Weird Problem with Sulcata Eating

[mobtech]

My 45ish lb sulcata does not eat anything off the ground. He tries, but just bits air (like 6-10 times before moving on). He does not understand how to lower himself to eat off the ground. He eats high weeds, grape leaves and pretty much anything I will hand feed him. He does not even eat treats off the ground. It is the strangest thing to watch. I will try to get video. Anyone have any advice on how to help him?

 

[Tom]

Sounds like it might be an eyesight issue.

But I'm curious. If you put a tall pile of food out for him can he eat his way down the pile? At what point will he stop grabbing at the lower food? Try a pile of romaine leaves all stacked in a pyramid and see how low he goes before he quits.

 

[dmmj]

Could be a vision problem.

 

[mobtech]

I have piled food. He eats until about 2" or 3" from the ground.

 

[dmmj]

Sounds like he can see, maybe. I wonder if he has some sort of injury preventing him from going lower.Is this recent,or long term?

 

[mobtech]

About the last year. I am not ruling out vision problems though. Is there anything I can do, supplements or foods to help with his vision?

 

[WillTort2]

Could it be that his shell is making it uncomfortable for him to reach down with his head?

 

[mobtech]

Could it be that his shell is making it uncomfortable for him to reach down with his head?

That is a real possibility as well.

 

[dmmj]

I wouldn't rule out vision just yet either, nothing I am aware of (food wise) to help with vision. If the shell is growing funny, it could be poking him whenever he goes to reach down, for food limiting his range of motion.

 

[mobtech]

I went with piling bermuda grass and he seems to have figured out how to eat it to the ground.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Maybe he has a hard time seeing the ground?

 

[Yvonne G]

I think it has to do with his gular. Some tortoises don't realize they have to put their head out to the side to get past the gular.

 

[mobtech]

I think it is his gular as well. He seems to be able to pick out things he wants like grapes in the pile of bermuda.