Russian tortoise not eating since November

Hi, our Russian Tortoise Washington who we got in March 2013, from a pet supply plus chain came with hookworms and was treated. Since that treatment he's had less appetite and since November He eats maybe once a week and sleeps all day. the temperatures seem right in his enclosure we use topsoil and the reptile bark mix as a substrate.
We gave him a night basking spot and soak him in a warm bath mixed with acidophilus and babyfood daily, which is all he eats or drinks at all. Sometimes that's all the activity he has for the whole day. He can leave his bath anytime he wants and usually does after ten minutes, should we force him to stay longer?
The vet suggested yogurt or acidophilus to get his digestive system going, but he really won't eat anything. The vets, one in December and one in mid Feb 2014 say his eyes are clear, with no bubbling from the nose, he once used to be active but now seems timid all the time. The vet also said he seems light at 345 grams, possibly too light to go into hibernation.
Our other tortoise who we got in October and is female, is active, explores, feels heavy, and eats everything, dispite any drafts on the floor or environment issues, she even has a smaller pen now.
Is washington just going through a winter hibernation thing?
Is this normal?
Should we get blood work or X-rays done?
What should we do?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Worried,
Alexis


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Have the two been housed together this whole time? If so, some bullying could have been happening and making your smaller one retreat because the bigger one is not letting him eat, etc. if they have been housed separate this whole time, then I would take him back to the vets and have him checked further. In the mean time, keep up with the baby food soaks, add some pedialyte to it too and try feeding some of what used too be his favorite foods, even if it's not the best for him. Good luck, keep us posted.

Thank you, we divided the house and eventually separated them. She is bigger than he is now. We are looking for specialists, even trying to contact the zoo. Thanks again.


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Now that I have more info I can ask you, since he was last treated for hookworms, has he been tested again to make sure it's all gone? If not, I strongly suggest you get him tested again. Also, tell me what meds he was put on to treat this. Regardless of any treatments, he should have blood work done and an x-rays. He's obviously still sick, and the type of treatment he's receiving is vital. The wrong treatment, or holding out on any tests can cause more harm. Is the vet you're taking him to a specialized vet for reptiles?

Panacur was the med, diluted for two weeks, the stool sample after said he was clear. The first vet was not a specialist neither was the second. We have the name of DAVBP (avian) we will call, I hope he can help.


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Where in the world do you live? What are your temps? may we see a pic of the tort...would like to see if he is wild caught? You may simply be having a tort that is wild that perhaps has brumated in the past and is attempting to do this.....a pic would be great, a shot of his face, and front legs/neck area please...

ascott said:

Where in the world do you live? What are your temps? may we see a pic of the tort...would like to see if he is wild caught? You may simply be having a tort that is wild that perhaps has brumated in the past and is attempting to do this.....a pic would be great, a shot of his face, and front legs/neck area please...

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I'm in northern ohio, this is one of the coldest winters on record and our first with him. His nighttime temperatures right now are 76.6 in the coldest corner he reads 82 and 96.5 in the red night basking corner.
I can get a picture tomorrow thanks for the reply

You acquired the tort from a pet store? Like a Petco or Petsmart? I am thinking that the tort is going likely to turn out to be wild...IF that is the case, you are likely dealing with a tort that is slowing down due to the time of year....but I would like to wait to see a photo of him...while pics don't tell all, they do offer a glance at the outward appearance...

You are not running constant high humidity are you?

Humidity here is low the meter reads 40% but i work in a controlled lab environment every day and it does not feel like 40% humidity in here.


Two Russian źółwe in Sandusky.

For this species that is good.....

this is Washington, the white stuff on his cheek is a bit of acidophilus this is him getting out of his daily soak.


Two Russian źółwe in Sandusky.

alexisd3000 said:

Panacur was the med, diluted for two weeks, the stool sample after said he was clear. The first vet was not a specialist neither was the second. We have the name of DAVBP (avian) we will call, I hope he can help.


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Click to expand...

