- Joined
- Sep 1, 2012
- Messages
- 4
I have A baby red foot which I got about 2 months ago. It is almost four inches now, and seems to be doing alright.
Before describing my worries, i will first give you an idea about how i care for my tortoise.
I bring him inside at night but allow him to roam around in a safe, interesting enclosure outside durring the day. I am following guidelines for tortoise care carefully and am providing a varried diet including the following: romaine lettuce, mazuri tortoise diet, occasional leaves of spring mix, plants I find outside that are safe for tortoises, zucchini and other vegetables, the occasional bite if fruit such as melon and pear, and a meal worm for protein every 7 to 10 days.
I have noticed that my tortoise is smelly, especially after the mealworm. His poo smells awful, kind of musty and rotten smelling. His urine often smells like rotting fish. The smelly poo after the mealworms makes sense to me but not the smelly urine. I don't know if either is normal. Should I give him something else for proton instead of the occasional mealworm? I am worried about him pyramiding so I don't want to give too much protein.
Also, my little guy is not that active. What worries me most is that if I don't move him to the food he won't eat. The same with water. He will not leave his hiding spot for a drink of water unless I put him right in front of the water. If I don't do this, the food goes to waste and the water untouched, he simply won't touch it. Why does he do this and how can I remedy this issue? He lives to be hand fed, but I can't always do this.
Thank you for answering my questions.
Before describing my worries, i will first give you an idea about how i care for my tortoise.
I bring him inside at night but allow him to roam around in a safe, interesting enclosure outside durring the day. I am following guidelines for tortoise care carefully and am providing a varried diet including the following: romaine lettuce, mazuri tortoise diet, occasional leaves of spring mix, plants I find outside that are safe for tortoises, zucchini and other vegetables, the occasional bite if fruit such as melon and pear, and a meal worm for protein every 7 to 10 days.
I have noticed that my tortoise is smelly, especially after the mealworm. His poo smells awful, kind of musty and rotten smelling. His urine often smells like rotting fish. The smelly poo after the mealworms makes sense to me but not the smelly urine. I don't know if either is normal. Should I give him something else for proton instead of the occasional mealworm? I am worried about him pyramiding so I don't want to give too much protein.
Also, my little guy is not that active. What worries me most is that if I don't move him to the food he won't eat. The same with water. He will not leave his hiding spot for a drink of water unless I put him right in front of the water. If I don't do this, the food goes to waste and the water untouched, he simply won't touch it. Why does he do this and how can I remedy this issue? He lives to be hand fed, but I can't always do this.
Thank you for answering my questions.