Aldabra not eating much

John L.

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Oct 22, 2020
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Jakarta
Hello all,

I recently acquired my first ever baby aldabra. I got him on Sunday, 18 October 2020. He is 4 months old. I am quite worried because he isn't eating a lot of food. His enclosure is around 30 square feet but I am going to move him to a new enclosure with 300 square feet for him. I soak him daily, he sleeps well, he is active and looks healthy. His previous owner says that he eats a lot, which is why I am worried. Temperature is around 80 F to 100 F, and humidity is around 75% to 95%.He is a wild caught tortoise. I feed him a lot of different food, mainly grass and hibiscus leaves. Is he just adapting to his new environment or am I doing something wrong? Thanks in advance.
 

John L.

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Joined
Oct 22, 2020
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Jakarta
Hello all,

I recently acquired my first ever baby aldabra. I got him on Sunday, 18 October 2020. He is 4 months old. I am quite worried because he isn't eating a lot of food. His enclosure is around 30 square feet but I am going to move him to a new enclosure with 300 square feet for him. I soak him daily, he sleeps well, he is active and looks healthy. His previous owner says that he eats a lot, which is why I am worried. Temperature is around 80 F to 100 F, and humidity is around 75% to 95%.He is a wild caught tortoise. I feed him a lot of different food, mainly grass and hibiscus leaves. Is he just adapting to his new environment or am I doing something wrong? Thanks in advance.
Sorry, I forgot to add this to my post... He takes a few bites of his food, then looks away and walks away.
 

solidsounds17

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I’m no expert but given that you just got your tort, there’s a chance that he or she is just beginning to get used to the new environment.
 

Blackdog1714

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I am assuming you are referring to the fact that he is wild caught... Well I just asked the owner again and turns out he is captive bred. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Either way imagine you get plucked from your perfect daily routine and boom get dropped in a hole new place shocking. And yes it is way much better he is captive born
 

wellington

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Give him time he is new to a strange place he doesn't know. Make sure his temps are correct, 95-100 basking and 80 over all. Keep soaking and giving food.
 

lazybfarm

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they will sulk for a few days when you change their environment, if he is eating a little, he will eat a lot when he is hungry.
Try giving him some softened mazuri with some cactus pad or pumpkin chopped up in it, he will eat it
 

Yvonne G

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Hello all,

I recently acquired my first ever baby aldabra. I got him on Sunday, 18 October 2020. He is 4 months old. I am quite worried because he isn't eating a lot of food. His enclosure is around 30 square feet but I am going to move him to a new enclosure with 300 square feet for him. I soak him daily, he sleeps well, he is active and looks healthy. His previous owner says that he eats a lot, which is why I am worried. Temperature is around 80 F to 100 F, and humidity is around 75% to 95%.He is a wild caught tortoise. I feed him a lot of different food, mainly grass and hibiscus leaves. Is he just adapting to his new environment or am I doing something wrong? Thanks in advance.
You're going to have to present to him the same food in the same manner as he is used to.
 

John L.

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Joined
Oct 22, 2020
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Jakarta
they will sulk for a few days when you change their environment, if he is eating a little, he will eat a lot when he is hungry.
Try giving him some softened mazuri with some cactus pad or pumpkin chopped up in it, he will eat it
Ok! I will try that. Thanks!
 

pcrealty

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Joined
Sep 6, 2020
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91
Location (City and/or State)
Wynnewood
Hello all,

I recently acquired my first ever baby aldabra. I got him on Sunday, 18 October 2020. He is 4 months old. I am quite worried because he isn't eating a lot of food. His enclosure is around 30 square feet but I am going to move him to a new enclosure with 300 square feet for him. I soak him daily, he sleeps well, he is active and looks healthy. His previous owner says that he eats a lot, which is why I am worried. Temperature is around 80 F to 100 F, and humidity is around 75% to 95%.He is a wild caught tortoise. I feed him a lot of different food, mainly grass and hibiscus leaves. Is he just adapting to his new environment or am I doing something wrong? Thanks in advance.
Perhaps the change of environment and transport to your home was stressful. Whenever we go on trips with our 2 tortoises, it takes a few days for them to recycle eating and excreting.
 

tacotort654218

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Sep 30, 2020
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Tortoise Land
Hi neighbor, hope that he started eating now
Just sharing my experience with acclimating Aldabras, when we got our first Aldabra, it literally took a week for her to gain confidence and start LOOKING around, then started eating a little over a week.
However when we got our 2nd Aldabra, she started eating right away. Bottom line is, they have different personalities, maybe yours need more time adapting. Knowing what the previous owner's feeding routine may also help
Cheers!
 

John L.

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Joined
Oct 22, 2020
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Jakarta
Hi neighbor, hope that he started eating now
Just sharing my experience with acclimating Aldabras, when we got our first Aldabra, it literally took a week for her to gain confidence and start LOOKING around, then started eating a little over a week.
However when we got our 2nd Aldabra, she started eating right away. Bottom line is, they have different personalities, maybe yours need more time adapting. Knowing what the previous owner's feeding routine may also help
Cheers!
He’s eating a lot now! Thanks for the advice
 

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