new tortoise owner

[khuntley710]

Her name is shelly, and she is a russian.
She loves to roam the yard, but soaking not so much.

She soaks calmly until she poops then she wants out asap.
She is a really picky eater, i've had to give her a lot of different things and I only feed her what she likes now.

 

[Jacqui]

Hi and welcome! You say your only feeding her what she wants, does that mean she is getting a good balanced and varied diet or does Shelly only like items which make up a not so great diet? What is she eating? You may have to be a bit tough with her and get her eating a wider variety for her own good.

 

[tiff3grl]

Hello and welcome

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[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome

Tortoises will behave like toddlers given tbe opportunity,. They will try not to eat their greens and hold out for the 'candy'. You have to be the strong parent and insist that they eat what they are given... you are in charge, not your tort.

Go back to basics:
Start the day with a soak, just after lights on, before your tort has warmed up in the morning.
Use a high sided bowl that he can't see out of and experiment with warm, not hot water temperatures, until they are right for relaxation. Wanting out after a poop as you describe is common.
Put your tort's greens on a piece of flat slate or tile and leave him to eat them.
Walk away, don't watch.
Lkke a sulky child, he might hold out for a few days without eating, but it won't do any harm and he will get hungry and he will eat the right things.

You have to be strong and not give in... that's what we are here for... support network for stressed tort keepers

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi K, and welcome to the Forum!

 

[shanu303]

Hello and Welcome to TFO !! shelly is really cute

 

[EchoTheLeoTort]

welcome. cute tort

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

hello! Welcome to TFO!