New enclosure, appetite decreased

[BigTomsMom]

My 12 year old red foot that i got in November has been living inside his whole life. He ate like a beast, anything offered he would eat. Recently in the past month i have moved him outside and he is not interested in greens anymore, only fruit. I live in Louisiana where It is hot and humid. He has a house for night time w a heat lamp and cypress bark substrate. He has an outside hide to get out of the sun if he wants. He’s very active, moves all around the enclosure as if he’s exploring. I’ve seen him nibble on the grass but doesn’t seem to be eating enough of that to equal what he was eating when he was inside. He is also eating hibiscus flowers which is new to him as well. He’s still pooping, I’m still soaking him a couple times a week. Will put some enclosure pics below... just worried he’s not eating enough. Or is it possible he was eating so much inside bc he was bored?

 

[aqualungs]

He’s just needing some adjustment time. He is looking for his old spot. Pretty soon he will adjust and eat again. Soaking and hydration is important so keep that up for sure!

 

[dmmj]

Tortoises do not like change very very OCD about it. He fears he's in a new territory and there might be another tortoise who's already claimed it and he's afraid he might get chased out or flipped over. He needs time to realize he is the only tortoise around and everything in there is his. No surprise he loves hibiscus flowers that's known as tortoise crack

 

[ZEROPILOT]

What they said
And nice work on that enclosure.
It's nice to see one that's actually large enough.
I'd bury a shallow pan, also.
My RF swim in their pools a lot.

 

[Relic]

Nice enclosure. I like that you can see directly into it from your home windows. Mine is not visible from the house and I often wish I had located it closer. You might plant a couple of bushes in there to provide some more shade from that hot Louisiana summer sun...Rose of Sharon (a perennial hibiscus) would be nice, with both edible flowers and leaves.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Nice enclosure. I like that you can see directly into it from your home windows. Mine is not visible from the house and I often wish I had located it closer. You might plant a couple of bushes in there to provide some more shade from that hot Louisiana summer sun...Rose of Sharon (a perennial hibiscus) would be nice, with both edible flowers and leaves.

A well planted, well shaded enclosure is best for a RF.