My hermanns is currently being treated with panacur for pinworms, and our vet (who is a specialist) told us that it can take up to a month for an infestation to be fully cleared out. Now, I know your guy is a russian with a different type of worm, but it's possible that the worms are still hanging around.

It was hookworm eggs, I don't think quite an infestation. And a stool sample after the treatment then another in December said no to parasites.


Two Russian źółwe in Sandusky.

What happened to his right front limb? In the pic it looks like part of the flesh and scales sustained some type of damage?? I am on my phone right now so it is hard for these old lady eyes to see clearly the smaller pic screen....

ascott said:

What happened to his right front limb? In the pic it looks like part of the flesh and scales sustained some type of damage?? I am on my phone right now so it is hard for these old lady eyes to see clearly the smaller pic screen....

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No he has no injuries or strange damage. We are also concerned because we got him in march of last year and he wasn't behaving like this, we are looking for a specialist now. Than you.


Two Russian źółwe in Sandusky.

alexisd3000 said:

ascott said:

Where in the world do you live? What are your temps? may we see a pic of the tort...would like to see if he is wild caught? You may simply be having a tort that is wild that perhaps has brumated in the past and is attempting to do this.....a pic would be great, a shot of his face, and front legs/neck area please...

Click to expand...

I'm in northern ohio, this is one of the coldest winters on record and our first with him. His nighttime temperatures right now are 76.6 in the coldest corner he reads 82 and 96.5 in the red night basking corner.
I can get a picture tomorrow thanks for the reply

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Am I correct in reading that the low temperature for his enclosure at night is 76.6 degrees and the high temperature at night is 96.5?

If so, then I'm wondering what are his daytime temperatures?

My Russians seem to be more active when they can move in and out of the daytime basking spot and cool off as needed. At night Russians do not need a basking bulb; I find my Russians do well with a nighttime temperature drop to the 65 to 70 degree range.

Because your Russian has been ill, I would try to lower his nighttime temperature to around 73 degrees to see how he reacts. For daytime have a range of temperatures from 95 under his basking area to 70 for his cool side.

Good luck!

the white stuff on his cheek is a bit of acidophilus

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What brand are you using? Sometimes the stuff has so many additives /impurities that is actually does more harm than good....also, unless you have been treating the tort with some type of meds for parasites excessively then, if it were me, I would not be using....

My opinion (and it's only an opinion):

You are overreacting. I hate to see you spend a ton of money at a vet for tests that are not going to give any answers. I have a Russian, similar in size to yours, and I am also in Ohio. My Russian started slowing down in activity in late September. He's not near as active as he was over the summer/spring. But because Russian's are a hibernating species and ours are WC (yours appears to be WC like mine) and we now have them in captivity, it's natural for them to be inactive during these horrible winter months. Heck, sometimes mine will sleep for more than 24 hours. I think your tort is probably just fine, especially since you've already had a few vet visits. Spring is almost here and I am certain your guy will come around with the season.

Good luck.

ascott said:

the white stuff on his cheek is a bit of acidophilus

Click to expand...

What brand are you using? Sometimes the stuff has so many additives /impurities that is actually does more harm than good....also, unless you have been treating the tort with some type of meds for parasites excessively then, if it were me, I would not be using...

Click to expand...

Well the acidophilus is a Meier pharmacy brand and it says no additives.


Two Russian źółwe in Sandusky.

First thank you everybody for your responses.
One Saturday Washington actually did vomit up food we fed him earlier that morning, so we brought Washington and to a DVM specialist in Akron and he found an abundance of parasites in his stool which probably spread into his stomach and caused him to vomit. The treatment went well and Washington is eating about twice Daily now. He is still a little shy but he's gained 23 grams. Now our other Tortoise, Zoe stopped eating and had a little gagging issue so we brought her to the vet yesterday. He found that parasites had taken over her feces similar to Washington's situation when he wasn't eating. So they are both getting treated now. I really hope this solves our problems. Thanks everybody for the replies and the support. I'll definitely write a follow-up once the medications have all been given.


Two Russian źółwe in Sandusky, Ohio.