Hiya and help!

[rockc]

Hey,

Just wanted to say hi to people I haven't spoken to yet!

I'm Roxy, my tort is Porkpie (the horsefield) from the U.K.

People might have already seen me pestering for help, after I recently inherited Porkpie who has basically been left to roam around houses for years. Obviously he isnt doing so good - not eating and very lethargic so am picking everyones brains for any tips.

Since my last post I have got a 4" x 2" tortoise table - Shelter, UV, Basking light, digital therm set up to the advice kindly posted by others on here. Also given him 2 baby food soaks to which he has responded to well.

He started getting really energetic, but still refuses to eat and today he seams to have gone quiet again. Do they take a while to adjust to new homes?

Should I continue with the baby food soaks? I heard you could syringe it into their mouths like I did with the critical care formula the vet gave me - would anyone recommend syringing baby food or liquidised greens into a torts mouth?

Any top tips to help porkpie would be ace. He is still drinking ALOT.

Please help and thanks loads already!
xx

 

[Yvonne G]

Oh...I get it now...Rock C, Roxy! Very clever. LOL!

I would use the Critical Care rather than the baby food. But you can moisten the Critical Care WITH the baby food to get it syringe ready.

 

[dmmj]

Hibiscus flowers ( I don't know if they are available in the UK) can often get a reluctant tortoise to eat.

 

[rockc]

Cheers!

I still have some left - but worried that it cant be a permanent thing??
Have you ever had to get a tortoise feeding again? In your experience will eating solids just come in time?

Will put a picture on if you don't mind me pestering!
x

 

[Fernando]

Hi!

 

[rockc]

Hi -
Can get Dried Pink Hibiscus Petals? Is that right??
Here is a piccy (if I figure out how to get it on here) What do you think?

I'm not happy with the way he has his head out like that - spend most of his time like this - Moves in and out of basking area and drinks alot - Very worried so any opinion would be ace!!

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome.

 

[October]

Hard to tell from the picture, but he may just be soaking up the heat. Comfortable torts will almost look comically dead when basking. Are you soaking him? Other than the babyfood soaks? The shavings look dry to me.

 

[dmmj]

That actually looks like the death pose you often see when a tortoise is just relaxing. And the dried should work ok, but if you can find fresh all the better.

 

[Isa]

Welcome to the forum Glad you made all the changes to have a healthy tortoise. Good luck and please, Keep us posted

 

[Jacob]

Hello and Welcome

 

[coreyc]

Welcome to the TFO

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Roxy:

Do you know any history of the tortoise, I mean, has he received any antibiotics? Has he ever been de-wormed? Since he's not eating, I imagine it would be pretty hard to get a stool sample to test for parasites.

No, you don't want to look at the Critical Care as a long term fix. You would hope that he'd start eating eventually. I think he should go to a good tortoise vet and get some tests done. Something is not right, and force feeding and warming him up and soaking him don't seem to be doing the trick.

 

[rockc]

Hi!

Thanks for all the kind replies!

Is it possible Porkpie is blind? He rarely retracts and I saw him try for food - was just kids of trying to chomp vaguely in the vacinity of his food and unfortunatly missed. I'm kinda hoping that the fact he tried is a step in the right direction.

As for history as far as I know - he has never been to the vets before I had him. I think my Uncle had him for a long time......heard stories of him living under the oven!!!! ;( When he died my mom took him and as you know he was a house tortoise -saving grace was that he did spend some days in the garden. He was still very energetic last year and a good eater....Can all these years take its toll?? Thats about 10 years that Im aware of.

Stool samples are out as I have not seen him poo...think he may possibly wee when he is in water.

He does get a soak every day? Is this too much - he always drinks lots.
The bedding is dry too...............it's what came with the kit, but he has a large water bowl??

Am struggling to get him to a specialist vet as there isnt one near by - but fingers crossed will get there Tuesday. Thats why I started the forum - to pick your brains as I knew there was no quick way I was getting there.

As for the death pose!! He does seam to do it when soaking up the rays - hopefully he is enjoying it.

Thanks again for your answers
x

 

[Tom]

Yes blindness is a possibility. Has he ever been under one of those coil type florescent UV bulbs? Those can blind them.

Try hand feeding him. Hold some food still right in front of his face. Be patient and just let him sniff at it and see if he'll take a bite. Mazuri might help if this is your problem too. It has a really strong smell.

 

[rockc]

Porkpie has been chomping his food like a good 'un tonight! whooooooppp, whoooooooooooop!!

xx

 

[dmmj]

That is good news indeed