 - T Horsfieldii (Xena, Zelda & Lilly) 2.2.0 - TG Terrestris (Zeus, Astreus / Zagreus & Alexia) 1.2.0 - Zebra Finches (Gunner / Bonnie & May) 0.1.0 - SBT (Hazel) 1.0.0 - FBD (Ted)

26-03-2012, 03:27 PM	#4
JoesMum Member Hatchling Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Kent Posts: 717	It sounds like Horace has become a practiced manipulator. Think fussy kids wanting sweets and not their greens. It's not that he doesn't like weeds, but he knows that if he holds out he'll get other stuff! Joe still keeps trying it on from time to time, even now! If he's not eating properly and you don't see him drinking, then soak him daily for the time being to ensure hydration. Twenty minutes in warm water in a high sided box where he can't escape... do it in the morning before he's properly warmed up. Then feed him straight after... Joe eats most straight after he's toileted Horace will eat when he's hungry and, if only nice healthy weeds are available, he will give in and eat those. It will hurt you more than it hurts him to make him see things your way! It may take a week or two, be warned! __________________ 1.0.0 Testudo Graeca Graeca (Mediterranean Spur Thigh) raised from very small and approximately 50 years old.

26-03-2012, 04:02 PM	#5
EJ Senior Member Adult Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 8,277	The first factor you should consider whenever a tortoise stops eating is the temperature. As long as the temperatures are 16C or better with the tortoise having access to full sunlight the tortoise should be behaving better than normal indoors. What are the temperatures outside and does the tortoise have access to full sunlight? Pelleted diets should not be looked at as a treat, sweets or junkfood. Most of the pellets that have been around for a long time have much better nutritional value than most green based diets that are provided in captivity... and in some cases... the wild. Unless you are providing a highly varied green diet... pellets are going to be your best source of nutrition. __________________ Ed Tortoise Keerpers @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tortoise_Keepers and http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/284442591651347/ Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

26-03-2012, 10:36 PM	#6
shellonia Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central s england Posts: 1,534	Mine aren't eating a great deal yet outside. It's only March and not really as warm for tortoises as you or I feel it is. If they can find an ideal basking spot and stay there and get really warm then mine eat in the early afternoon at the moment. The sun is still low and the ground takes some time to warm up.

26-03-2012, 10:43 PM	#7
Robster Banned Incubating Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 101	I am currently having similar issues

27-03-2012, 06:58 AM	#8
JoesMum Member Hatchling Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Kent Posts: 717	I think the key to outside eating is not to put them out too early. At the moment, Joe doesn't go out until about 11am when he's properly warmed up. I put him straight in his cold frame which is in full sun (through the door, not the lid so the heat doesn't escape) and when he's ready, he trundles out. If I think he's gone to ground somewhere too cool, I'll move him back into his frame __________________ 1.0.0 Testudo Graeca Graeca (Mediterranean Spur Thigh) raised from very small and approximately 50 years old.

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