Appetite of Torts During Heat Waves

Hi everyone. I have recently noticed that Oli has not got much appetite despite:

1) the extremely hot weather the country is going through. We are going through a heat wave here and temperature reaches 40 degrees C (104 F). We have been cautioned not to exposed to the striking sun.
I have known since I was a child that this is the appropriate temperature for reptiles that are cold blooded.

2) I have even been trying to feed my tort his favourite: lettuce. But even that he just will not eat.

I have been giving him two soaks daily as there is not anything else I can do.

Any help, suggestions would be highly appreciated.

Thank you all.

Hi Gillian
It could be aestivation (cessation or slowing of activity during the summer; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals during a hot or dry period).
Some species need lower temps than others and I believe they burrow in the hottest part of the day so maybe Oli is just feeling the effect of your heatwave but I don't know what the caresheet for Oli says about temps for him.
I know weeds will be struggling to grow in your heatwave and that Oli is a picky eater, but maybe there's some other foods on the caresheet that you could try to perk up his appetite. Does he still have Mazuri?

When it gets really hot here I have a misting hose I set up and turn on.
You can also take a hose and spray the enclosure down.
The cold water will help cool the area fir a while. Misting system I think works better though.

Maybe a hand help plant sprayer like this would help with the misting and is pretty cheap

Lyn W said:

Hi Gillian
It could be aestivation (cessation or slowing of activity during the summer; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals during a hot or dry period).
Some species need lower temps than others and I believe they burrow in the hottest part of the day so maybe Oli is just feeling the effect of your heatwave but I don't know what the caresheet for Oli says about temps for him.
I know weeds will be struggling to grow in your heatwave and that Oli is a picky eater, but maybe there's some other foods on the caresheet that you could try to perk up his appetite. Does he still have Mazuri?

Click to expand...

Hi Lyn and thanks so much your help.

As far as mazuri is concerned, Oli is waiting to it to arrive. I contacted a friend I have known since I was at school. He said he'd send the mazuri free of charge, @ZEROPILOT did in the past. Thanks Ed.

Will have to go back to the care sheet and see to it, in order to answer your questions..

Once again, thanks a lot your help, Lyn.

wellington said:

When it gets really hot here I have a misting hose I set up and turn on.
You can also take a hose and spray the enclosure down.
The cold water will help cool the area fir a while. Misting system I think works better though.

Click to expand...

Thanks your help.

I spray Oli's enclosure each and every day. During the heat wave the place is going through, I have been spraying it twice and even tree times a day.

Gillian M said:

Hi Lyn and thanks so much your help.

As far as mazuri is concerned, Oli is waiting to it to arrive. I contacted a friend I have known since I was at school. He said he'd send the mazuri free of charge, @ZEROPILOT did in the past. Thanks Ed.

Will have to go back to the care sheet and see to it, in order to answer your questions..

Once again, thanks a lot your help, Lyn.

Click to expand...

You're welcome Gillian I hope it is just the heat.
I think you are doing everything you can to help him cope with it.
Does he like cucumber? There's not much nutritional value in it but Lola loves it ,so if he is off his food I grate some of the flesh (not the seeds or skin) onto it, or just squeeze some juice onto his leaves. The smell of cucumber is enough to persuade him to eat.
Offering some very thin slices is a way to hydrate him too because it is watery, but not too much because it can have a laxative effect.
I hope Oli stops worrying you soon.

Lyn W said:

You're welcome Gillian I hope it is just the heat.
I think you are doing everything you can to help him cope with it.
Does he like cucumber? There's not much nutritional value in it but Lola loves it ,so if he is off his food I grate some of the flesh (not the seeds or skin) onto it, or just squeeze some juice onto his leaves. The smell of cucumber is enough to persuade him to eat.
Offering some very thin slices is a way to hydrate him too because it is watery, but not too much because it can have a laxative effect.
I hope Oli stops worrying you soon.

Click to expand...

Well. I hope it's just the heat wave, too.

Unfortunately, Oli does not like cucumbers. I had tried it when I first adopted him, time and once again but no way would he eat it. It's lettuce and only lettuce, which even that he won't eat now. I'll try feeding him cucumbers again. He might have forgotten it. (I'm trying to be optimistic although I am extremely worried).

Thanks a lot your help as well as your advice and suggestions, Lyn.

Gillian M said:

Hi Lyn and thanks so much your help.

As far as mazuri is concerned, Oli is waiting to it to arrive. I contacted a friend I have known since I was at school. He said he'd send the mazuri free of charge, @ZEROPILOT did in the past. Thanks Ed.

Will have to go back to the care sheet and see to it, in order to answer your questions..

Once again, thanks a lot your help, Lyn.

Click to expand...

Sorry, Gillian.
I still haven't gotten over to the feed store.
Hopefully I'll get over there this week.
I've been having some eye issues.

ZEROPILOT said:

Sorry, Gillian.
I still haven't gotten over to the feed store.
Hopefully I'll get over there this week.
I've been having some eye issues.

Click to expand...

Oh Ed, very sorry to hear you are ill. Hope you are now better.

As far as the mazuri is concerned, please take your time. I mentioned in a post in this thread that a friend of mine is going to send some. I'm waiting - do not know when it'll get here.

Thanks very much your concern, anyway.

(And wishes for a speedy recovery).

Breaking news: Oli has decided to eat, at last! (Sigh of relief).

He drove me nuts.

Now that temperature has dropped considerably, I'm quite sure it was the heat wave, @Lyn .