I’m becoming increasingly worried about my Russian tortoise and would really like some insight from experienced tortoise keepers as I don’t know anyone else who has them. I rescued him from a family member who didn’t have time for him 4 years ago and he is 5 now.
He is very lethargic and I haven’t seen him eat properly in months. I drag him out of his hide every day and place him in front of fresh weeds and greens, but he has no interest and goes straight back to bed. If I don’t get him out, he does not emerge by himself. Very rarely I see him attempt to take a bite of something but it’s as if he doesn’t have the strength to rip it off so he gives up. The last time I saw him eat was a tiny mouthful of dandelion flower about a week ago and I don’t remember the time before that. I wonder if he could be struggling in part because I trimmed his beak a few months ago? I soak him once a week and he passes what I think is normal white urates, and sometimes poop.
This behaviour started about 3 months ago when he was living in his indoor enclosure. I made him an outdoor enclosure hoping that being out in the fresh air would help, but the behaviour hasn’t changed. He has lived outside for about 1 month now. It is the end of British summer so it is mild outside. I thought when he was indoors that he could be overheating under his mercury vapour UV+UVB lamp, but now he’s out in the cool, it’s no different.
I am worried sick for the little man. I don’t know of any exotic vets nearby and have no savings but if this sounds serious I will do everything I can to get him treatment. I just want to see him back to his old self. Thank you for reading.
He is very lethargic and I haven’t seen him eat properly in months. I drag him out of his hide every day and place him in front of fresh weeds and greens, but he has no interest and goes straight back to bed. If I don’t get him out, he does not emerge by himself. Very rarely I see him attempt to take a bite of something but it’s as if he doesn’t have the strength to rip it off so he gives up. The last time I saw him eat was a tiny mouthful of dandelion flower about a week ago and I don’t remember the time before that. I wonder if he could be struggling in part because I trimmed his beak a few months ago? I soak him once a week and he passes what I think is normal white urates, and sometimes poop.
This behaviour started about 3 months ago when he was living in his indoor enclosure. I made him an outdoor enclosure hoping that being out in the fresh air would help, but the behaviour hasn’t changed. He has lived outside for about 1 month now. It is the end of British summer so it is mild outside. I thought when he was indoors that he could be overheating under his mercury vapour UV+UVB lamp, but now he’s out in the cool, it’s no different.
I am worried sick for the little man. I don’t know of any exotic vets nearby and have no savings but if this sounds serious I will do everything I can to get him treatment. I just want to see him back to his old self. Thank you for reading.