Baby hermanns not eating

[Wewin15]

Hello. A couple days ago I purchased my first hermanns. He’s believed to be under a year old. I’m having an issue as he won’t eat. I’m soaking him daily and he’s drinking. He’s also very active. I checked the temperature of the viv he’s in and the basking spot is 95 degrees and the cool end is around 75 degrees. Any suggestions to why he’s not eating would be gratefully received. Thanks

 

[Yossarian]

It can take a couple weeks for a tort to settle in a new environment. They will often be very active the first couple days, this might be their attempts to find their old territory. Typically they wont be interested in much else and afterwards they will tend to hide a lot for a few days. Once they have settled and gotten familiar with their new territory they will resume more normal behaviour. It can certainly take several days for torts to start eating normally again.

Under a year old is also pretty young so there could be other factors involved if it doesnt start eating soon, we are always happy to discuss your husbandry. If you want any help or advice post some pics and give us the info on how you care for this little one.

 

[Wewin15]

It can take a couple weeks for a tort to settle in a new environment. They will often be very active the first couple days, this might be their attempts to find their old territory. Typically they wont be interested in much else and afterwards they will tend to hide a lot for a few days. Once they have settled and gotten familiar with their new territory they will resume more normal behaviour. It can certainly take several days for torts to start eating normally again.

Under a year old is also pretty young so there could be other factors involved if it doesnt start eating soon, we are always happy to discuss your husbandry. If you want any help or advice post some pics and give us the info on how you care for this little one.

Thank you. I’ll keep a close eye on him.

 

[method89]

Your cool end temp is too low... get it up to 80-85.

Sticky: HERMANN'S TORTOISE CARE SHEET *UPDATED

Josh and I corresponded last week about making an updated version of the Hermann's tortoise care sheet since the old one we have posted here is a bit outdated and a little too brief in my opinion. So, here is the new one equipped with photos. Look out for the April 2015 issue of Reptiles...

www.tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

www.tortoiseforum.org

 

[Wewin15]

Your cool end temp is too low... get it up to 80-85.

Sticky: HERMANN'S TORTOISE CARE SHEET *UPDATED

Josh and I corresponded last week about making an updated version of the Hermann's tortoise care sheet since the old one we have posted here is a bit outdated and a little too brief in my opinion. So, here is the new one equipped with photos. Look out for the April 2015 issue of Reptiles...

www.tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

www.tortoiseforum.org

I just took the temp again and it’s around 80. I took the initial temp in the morning just as I turned the lights on.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Greetings WeWin.

As others have said, the issue ould be a combination of things. A new environment, lighting, heat, cold, food choices, etc. so, your new little guy is settling in. That said MANY new keepers over estimate the temperatures at tort level. So, a combo of so many changes, coupled with too cold temps at tort level, will result in a sluggish, sleeping, non-eating tortoise.

Upload some pix of your enclosure and describe how/where you are taking temps. Many folks use very inaccurate analog gauges.

So, good luck. Upload some pix. Happy torting.

 

[Wewin15]

Greetings WeWin.

As others have said, the issue ould be a combination of things. A new environment, lighting, heat, cold, food choices, etc. so, your new little guy is settling in. That said MANY new keepers over estimate the temperatures at tort level. So, a combo of so many changes, coupled with too cold temps at tort level, will result in a sluggish, sleeping, non-eating tortoise.

Upload some pix of your enclosure and describe how/where you are taking temps. Many folks use very inaccurate analog gauges.

So, good luck. Upload some pix. Happy torting.

 

[Wewin15]

Currently have him in a 4ft viv

 

[Wewin15]

Currently have him in a 4ft viv

I’m taking the temps via an electronic temperature gun

 

[Maro2Bear]

Just a quick question & a couple of observations. How are you providing/maintaining overall ambient heat? I don’t see a RHP or a CHE present.

One thing i see that you should move away from is the “rabbit pellet” substrate. It’s just not a good substrate, it can‘t be moistened to help with humidity, it easily molds, & it encourages a tort to nibble & eat substrate. There are many better choices - orchid bark, coco coir, or plain cypress mulch.

Lastly, the light without the cage LOOKS like a CFL bulb? If so, these have been known to cause issues for torts.

 

[Wewin15]

Just a quick question & a couple of observations. How are you providing/maintaining overall ambient heat? I don’t see a RHP or a CHE present.

One thing i see that you should move away from is the “rabbit pellet” substrate. It’s just not a good substrate, it can‘t be moistened to help with humidity, it easily molds, & it encourages a tort to nibble & eat substrate. There are many better choices - orchid bark, coco coir, or plain cypress mulch.

Lastly, the light without the cage LOOKS like a CFL bulb? If so, these have been known to cause issues for torts.

Hello. Thanks for the reply. I’m sorry but I don’t understand what you mean by CFL and RHP. I was scared to use a substrate that would get in his eyes or irritate him however I’m now gonna find some better substrate thanks,