New owner

ClarenceTort

Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2019
Messages
53
Location (City and/or State)
Kansas City
Hello we just got our tortoise from PetSmart a few days ago. We’ve been giving him fresh arugula and also tried the dehydrated food. He has not been eating. As soon as we put the food down he walks over it and then climbs into his water dish. I haven’t seen any poop either. I figured he needs time to adjust but was curious when I should take him to the vet if he doesn’t eat. Pretty active otherwise. We’ve soaked him and let him walk around outside his tank on a towel. Anyone advice on his non eating would be helpful. Thanks
 

Yvonne G

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Hi, and welcome!

What species of tortoise do you have?

It has been my experience that MY tortoises don't like arugula. I'm thinking it's because is has such a strong, pungent smell.

Once we know what species of tortoise you have, we will be able to give you better care and feeding information.
 

ClarenceTort

Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2019
Messages
53
Location (City and/or State)
Kansas City
We think he’s a Russian. He was eating the dehydrated food at PetSmart. But he didn’t eat that either. What greens does everyone recommend
 

Lyn W

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Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
23,497
Location (City and/or State)
UK
Hi and welcome
I'm not very good at IDing torts but jf he is Russian you need to read the caresheet to find out all about diet temps humidity and substrate - what you have in there is too dry. https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
(If he turns out to be something else then you will find caresheets for most species in the Species section of the forum.

www.thetortoisetable.org.uk is a good general guide to tort safe plants for food and enclosures.

You would be better using a shallow terracotta plant saucer for his water dish, sunk level with the substrate - use one that is big enough for him to self soak in - the one he has isn't big enough and difficult for him to access.

Can you post pics of his whole enclosure lamps etc so that when you have definite confirmation of his species you will get good advice on any other changes you need to make to ensure you have a happy healthy tort.
 

ClarenceTort

Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2019
Messages
53
Location (City and/or State)
Kansas City
Hi and welcome
I'm not very good at IDing torts but jf he is Russian you need to read the caresheet to find out all about diet temps humidity and substrate - what you have in there is too dry. https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
(If he turns out to be something else then you will find caresheets for most species in the Species section of the forum.

www.thetortoisetable.org.uk is a good general guide to tort safe plants for food and enclosures.

You would be better using a shallow terracotta plant saucer for his water dish, sunk level with the substrate - use one that is big enough for him to self soak in - the one he has isn't big enough and difficult for him to access.

Can you post pics of his whole enclosure lamps etc so that when you have definite confirmation of his species you will get good advice on any other changes you need to make to ensure you have a happy healthy tort.

Yes we just got a plastic planter dish for him. I have a heat lamp on one side and a UV light in the middle. He’s in a 20 gallon tank now about 3x 1. I’m getting him a bigger one this week.
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
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Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,120
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
Welcome to the site and all the best! You have a gorgeous little tort!
 

ClarenceTort

Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2019
Messages
53
Location (City and/or State)
Kansas City
Welcome to the site and all the best! You have a gorgeous little tort!

Thank you so much. He’s very sweet. Just trying to get everything right so he’s happy. This is an amazing resource. I just ordered new substrate and am in the process today of getting him a larger tank. Hopefully he will be a happy guy! Thanks everyone I love getting advice from tort owners.
 

Lyn W

Well-Known Member
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Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
23,497
Location (City and/or State)
UK
Yes we just got a plastic planter dish for him. I have a heat lamp on one side and a UV light in the middle. He’s in a 20 gallon tank now about 3x 1. I’m getting him a bigger one this week.
Plastic may be a bit slippy underfoot for him, maybe roughen up the base to give him more traction. Glad to hear he is having a bigger space - torts are wandering creatures and need a lot of space to be happy - so the bigger the better - 4 x 8 is the recommended minimum. Do you have a safe outdoor enclosure for him where he can have some supervised time.
Make sure he has an area where he can escape the heat so that he can regulate his body temps.
The caresheet will tell you what temps he needs - a digital temp gun is ideal for checking temps at tort level.
 

Doonparker26

New Member
Joined
May 29, 2019
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
Alpharetta
He is adorable!! Listen to all the given advice!! Your all ready ahead of the curve just being on this forum. I may have missed but what is his name?
 

luke2431

New Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2019
Messages
23
Location (City and/or State)
pensacola, fl
Hello we just got our tortoise from PetSmart a few days ago. We’ve been giving him fresh arugula and also tried the dehydrated food. He has not been eating. As soon as we put the food down he walks over it and then climbs into his water dish. I haven’t seen any poop either. I figured he needs time to adjust but was curious when I should take him to the vet if he doesn’t eat. Pretty active otherwise. We’ve soaked him and let him walk around outside his tank on a towel. Anyone advice on his non eating would be helpful. Thanks
Try Pothos leaves or Hibiscus leaves!!!!!!!!
 

luke2431

New Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2019
Messages
23
Location (City and/or State)
pensacola, fl
Can they eat the leaves from a cucumber tomato or pepper plant? That’s what I’ve got Inmy garden. Didn’t know if the leaves were good for him
no but they also love collard green leaves and dandelion leaves..no leaves from a bulb flower like tiger lilies
check out the GOOD FOODS for torties on this websight!!!!
 

Shuler24

Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2019
Messages
58
Location (City and/or State)
Michigan
When we first got Sheldon and had to ween him off the garbage food he was eating, we started with dandelion greens, endive, and he loved mustard greens. He seems to run toward “crunchy” greens with not so strong smells. We also order the tortoise hay from tortoise supply....he absolutely loves that stuff, so it gives him a variety as well. We sprinkle it on top of his food, we call it his salad topper. He will take a while to, adjust for sure. That’s seems normal, from what I’ve observed. Clarence....I love the name.
 

ClarenceTort

Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2019
Messages
53
Location (City and/or State)
Kansas City
When we first got Sheldon and had to ween him off the garbage food he was eating, we started with dandelion greens, endive, and he loved mustard greens. He seems to run toward “crunchy” greens with not so strong smells. We also order the tortoise hay from tortoise supply....he absolutely loves that stuff, so it gives him a variety as well. We sprinkle it on top of his food, we call it his salad topper. He will take a while to, adjust for sure. That’s seems normal, from what I’ve observed. Clarence....I love the name.

I will try some of those greens. I’ve been giving him some baby Swiss chard from the spring mix salad that I have and putting some diced up cucumber in it. I think he picked at it. But nothing too much. We also put 2 of those vitamin pellets in with the mix but doesn’t seem to like them. I’ll switch him to those greens. Had him outside today in our garden bed. Seemed to like investigating. Next summer I’m going to make him an outdoor space with one of those wooden garden beds.
 

Shuler24

Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2019
Messages
58
Location (City and/or State)
Michigan
I will try some of those greens. I’ve been giving him some baby Swiss chard from the spring mix salad that I have and putting some diced up cucumber in it. I think he picked at it. But nothing too much. We also put 2 of those vitamin pellets in with the mix but doesn’t seem to like them. I’ll switch him to those greens. Had him outside today in our garden bed. Seemed to like investigating. Next summer I’m going to make him an outdoor space with one of those wooden garden beds.
Sheldon’s favorite pastime is exploring. He LOVES it....that and sitting on his rock and under his heat source. “Sheldons Spot”
 
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