Re: sulcata not eating

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Posted by Terry on December 05, 2000 at 00:18:51:

In Reply to: sulcata not eating posted by chirsty on December 04, 2000 at 19:33:36:

Have you soaked him yet?
In my previous posts to you I mentioned soaking, if you haven't yet then give him a soak.
Go back to my previous post to you further down the forum to read how to soak him and how often.
If he's not eating he must be soaked to keep him hydrated, even when he is eating soaking is still recommended.

Temperatures:

Too hot and he will become inactive, max out.
Too cold and he will also be inactive and uninterested in food.

So you MUST provide a heat gradient.

Up to 92 in the warm end of the enclosure, BUT there MUST also be a cooler side to the enclosure.
An area around 80-85 degrees , he MUST be able to move between the warmer and cooler areas.
So he can warm himself up, or cool down a bit.

Night time temperature should be around 75-77 degrees for such a small tortoise even 80,while he's not eating.
But no higher than 80 for night time temperatures, and no lower than 75.

Can you describe your set-up.

What substrate you use, temperatures in the warm and cool sides of the enclosure.
If you've been soaking him,do you have both UV lighting and a basking lamp?

Answer the above questions so we can help you more.

Otherwise get him to a vet. Sulcatas are very active tortoises with large appetites, if it's not eating something is very wrong.

Either he's sick and needs to see a vet.Or your set-up needs improving, or both.
So please get back to us with a complete description of his enclosure and his daily routine.

Is he active at all?
Do you soak him?
What substrate are you using?
What are the temperatures in his enclosure, warm and cold sides?
What is the night time temperature?
Do you have both UV lighting and a basking light?

Let us know the answers, it will help us to help you out more.

Terry.

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: Have you soaked him yet? : In my previous posts to you I mentioned soaking, if you haven't yet then give him a soak. : Go back to my previous post to you further down the forum to read how to soak him and how often. : If he's not eating he must be soaked to keep him hydrated, even when he is eating soaking is still recommended. : Temperatures: : Too hot and he will become inactive, max out. : Too cold and he will also be inactive and uninterested in food. : So you MUST provide a heat gradient. : Up to 92 in the warm end of the enclosure, BUT there MUST also be a cooler side to the enclosure. : An area around 80-85 degrees , he MUST be able to move between the warmer and cooler areas. : So he can warm himself up, or cool down a bit. : Night time temperature should be around 75-77 degrees for such a small tortoise even 80,while he's not eating. : But no higher than 80 for night time temperatures, and no lower than 75. : Can you describe your set-up. : What substrate you use, temperatures in the warm and cool sides of the enclosure. : If you've been soaking him,do you have both UV lighting and a basking lamp? : Answer the above questions so we can help you more. : Otherwise get him to a vet. Sulcatas are very active tortoises with large appetites, if it's not eating something is very wrong. : Either he's sick and needs to see a vet.Or your set-up needs improving, or both. : So please get back to us with a complete description of his enclosure and his daily routine. : Is he active at all? : Do you soak him? : What substrate are you using? : What are the temperatures in his enclosure, warm and cold sides? : What is the night time temperature? : Do you have both UV lighting and a basking light? : Let us know the answers, it will help us to help you out more. : Terry.

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