Spurthigh not eating

Leigh halsey

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My spurthigh is 2 years old. I have had him/her for 4 months. He has always eaten well but recently has hardly eaten at all. He has never been outside so was told not to worm him yet. Any advise would be welcome . Thanks .
 

JoesMum

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Hi

I'm the other side of the Thames estuary in Kent with a hibernating Greek spur thigh.

The shortening days are making even those kept indoors think of hibernation.

You do need to double check the enclosure temperatures as they may well have changed, especially at night.

What are the four important temperatures in the enclosure? Warm side, cool side, directly under the basking lamp and overnight minimum. The first 3 are best measured with a temperature gun thermometer that you can get for around £9 from Amazon.

You also need to have the lights on good and bright for 14 hours a day. When were your lamps last changed?

A daily soak in the morning before you leave for work followed by food may well get eating going too.
 

Gillian M

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Hi @Leigh halsey and welcome to the forum. :D

It's a well-known fact that torts do not like change. Therefore they take time to adapt to it. This could be the case with your tort. Furthermore, they tend to lose appetite in Winter. :(

Any pics of your tort and his/her enclosure? ;)
 

Leigh halsey

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Hi @Leigh halsey and welcome to the forum. :D

It's a well-known fact that torts do not like change. Therefore they take time to adapt to it. This could be the case with your tort. Furthermore, they tend to lose appetite in Winter. :(

Any pics of your tort and his/her enclosure? ;)
Thank you for your reply .
 

Tidgy's Dad

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Hello, Leigh, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum. :)
You are right not to hibernate him the first year.
But he needs a lot of other changes in his enclosure.
The light should be pointing downwards.
The substrate is too dry and needs to be replaced with coco coir, cypress mulch or orchid bark.
It is a good idea to use a flat piece of slate or sandstone, even a rough tile for putting the food on. This is easy to access for the tort and some say helps keep the beak trilmmed.
The water dish is a flip hazard. A cheap, shallow terracotta plant saucer or similar sunk into the substrate and big enough for the tortoise to soak in, is recommended.
Fresh broad leafed weeds should be provided where possible.
Have a read of http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greek-tortoise-testudo-graeca-care-sheet-overview.87146/
plus http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/
Then don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.
 

Leigh halsey

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Hi

I'm the other side of the Thames estuary in Kent with a hibernating Greek spur thigh.

The shortening days are making even those kept indoors think of hibernation.

You do need to double check the enclosure temperatures as they may well have changed, especially at night.

What are the four important temperatures in the enclosure? Warm side, cool side, directly under the basking lamp and overnight minimum. The first 3 are best measured with a temperature gun thermometer that you can get for around £9 from Amazon.

You also need to have the lights on good and bright for 14 hours a day. When were your lamps last changed?

A daily soak in the morning before you leave for work followed by food may well get eating going too.
Thanks for the advice, I have bathed him and he seems to liven up after but still not eating .
 

Tidgy's Dad

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Oh, and the tortoise should not be walking around the house. There are too many inherent dangers and the temperature and humidity are impossible to control satisfactorily.
 

Leigh halsey

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Hello, Leigh, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum. :)
You are right not to hibernate him the first year.
But he needs a lot of other changes in his enclosure.
The light should be pointing downwards.
The substrate is too dry and needs to be replaced with coco coir, cypress mulch or orchid bark.
It is a good idea to use a flat piece of slate or sandstone, even a rough tile for putting the food on. This is easy to access for the tort and some say helps keep the beak trilmmed.
The water dish is a flip hazard. A cheap, shallow terracotta plant saucer or similar sunk into the substrate and big enough for the tortoise to soak in, is recommended.
Fresh broad leafed weeds should be provided where possible.
Have a read of http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greek-tortoise-testudo-graeca-care-sheet-overview.87146/
plus http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/
Then don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.
Thank you I will make changes ,
 

Tidgy's Dad

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Thanks for the advice, I have bathed him and he seems to liven up after but still not eating .
As Joe's Mum said, the not eating is likely due to it being hibernation time, so the 14 hours of light a day and the offering of tasty foods will be necessary to encourage him to believe it is still summer.:)
And make sure your temps are high enough.
 

Leigh halsey

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As Joe's Mum said, the not eating is likely due to it being hibernation time, so the 14 hours of light a day and the offering of tasty foods will be necessary to encourage him to believe it is still summer.:)
And make sure your temps are high enough.
Offered him/her all sorts of food but still not eating although is lively after bathing .
 

Tidgy's Dad

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The tort needs the heat to digest its food properly and has to be able to exercise too in order to achieve this.
Enclosure minimum size therefore 8' by 4'.
 

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