Re: Russian stopped eating

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Posted by brad on May 24, 2001 at 14:50:03:

In Reply to: Russian stopped eating posted by Rookie Russion owner on May 24, 2001 at 13:28:39:

1) Two days is nothing. Too soon to be worried
as long as the tortoise looks healthy. If he
has a runny nose, smelly stools, etc. then you
need to see a vet.

2) Has he been to the vet? Russian tortoises
are generally wild caught and frequently in
poor health by the time they make it to the
pet store. It should be checked for parasites (take in a fresh fecal) and have an overall checkup. It could have worms or some other problem that is finally catching up to it.

3) You say it was warm then it cooled off. The tortoise could be reacting to that and slowing down a little.

4) Are you keeping him warm and dry in his pen?
Is there a warm spot (under a lamp) that gets up
to about 90F during the day, and it gets no cooler than about 65F at night?

5) Diet - romaine is not a great food - and turnip
and cabbage should be limited or eliminated. Definitely add more dandelions and other weeds like plantain and clover and a little grass. From the grocery store you can add in turnip greens (just not the turnip), collard greens, endive, and escarole. Be sure to put some calcium/d3 powder (like that from RepCal) on the food a couple times a week.

5) Let him get out in the sun when the temps are above 60F outside. Keep an eye on him. They
are very good at sneaking away or digging out.

:
: We got my 9 year old a Russian Tort for Christmas, have done reading/research of food etc. And the tort (named Torty) seemed to be very happy and active (has a half log in the pen and likes to climb up one side and slide down the other). Anyway, several days ago the tort seems to have stopped eating and doesn't seem very active.

: We give Torty at least 2 soaks/baths a week in a tub of warm water to hydrate and he almost always defecates in the water a couple times. Last two soaks Torty hasn't been eating and just sort of lays in the water, if Torty defecates it is just a small amount. When we put warm water in he seemed to perk up but then calmed down again. He does urinate (white stuff) in the water.

: The Tort hasn't eaten at all in 2 days, we have varied the food, but primarily Romain lettuce which has always been eaten, throw in some carrots, turnip, cabbage and lately dandelions.

: I am worried he is sick, but could he be trying to hibernate? It got WARM in NH for a week then cooled off again.

: --Bob

Follow Ups:

Re: Russian stopped eating Rookie Russion owner 05/24/01 (3)
- Re: Russian stopped eating Justin 05/24/01 (2)
  - Re: Russian stopped eating Eric T 05/25/01 (1)
    - Re: Russian stopped eating Justin 05/25/01 (0)

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Comments:
: 1) Two days is nothing. Too soon to be worried : as long as the tortoise looks healthy. If he : has a runny nose, smelly stools, etc. then you : need to see a vet. : 2) Has he been to the vet? Russian tortoises : are generally wild caught and frequently in : poor health by the time they make it to the : pet store. It should be checked for parasites (take in a fresh fecal) and have an overall checkup. It could have worms or some other problem that is finally catching up to it. : 3) You say it was warm then it cooled off. The tortoise could be reacting to that and slowing down a little. : 4) Are you keeping him warm and dry in his pen? : Is there a warm spot (under a lamp) that gets up : to about 90F during the day, and it gets no cooler than about 65F at night? : 5) Diet - romaine is not a great food - and turnip : and cabbage should be limited or eliminated. