not eating
- Thread starter vpg1978
- Start date
- Status
hello and welcome to tfo.
what are you feeding him?
what are you feeding him?
torts can cope with not eating for quite sometime, so don't be to worried.
You just need to be sure you're feeding it right.
apple, tomato & bread are all unsuitable for hermann's.
It's a vegetarian tort, so you should feed it weeds (dandelions are great food). list of safe weeds here: http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/Edible_Weeds.html
as for now, you could try some squash. my hermann's cannot resist it. just the orange color gets him all worked up....
keep experimenting different weeds\vegetabeles (curli endive, watercress, turnip greens are popular & nutritious) until you find something he likes.
after that you can mix other food with the one that works, so to mix their scent.
how do you have him setup?
post some pics of the enclosure if you can.
and keep asking us questons.
You just need to be sure you're feeding it right.
apple, tomato & bread are all unsuitable for hermann's.
It's a vegetarian tort, so you should feed it weeds (dandelions are great food). list of safe weeds here: http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/Edible_Weeds.html
as for now, you could try some squash. my hermann's cannot resist it. just the orange color gets him all worked up....
keep experimenting different weeds\vegetabeles (curli endive, watercress, turnip greens are popular & nutritious) until you find something he likes.
after that you can mix other food with the one that works, so to mix their scent.
how do you have him setup?
post some pics of the enclosure if you can.
and keep asking us questons.
Your new hermann needs an adjustment period, some will not eat for a few days after coming home and others will eat right away. Don't worry yet, give him some time alone to adjust to his surroundings and then he should eat for you. Keep his water dish filled with warm water and soak him 2-3 times a week in a seperate container. Do you have a heat lamp and a UVB bulb? When setting up your cage make sure you have a warm end and then a cool end so s/he can regulate his tempature. Here is a site for hermann care... http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-easthermanns.htm and http://www.hermann-tortoise.co.uk/main.html I am sure Hermann caregivers will follow and they might even have better care sheets. Here is a list of plants that are safe for your tort. http://www.russiantortoise.org/edible_plants.htm welcome to TFO glad you and your tort found us!! And we love pictures!!
vpg1978 said:
you should consider changing that for aspen and/or top soil
this is aspen: http://www.petco.com/product/14364/Zoo-Med-Aspen-Snake-Bedding.aspx
woodchips are dusty and can be hard on the animal's eyes & lungs.
as for cat food, it's - like you said - a totally wrong diet for a hermann's and it might explain why the tort is not eating the new food you're providing.
It'll just take a little time for it to be hungry enough to try what you give him.
be sure to read through the links that Jen geve you, just to make sure you're not missing anything.
if you post some pics of your setup we can have a better idea of what is going on
cheers,
T
woodchips are dusty and can be hard on the animal's eyes & lungs.
as for cat food, it's - like you said - a totally wrong diet for a hermann's and it might explain why the tort is not eating the new food you're providing.
It'll just take a little time for it to be hungry enough to try what you give him.
be sure to read through the links that Jen geve you, just to make sure you're not missing anything.
if you post some pics of your setup we can have a better idea of what is going on
cheers,
T
You need to keep the uvb and heat bulbs by each other at one end of the enclosure, there is no need for it to be in his house. They need a place that they can retreat to if it gets to hot. Cat food is a no no for hermanns. Give him some time to adjust and he will start eating. I just got 2 new torts in, one ate the first day and the other the second day, but I have some that didn't eat for a week. keep clean warm water in his box and continue to offer food daily and he will eat soon enough.
Hi, VPG1978, Well he has quite a bit of light in his habitat. What are the bulbs you are using?
The florescent light is it a uvb light? The small flood bulb is that just a basking lamp and what watt is it? Height from substrate? Then you have the compact florescent? That is a lot of light. There is no place for him to get out of the light. What temps are in the habitat? And what substrate do you have him on?
I would place the long florescent if it is uvb and the basking lamp on the same side at least 12 inches from the substrate. Check the temps in this area, basking temp should be about 90 F (32 C). I like shredded aspen for substrate or dirt and sand mix with a little bed a beast mixed in. (my preference)
For starters I would read up on bulbs, here are some sites.
http://carolinapetsupply.com/uvb_output_of_bulbs.htm
Problems with some compact florescent bulbs
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor-summary.htm
Here are a couple of care link
http://tortoiseforum.org/hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-t-1000.html
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/hermannstortoisecare.htm
I'm sure some Hermanni owners will respond but this will bet you started.
The florescent light is it a uvb light? The small flood bulb is that just a basking lamp and what watt is it? Height from substrate? Then you have the compact florescent? That is a lot of light. There is no place for him to get out of the light. What temps are in the habitat? And what substrate do you have him on?
I would place the long florescent if it is uvb and the basking lamp on the same side at least 12 inches from the substrate. Check the temps in this area, basking temp should be about 90 F (32 C). I like shredded aspen for substrate or dirt and sand mix with a little bed a beast mixed in. (my preference)
For starters I would read up on bulbs, here are some sites.
http://carolinapetsupply.com/uvb_output_of_bulbs.htm
Problems with some compact florescent bulbs
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor-summary.htm
Here are a couple of care link
http://tortoiseforum.org/hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-t-1000.html
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/hermannstortoisecare.htm
I'm sure some Hermanni owners will respond but this will bet you started.
vpg,
check out this thread: http://tortoiseforum.org/new-and-have-some-questions-t-1355.html
it was started also by a new hermann keeper and should give you further insight on what to change.
to sum up what's been said:
1) change the substrate. aspen, soil or bead-a-beast are all better & safer
2) monitor temps inside the enclosure. you need a gradient.
3) you only need 1 uvb source & 1 heat source. no lights in the hide.
4) also, a bigger habitat will be an issue pretty soon...
5) bath the tort on shallow tepid water 2/3 times a week.
6) check the safe food list on the link above and the one I previously posted. also, check out the hermann caresheet on the hermann lounge and the enclosure section for improvment ideas.
it's a good thing you researched online. pet shops have a history of giving the worst tortoise husbandry advice...
keep us posted.
cheers,
T
check out this thread: http://tortoiseforum.org/new-and-have-some-questions-t-1355.html
it was started also by a new hermann keeper and should give you further insight on what to change.
to sum up what's been said:
1) change the substrate. aspen, soil or bead-a-beast are all better & safer
2) monitor temps inside the enclosure. you need a gradient.
3) you only need 1 uvb source & 1 heat source. no lights in the hide.
4) also, a bigger habitat will be an issue pretty soon...
5) bath the tort on shallow tepid water 2/3 times a week.
6) check the safe food list on the link above and the one I previously posted. also, check out the hermann caresheet on the hermann lounge and the enclosure section for improvment ideas.
it's a good thing you researched online. pet shops have a history of giving the worst tortoise husbandry advice...
keep us posted.
cheers,
T
fantastic news, vpg1978! congratulations.
told you they just can't resist that shiny squash...
told you they just can't resist that shiny squash...
- Status
Similar threads
New Posts
-
-
Greek Tortoise, Coconut Fiber Mat and Loam Mix- Latest: Alex and the Redfoot
-
