New Leo Hatchling Not Eating Much

Sounds like Adam is doing it perfectly. Sounds like you are doing it perfectly. I don't see any obvious problem here. Sorry.

I guess the thing to do is wait and see. He might still just be settling in.


Went back and re-read. Your repti-glo tube... 18" tube, right? How close is it to the tortoise? How large is the enclosure? Maybe a pic of the enclosure will give a clue about something I am not thinking to ask.


Adam is right that not all hatchlings are going to make it, but in the vast majority of cases there is an obvious operator error from the breeder or new keeper. So far I see no operator error from either of you, so this is puzzling.

Pic of the enclosure

Hmm... I'd go bigger and use a different water bowl, but that should not be the cause of the issue you are having.

Here's a thought. The warm area under the CHE makes no light. The light area under the UV bulb makes no heat. In the wild the heat, light and UV would all be coming from the same source. I have never housed one with out a basking bulb that gave off heat, light and sometimes UV too. This is just a speculative guess, but I wonder if that is a factor for a tortoise, even when it might not be for other reptiles? I wonder what Adam used as a heating and lighting strategy?

I really don't see anything else obvious.

Wait! That's not true. I DID house some leopards with no heat bulb basking source and it worked great. It was an experiment to get rid of the desiccating effects of overhead incandescent bulbs by using a small Kane heat mat for basking. The difference between your way and the way I did it was that I still have the light source over the heat source. So when they went under the light they were on the warm spot getting heat. Even though the heat came from underneath, the heat was still associated with the light.

I'm just guessing here and trying to help. I don't have a sure answer one way or the other.

How is his eating behavior now?

Did you mention how you were measuring your temperatures? I'm still thinking that this might be the main culprit.

Given the other information you've shared, It could also just be the tortoise...some don't eat as aggressively as others. Does he poop regularly?

I hope your little one perks up and starts eating a lot.

Tom--- I think the flood light and CRE overlap quite a lot, so it shouldn't be a problem

Using outdoor probe on digital thermometer...Warm hide right now 94 degrees, basking on top of hide which I've seen him do a bit 103...A little adjacent where he sometimes is,101. but usually he stays in the warm hide. cool side of tank is 85

I put him outside in the sun for 20 min today...Also, he hasn't eaten today. He's pooped in his soak a couple times but not a lot

Just found him upside down on the cooler end of the enclosure so I righted him... 20 minutes later I walked past and he was upside down on the warm end.... what the hell?

its he okay?

I hope so--- he's in his warm hide. I guess I'll know more tomorrow. Very strange with him getting flipped

i hope your little dude is fine

Thanks... it'll be heartbreaking if he passes

don't think like that. he will be fine!

Maybe he's now trying to explore his surroundings rather than hide...he's getting flipped because he's not used to the area yet and keeps trying to climb the sides? My three year old tort did this when I first got him (he was rehomed) - it was like he was checking for ways out and tried climbing up the wall on each side resulting in flipping. He was always very good at righting himself and he doesn't do that anymore now he's used to his habitat. If this is what he's doing it may seem bad but would be progress from hiding all the time?

S Curry said:

Just found him upside down on the cooler end of the enclosure so I righted him... 20 minutes later I walked past and he was upside down on the warm end.... what the hell?

Click to expand...

Extremely common for young tortoises to do this. I notice this a lot with my hatchling after I clean out there enclosure or move their hide to a different area. They become more curious and wind up flipping themselves over. 9 times out of 10 they can right themselves, but if I see them I am always sure to flip them right side over as soon as possible.

How is he doing today?

Really lethargic--- He perked up a bit during his soak then went right back to the hottest part of the enclosure: on top of his warm hide. I'm going to leave him alone as much as possible today to conserve his strength. Maybe put him in the sun for a little soak in the sun.

Looks like he's really fighting for his life... After his second soak he again went right back to the hottest place and is sleeping. I wonder if I should keep the flood light on tonight so he can stay hot all night, since that's what he feels like he needs? if not maybe I'll bump the thermostat on the ceramic up a bit

Do you have a temperature gun or a secondary method for measuring temperatures?