Donna Shaw
Member
Hi all. I have had my Herman's Stella since Feb 20 so nearly a year now. I believe she was 6-12months when we got her. I had initial problems with getting her enclosure right and lack of eating in the early days but we have settled into a good routine and with toms help she built up a good little appetite. I've not hibernated her due to age and my lack of experience although when I checked her Jackson ratio she would have been a good weight for hibernation. She weighed 127g just before winter set in. I expected her to lose a bit of energy of winter and to slow down but in the last week she hasn't eaten anything, hasn't been to the toilet and she keeps moving into the cold area. I keep having to wake her up in a morning and move her under the heat lamp. She is indoors in a tortoise table. I turned off the radiator in that room as we have had the heating on constantly and I thought it might be too warm for her but quickly realised this was a mistake and have switched it back on. I've bathed her every day for 30 minutes and tried to feed at the same time every day. I tried a mixture of dandelions, weeds, supermarket mixed salad, romaine lettuce etc. But she has a little nibble and its like she doesnt have the energy to eat. I tried baby carrot food today and when she wouldn't eat it, I bathed her in it instead. Her temps are at 33c under basking light and on a night time it drops to around 16c. Anyone have any other suggestions on how to encourage her to eat?? She currently weighs 115/116g so has lost around 10-12g.