Tortoise not Eating much?

[Clementine The Tortoise]

My Greek Tortoise seems to only be eating a little veggies each day and none of the pelleted food. I was wondering if anyone has some advice for me to help my tortoise get a healthy diet. I don't really know what to feed her to prevent pyramiding other than the pelleted food she won't eat. If someone could add a list of food they feed their tortoise to keep them healthy it would be very much appreciated. To add, I got my tortoise about 2 weeks ago.

 

[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome to TFO

Your tort is very new and that could be the problem.

However, there could also be problems with the enclosure and lighting causing the lack of appetite.

Photos of the enclosure and lighting will help us to help you. We also need to kmow the 4 important temperatures: warm side, cool side, directly under the basking lamp and overnight minimum.

Have you read the care sheets for Greeks? They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Greek Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greek-tortoise-testudo-graeca-care-sheet-overview.87146/

 

[JoesMum]

I also recommend establishing a routine with a new tort so it learns that you are safe and what to expect when.

Put the lights on a timer for 12-14 hours a day so they come on and go off at the same time each day.

First thing every morning, before your tort has warmed up properly, soak your tort for at least 20 minutes in warm water. Use a bowl with a flat bottom and high sides that your tort cannot see over or through; a washing up bowl is ideal. The water needs to be deep enough to come just up over the join between the sheel and the plastron.

While your tort soaks, tidy the enclosure and place food.

Replace your tort and walk away. Leave your tort completely alone to be brave and explore without a big intimidating human staring at it.

It will soon learn that you are the supplier of yummy food, but give it chance

Your tort is happiest with 4 feet on the floor and in the correct humidity and temperatures. They are solitary creatures and don't need, want or particularly like company. Resist the temptation to keep taking your tort out of its enclosure to play or whatever

 

[Clementine The Tortoise]

Thank you for the help! I will try and post pictures later tonight but I know my enclosure isn't 4 feet. I bought the biggest one I could find at the pet store which is the large wide terrarium from zoomed. I still need to get timers for the terrarium as well. The cage is consistently heated to 75 degrees and on the cold side about 73 but the humidity levels are in the low 50s. With the smaller terarium, which was a big upgrade from where the tortoise was living in the pet store, do you recommend any way to make the tortoise more happy? I will have this tortoise for a really long time hopefully and I want to make sure she has the happiest life with me. I will eventually upgrade the terrarium but until then we are looking into making an outdoor area for this summer. Would it stress the tortoise out to much to move her from inside to outside as the seasons change?

 

[Gillian M]

A very warm welcome to the forum @Clementine The Tortoise .

Don't worry. We're here to help.

One thing I'm sure of: torts do not like change. Therefore they take long to get used to it and adapt.

(By the way I have a Greek tort too).

 

[Clementine The Tortoise]

Thank you! I was worried about making an outdoor area because living in my area it could be hot and sunny one day and cold or raining the next.

 

[Clementine The Tortoise]

Also I'll measure my torts terrarium at home but it actually might be 4square feet atleast.

 

[JoesMum]

Whereabouts in the world are you and how old is your tortoise?

Adaptations can be made to make an outdoor enclosure work... It rains in the wild after all

However, very young tortoises are very susceptible to cold and are best kept in proper closed chamber indoor enclosures for the first few years until they're bigger and more able to cope.

 

[Clementine The Tortoise]

Whereabouts in the world are you and how old is your tortoise?

Adaptations can be made to make an outdoor enclosure work... It rains in the wild after all

However, very young tortoises are very susceptible to cold and are best kept in proper closed chamber indoor enclosures for the first few years until they're bigger and more able to cope.

Central America. Basically we get a little of every weather. Rain, snow, hail you name it we've probably had it.

 

[JoesMum]

Central America. Basically we get a little of every weather. Rain, snow, hail you name it we've probably had it.

I'm in the UK. Same thing but colder

 

[Clementine The Tortoise]

I'm in the UK. Same thing but colder

Thank you everyone for your help! I got a timer for the heat and Uvb lamp last night and will be setting it up today I will be using this forum a lot from now on because you guys are all so nice!