I'm looking for some help. I got my son a Russian Tortoise for his Christmas after we watched a friend's when they were on holiday. I got the tortoise from Preloved Pets website. We were told the the tortoise was about 6 months old. My son has named the tortoise Shelby. I had to pick the tortoise up about 3 weeks before Christmas so my friend looked after it in its separate enclosure with heat and uvb combined lamp which I got from Pets at Home. My friend bathed Shelby every day but she wouldn't open her eyes or eat. I phoned two separate vets in the area who advised environment is the main reason why she may not be eating or opening her eyes. I was advised to use an eye lubricant which we started straight away. Since Shelby is now at our house she is opening her eyes but not all the time. She is still not eating that we can see but she does poo in her bath about every 3 days. We have since put a Uvb bulb also in her enclosure. We have a thermometer so her enclosure is the right temperature. We are using substrate for tortoises from Pets at Home which is sprayed with water daily. We bath her daily for an hour and she gets fresh leaves twice a day. We have taken Shelby to our local vet who has given her a clean bill of health but is worried she is light and not eating. All the bulbs are switched off at night but are on for a good 12 hours daily. Shelby tends to stay in a corner at night but she does go to her hide out some nights. She doesn't move to the warmth when her lights are turned back on and I normally have to move her to a warm area after an hour or so in the morning. We are new to this and want to do the best for Shelby so any advice will be welcome, particularly on how to get her to eat as it's been about 4 weeks now. Thanks.
Our Russian Tortoise won't eat
- Thread starter AyrWendy
- Start date
We need more details then she has proper heat etc. we need specifics in order to help. Most of the info you already got from sources other then this forum could be bad or outdated. For one, a uvb bulb should always be available unless your getting your tort outside 3 times a week or more. He needs a basking temp of 95-100 or he can't properly digest his food. What are your temps, day, night basking. What is the humidity. What does the diet consist of? Every detail of his care will help us help you.
Can we see a picture of your enclosure and tortoise?
Thanks for getting back to me. We live in Scotland so it will be a while temperature wise before she can go outside. The basking temperature is 100 with cooler areas she can go to. Should the Uvb light be on 24 hours a day? We are feeding her Florette crispy leaves (Frisee, lettuce and radicchio). We have also got Prorep Tortoise Food. We have tried tomatoes, cucumber and strawberry but are aware these should be limited. She is not interested in any food. Not sure of the temperature at night but none of her lights are kept on. I've attached some photos for you. Let me know if you need any more information. Thanks.
Here are a few recommendations.
-change the substrate. Those little white bits can cause impactions, and tortoises need a substrate that can retain humidity. I recommend orchid bark, coco coir, or cypress mulch.
-Those disk thermometers are not accurate at all. You could have 30 off of a shelf, and none of them would read the same temperatures. Temperature guns are a life savor-
You can get any brand, but make sure you find one that’s accurate(read the reviews).
-you have a compact uvb light. Those are not very effective, and sometimes cause eye issues. I would recommend a tube light, or a mercury vapor bulb. I personally like tube lights more because they seem to last longer, and I like zoo med’s Reptisun 10.0. It is recommended that you get a solar meter for MVBs, because they sometimes go out at around 6 months, depending on the light.
Please give this a read-
Russian Tortoise Care Sheet
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Russian-Tortoise-Care-Sheet.80698/
-change the substrate. Those little white bits can cause impactions, and tortoises need a substrate that can retain humidity. I recommend orchid bark, coco coir, or cypress mulch.
-Those disk thermometers are not accurate at all. You could have 30 off of a shelf, and none of them would read the same temperatures. Temperature guns are a life savor-
You can get any brand, but make sure you find one that’s accurate(read the reviews).
-you have a compact uvb light. Those are not very effective, and sometimes cause eye issues. I would recommend a tube light, or a mercury vapor bulb. I personally like tube lights more because they seem to last longer, and I like zoo med’s Reptisun 10.0. It is recommended that you get a solar meter for MVBs, because they sometimes go out at around 6 months, depending on the light.
Please give this a read-
Russian Tortoise Care Sheet
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Russian-Tortoise-Care-Sheet.80698/
Thanks very much for the advice. I've ordered the coco coir substrate, gun thermometer and light you recommended on amazon prime so it will come tomorrow. The light is the same specification you suggested but have ordered the compact version to fit our fitting. Do you think this will be okay or do I need to buy a new fitting and bulb? Also, we currently have a uva and heat lamp combined, and a separate basking lamp. Should any of these be removed when I get the uvb light tomorrow.
Your help is really appreciated and hopefully we'll have a happy tortoise who is eating soon.
Thanks,
Wendy.
Your help is really appreciated and hopefully we'll have a happy tortoise who is eating soon.
Thanks,
Wendy.
A compact bulb is the same as a coil. It’s not very effective, and can cause eye issues. It’s a shame too, because they’re so affordable lol. A tube light and MVBs are the most effective, in my opinion anyway.
Although, if you have weather warm enough to bring your tort out everyday, that’s an option too.
Sorry to be a complete novice here. I can get the 24 inch tube light but not sure what Mvb to buy. Can you please send me a link so I know what I'm looking for. Have cancelled the previous light ordered and want to make sure I get the right thing.
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.
Here’s a good MVB- https://www.chewy.com/exo-terra-sol...VnbrACh1x0gCjEAQYAiABEgIfB_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
If you want the tube light, which lasts longer, you need a terrarium hood that fits the tube light. Hope this helps!
If you want the tube light, which lasts longer, you need a terrarium hood that fits the tube light. Hope this helps!
Please get rid of that coiled bulb. That could be the reason it is not opening its eyes. Coiled bulbs can cause eye damage. Good luck
Thanks. I've taken it away today and have ordered an all in one lamp which will come tomorrow. Never realised how bright it was until I took it out. It must have been very hard on her eyes.
I welcome any advice as want to ensure I do everything correct. Thanks.
I welcome any advice as want to ensure I do everything correct. Thanks.
This was the advice I was given. I’m a tortoise newbie myself
Your baby needs 27C/85F day and night. And it also needs 35-37C/95-100F directly under the basking lamp. The lights must be as bright as possible and on for 13 hours.
At night your tortoise needs complete darkness, but still needs the warmth so you need a Ceramic Heat Emitter and a thermostat to achieve this.
Without night heat your tort will be too cold to get going the next day.
Your baby needs 27C/85F day and night. And it also needs 35-37C/95-100F directly under the basking lamp. The lights must be as bright as possible and on for 13 hours.
At night your tortoise needs complete darkness, but still needs the warmth so you need a Ceramic Heat Emitter and a thermostat to achieve this.
Without night heat your tort will be too cold to get going the next day.
Gwen Loves Tortoises
Member
Mmm that is very interesting. Perhaps your tort is in hibernation mode.? I have a Russian tortoise too and he eats all day long. I talk to him and pet him a lot and he really likes pets on his head. He likes to climb on his log and bask. One thing I do know is that this species is so very sensitive. I’ll put my prayers in that your sweet Shelby will come around and eat. Btw what a cute name I named my tort Sheldon.
