My Russian turtle won't eat

Tkutchera

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It's been a few days of not eating, we do soak him every other day. We feed him Kale. Too many forums to scroll through to find one similar to this problem.

Hand feeding won't work, he just turns away and goes to burrow.
 

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Changa

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It's been a few days of not eating, we do soak him every other day. We feed him Kale. Too many forums to scroll through to find one similar to this problem.

Hand feeding won't work, he just turns away and goes to burrow.

It's been a few days of not eating, we do soak him every other day. We feed him Kale. Too many forums to scroll through to find one similar to this problem.

Hand feeding won't work, he just turns away and goes to burrow.
It's been a few days of not eating, we do soak him every other day. We feed him Kale. Too many forums to scroll through to find one similar to this problem.

Hand feeding won't work, he just turns away and goes to burrow.
Hey there I'm new too (7mos)
Tap on Tortoise species,scroll to Russian tortoise .Yvonne G has a section " Why does my RT bury itself"
This may help.
 

Tkutchera

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I have a wide open table like area for him, I can't check the temperature nor can I leave the lamp on for 14 hours.
 

dmmj

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Well I was going to ask what your temps are? They are the usual suspects.
 

Tkutchera

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We live in a bi-level home, it's an energy efficient home so upstairs thermostat reads anywhere from 75-80 degrees.
 

drew54

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Its most likely to cold. You really need to check the temps at tort level to make sure they are optimal. They need a core temp of 85 degrees in order to digest food and be active.
 

Yvonne G

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We live in a bi-level home, it's an energy efficient home so upstairs thermostat reads anywhere from 75-80 degrees.
A tortoise can't live comfortably in YOUR ambient temperature. He needs the temperature to be suitable in HIS enclosure. If you are expecting the tortoise to be able to reach the correct inner core temperature just living in a room that is "energy efficient and 75-80 degrees, you are sadly mistaken. He needs a light/heat source that he can sit under in order to bring up his inner core temperature to about 85F degrees. Otherwise his food won't digest and so he won't eat.
 

Tkutchera

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Don't get me wrong he does have a heat lamp and a UVB light. We turn on in the a.m. and turn off at about 9 pm
 

drew54

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You have an open top where the air circulates. Humans are warm blooded reptiles are cold blooded meaning they can't regulate their temps like we can. At tort level it's a colder to them than to us especially in an open top.
 

Tkutchera

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it's not a tank it's more of like a tabletop. Anyway, he is eating now I changed his food thank you all for your advice. Picture is attached.

IMG_20190613_115901347.jpg
 

Cheryl Hills

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A bit of a warning. The sides are not tall enough on that enclosure, russian torts can and will climb. He can get right out with those walls. It would be ashamed for him to crawl out and fall and get hurt.
 

Tkutchera

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He cannot climb out, it is hard plastic and he slides. My friend has had this enclosure for years with no escaping turtles.
 

plantationtort

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He cannot climb out, it is hard plastic and he slides. My friend has had this enclosure for years with no escaping turtles.
First, that is a tortoise not a turtle, and yes he will be able to climb out of that enclosure resulting in a broken or cracked shell, he needs an enclosure at least 20 inches high, temp in the enclosure should be consistant
 

dmmj

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Please at least cap the corners. For everyones peace of mind
 

Bigred1974

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Hey there I'm new too (7mos)
Tap on Tortoise species,scroll to Russian tortoise .Yvonne G has a section " Why does my RT bury itself"
This may help.
Hi there - I had a similar problem until I increased my Russians temperature and also changed it’s substrate. She still buries herself as likes to do this but it’s not all day and I noticed that her shell is much warmer these last few days then before. Good luck. Oh and mine LOVES buttercups and rose leaves! I’ve just bought some basil for her to try . It’s hot and miss sometimes but give it a try
 

Cindy63

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Believe me, he CAN climb out. He just hasn't taken the notion yet. All they need is to be able to get their toenails over the top edge and it matters not how slippery the sides are.
I'm sorry but I agree with Yvonne G he WILL get out. And from it looks like he'll fall far and seriously get hurt
 
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