Is Jasper OK? HELP!

[YourAverageReptileLover]

For the past few days now, Jasper has been very lazy and barely eats, if at all. Before today, he would only be lazy and not eat when inside. He would eat fine and happily explore when outside. But today, he wouldn't do anything when I took him outside. He just looks around and/or sleeps. He does drink fine though. Is Jasper sick?

Random information:
-Enclosure is 6 feet by 4 feet.
Basking area is 100 F, normal is 70-75 F; has UVB.
-I feed him spring mix.
Substrate is soil and coconut fiber.
-It takes him a while to open his eyes when I take him for walks, in and out, and he scratches at his eyes with his arms.
-When outside, he might take a few steps, then sit and look around.
-when I poke his legs, he looks at me but doesn't put them in his shell.

Questions:
-Why does he scratch at his eyes?
-Why does it take him a while to open his eyes?
-why isn't he eating?
-IS HE SICK?

 

[YourAverageReptileLover]

UPDATE: I think it may be his eyes that bother him. His eyelids might be stuck, and he might be getting stuff in his eyes a lot. I started misting the substrate, which I'll do daily.

 

[crimson_lotus]

What kind of bulbs are you using for UVB/heat?

 

[YourAverageReptileLover]

What kind of bulbs are you using for UVB/heat?

Zoomed. The heating is a spot bulb and the UVB is a coil bulb.

 

[crimson_lotus]

Some coil bulbs are known to be dangerous to tortoises and can cause eye problems.If they can't see, they don't eat. If he's scratching his eyes, then his eyes are probably irritated.

I would try switching out the coil bulb and see if he improves.

 

[YourAverageReptileLover]

Some coil bulbs are known to be dangerous to tortoises and can cause eye problems.If they can't see, they don't eat. If he's scratching his eyes, then his eyes are probably irritated.

I would try switching out the coil bulb and see if he improves.

Thank you! I'll buy a new one ASAP.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Change the bulb and maybe put some soothing ointment in his eyes....

 

[jaizei]

How long have you been using that light?

 

[Yvonne G]

One thing for everyone to note - Vitamin A is very important in a tortoise's diet, and once a turtle or tortoise stops eating, the first sign you have that something is wrong is the eyes start to swell and stick shut. I'm not discounting the coil-shaped bulb, but for everyone who ever sees a turtle or tortoise with swollen, stuck shut eyes, you should also bear in mind that if the animal hasn't been eating, he may be suffering from a vitamin A deficiency. DO NOT allow the vet to give your animal a vitamin injection. It is very easy to get the vitamin into the tortoise. Do a search for how to use Gerber strained carrots or squash as a soak.

 

[YourAverageReptileLover]

How long have you been using that light?

Since we had him, so about 3 months.

 

[YourAverageReptileLover]

One thing for everyone to note - Vitamin A is very important in a tortoise's diet, and once a turtle or tortoise stops eating, the first sign you have that something is wrong is the eyes start to swell and stick shut. I'm not discounting the coil-shaped bulb, but for everyone who ever sees a turtle or tortoise with swollen, stuck shut eyes, you should also bear in mind that if the animal hasn't been eating, he may be suffering from a vitamin A deficiency. DO NOT allow the vet to give your animal a vitamin injection. It is very easy to get the vitamin into the tortoise. Do a search for how to use Gerber strained carrots or squash as a soak.

I might try that. Thanks!

 

[YourAverageReptileLover]

Change the bulb and maybe put some soothing ointment in his eyes....

I'll see if they have ointment at Petsmart too (we're going tonight).

 

[YourAverageReptileLover]

I might try that. Thanks!

How can I tell if he has too much or too little Vitamin A?

 

[YourAverageReptileLover]

So Jasper either needs a DIFF bulb, or has too much or too little Vitamin A. Hmm.

 

[crimson_lotus]

Do you feed your tortoise anything other than spring mix?

 

[crimson_lotus]

(Not judging, by the way, I have about 4-5 feet of snow outside so I can't exactly go and pick some weeds, either)

But a varied diet is best

 

[bouaboua]

We steam a pieces of carrots to feed all our torts at least once a month.

 

[YourAverageReptileLover]

Do you feed your tortoise anything other than spring mix?

I feed him hibiscus leaves and dandelion leaves as treats sometimes. What else should I try other than carrots?

 

[YourAverageReptileLover]

We steam a pieces of carrots to feed all our torts at least once a month.

I'll start doing that as well.

 

[Randi]

As for expanding your torts diet, Google "Tortoise Table Plant Database". There are multiple categories on that website with lots of plants to choose from and lots of info if you click "See More". Goes through safe and toxic plants, and has a recommended frequency for feeding.

What is the humidity in your enclosure?