Clover&Chicker
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2015
- Messages
- 8
Hello All
I am looking for some advice. We have 2 Horsefield tortoises age apprx 3.5 years - they are different sex so we have separated them into 2 separate 4 by 2 tortoise tables, so that is not issue. We have good heat to cool ratio in the table. We have had 2 previous issues of the girl not eating. Both times we have been under the care of the vet. She has been tube fed and both times improved. First we looked at environment, calcium levels and then split them - thinking male was stressing her. She has been now doing well since June, gradually putting on weight, but not lost her appetite again. She is very active and very friendly just not interested in eating. She has lost 8g since 15th Dec.
The vet has mentioned he doesn't think there is anything else he can do, but will refer me to Manchester to a specialist reptile vet. Just wondered if anyone had heard of this, been through this and could advise in the interim. I have began to tube feed again and we have continued with zolcal weekly use since June. Her bouts of 'anorexia' don't even follow a seasonal pattern, first time was Sept 2014, second time was June 2015 and now January 2016. She always does well with tube feeding and gets her appetite back - but surely there is something underlying. What could we be missing?
FYI I have read about buying Komodo dried flowers (which I have made no difference, even our well tortoise not into it). I have ordered Nutrazu but it hasn't arrived yet.
How long do you keep your UV and IR basking bulbs? I have changed it at just over 12 months - is this too infrequent?? should I do more??
I am looking for some advice. We have 2 Horsefield tortoises age apprx 3.5 years - they are different sex so we have separated them into 2 separate 4 by 2 tortoise tables, so that is not issue. We have good heat to cool ratio in the table. We have had 2 previous issues of the girl not eating. Both times we have been under the care of the vet. She has been tube fed and both times improved. First we looked at environment, calcium levels and then split them - thinking male was stressing her. She has been now doing well since June, gradually putting on weight, but not lost her appetite again. She is very active and very friendly just not interested in eating. She has lost 8g since 15th Dec.
The vet has mentioned he doesn't think there is anything else he can do, but will refer me to Manchester to a specialist reptile vet. Just wondered if anyone had heard of this, been through this and could advise in the interim. I have began to tube feed again and we have continued with zolcal weekly use since June. Her bouts of 'anorexia' don't even follow a seasonal pattern, first time was Sept 2014, second time was June 2015 and now January 2016. She always does well with tube feeding and gets her appetite back - but surely there is something underlying. What could we be missing?
FYI I have read about buying Komodo dried flowers (which I have made no difference, even our well tortoise not into it). I have ordered Nutrazu but it hasn't arrived yet.
How long do you keep your UV and IR basking bulbs? I have changed it at just over 12 months - is this too infrequent?? should I do more??