23-09-2008, 09:02 PM | #1 |
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Egg
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lancashire, UK
Posts: 58
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Inactive Horsfield
Please could someone tell me their thoughts?
I have a nerly two year old horsfield, Mac, I've had him since January. He has recently become very inactive, he doesn't come out of his shelter during the day anymore and rarely eats, its been like this for the past few weeks. He used to be out everymorning to greet me and would trundle around his tortoise table basking, eating and wandering, until about 3pm when he'd retire for the evening. Not anymore though I never see him apart from when I have to disturb him for a bath, which I hate doing cos I don't want to distress him. I hear him scratching around in his shelter but he never comes out of his own accord. I'm a new tortoise owner and therefore am not sure if this is him winding down for hibernation or whether or not he's poorly.
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23-09-2008, 09:12 PM | #2 |
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It does sound like he is winding down. Is he outside? I had to bring mine in, as the temps have dropped quite a bit where I live and he was always sleeping and had lost a bit of weight.
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23-09-2008, 09:17 PM | #3 |
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Egg
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lancashire, UK
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No he's been living inside, it's been too wet and cold here for him to be out. It's not been cold in our house so I can't work it out.
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~Newbie Tortoise Owner - Please Be Gentle~ |
23-09-2008, 09:30 PM | #4 |
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It could still be, he is winding down as the ambient temperature is down. What are your temps cold and hot end?
If you are still very worried pop him to the vets where he can have a once over. |
23-09-2008, 10:02 PM | #5 |
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Juvenile
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Manchester
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One of my Horsfield's has been similar, she's inside now, but it's like she can sense it's coming up to winter. She's eating, but less, she's much less active...but i don't think she's poorly.
(I'm over-wintering my two because I've only had them a short while.)
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23-09-2008, 10:14 PM | #6 |
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I know I keep saying this, but try upping the light levels guys lol
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Rach Mum to 12 horsfields, 2 redfoots, 2 spur-thighed, 4 dogs, 1 cat, 1 guinea pig, 3 chipmunks, 3 african pygmy hedgehogs, 4 bearded dragons, 1 goldfish. 2 daughters and 1 husband. |
23-09-2008, 11:02 PM | #7 |
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Hatchling
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Oldham, manchester
Posts: 668
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HELEN...I have 2 horsefield and they are acting the same as yours... they did exactly the same last year and the year before,and, i panicked just like you. But honestly they'll be fine..
Keep up the baths and when the daytime temp is warm enough wake them up and put them outside, even if its only for a short time. my male still finds a bush and goes to sleep BUT at least they're outside for a while. Some days they will nibble, one more than the other but only dandelions.. I struggled like this last year until october and thats when i started the wind down. then once november 8th came they went into hibernation until the middle of january. then they ate me out of house and home.. hope this makes you feel better |
24-09-2008, 10:37 AM | #8 |
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have you ever had this tort checked for worms as this can make them sleepy/ sluggish
i have two horsefields one is so active and the other isnt he would sleep all day, if you put out on on the grass he just sits there for about half an hour even in the sun before he moves, the inactive one of mine will only eat outside as well
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rachel 5 hermans, bob, frank, simpson, marmalade and johnson |
25-09-2008, 09:57 AM | #9 |
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I agree the light levels have dropped dramatically with that the tortoises will perceive that as winter approaching so will begin to wind down.
I have had a few call recently from worried owners of lazy tortoises and as soon as the light levels had been raised the activity and feeding was back up to normal. Do you have a picture of your set-up ? What lighting do you use ? Daz |
25-09-2008, 10:01 AM | #10 |
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Heres also a document i did veryu quickly to answer a specific question on one of the other forums, the only light on when this picture was taken was the tube, when the megaray comes on its great !
http://www.megaray.co.uk/downloads/t...7;20set-up.pdf Might help explain a bit.. I have the light tubes in stock but not on the site hope to get them on in the nextr few days- they come in three sizes the 5 ft being the largest. Dazza |
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horsfield, inactive, poorly |
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