Tortoise won’t eat

[Tyler Fulco]

So I have a desert tortoise named tortellini. He’s at least 10 and in good condition. (no pyramiding or anything) he won’t eat a lot of food. He usually just takes a couple bites every now and then but I’ve only had him for a week so I’m wondering if he’s still a little shy. He likes apples which aren’t good for him. I usually just feed him buttered lettuce. He also might not eat because it’s starting to get cold out and he might be starting to hibernate. Any tips?


Thanks

 

[wellington]

Does he have a basking spot that he can warm up under that is 95-100 degrees? They need this to digest their food properly. Also try a better diet.
Unless you knew him before you got him, you should keep him up from hibernating the first year.
The not eating could also be due to the cold and readying himself to hibernate.

 

[Tyler Fulco]

Thank you. He has a place outdoors. He dug a little hiding spot under a nice warm tarp that he sleeps in

 

[Big Charlie]

Thank you. He has a place outdoors. He dug a little hiding spot under a nice warm tarp that he sleeps in

Unless the tarp is heated, it isn't warm. Tortoises are cold-blooded so aren't kept warm by blankets like we are. What part of California are you in? Are you going to hibernate him this year?

 

[Tyler Fulco]

I’m in Lancaster California and yes he will hibernate

 

[Big Charlie]

I’m in Lancaster California and yes he will hibernate

Do you hibernate him outdoors or in the refrigerator?
There are some discussions in the desert tortoise section of the forum that might help you. https://tortoiseforum.org/forums/north-american-tortoises-genus-gopherus.72/
I don't have a tortoise that hibernates so I'm not much help.

 

[Tyler Fulco]

Do you hibernate him outdoors or in the refrigerator?
There are some discussions in the desert tortoise section of the forum that might help you. https://tortoiseforum.org/forums/north-american-tortoises-genus-gopherus.72/
I don't have a tortoise that hibernates so I'm not much help.

Neither. I put him in a box with insulation and a blanket on top of it so he can breath, then I put him in a dark closet

 

[Big Charlie]

Neither. I put him in a box with insulation and a blanket on top of it so he can breath, then I put him in a dark closet

that's surprising! It doesn't get too warm in the closet?

 

[Tyler Fulco]

No. Everyone I asked said I should do that. What tortoise do you have?

 

[Big Charlie]

No. Everyone I asked said I should do that. What tortoise do you have?

I have a 18 year old 100+ pound sulcata that lives in my backyard.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

Okay, for those of us not in the know, what type, (species) of tortoise are we talking about here, and what size is it?
Most, but not all tortoises will try to brumate if given the opportunity to. If this is what you’re wanting to accomplish and you feel up to the challenge, then I say, go for it. That said, after all the worst that can happen is that your tortoise may die.
All reptiles and amphibians are ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, relying on their environment for thermoregulation. That said, these animals have evolved and adapted incredible survival strategies to ensure survival when environmental conditions become unsatisfactory. One such adaptation is brumation.
I personally have never brumated any of my tortoises due to the risks involved and myself not feeling competent enough to do so.

 

[Tyler Fulco]

Awesome! I would love to see a picture of it!

 

[Tyler Fulco]

Not too big, around 7-12 inches and is a desert tortoise. Also, what’s brumation?

 

[Big Charlie]

Not too big, around 7-12 inches and is a desert tortoise. Also, what’s brumation?

Brumation is the correct term for what we have been calling hibernation.

 

[Tyler Fulco]

Ok

 

[Tyler Fulco]

Brumation is the correct term for what we have been calling hibernation.

So what do you think I should do? Have you taken a look at all the previous messages in the thread?

 

[Big Charlie]

Awesome! I would love to see a picture of it!

 

[Tyler Fulco]

That’s so cool!

 

[Big Charlie]

So what do you think I should do? Have you taken a look at all the previous messages in the thread?

I think you should read the desert tortoise section of the forum that I linked above, and probably post a thread in that forum so you can get advice from people who have the same kind of tortoise.

 

[Tyler Fulco]

this is my tortoise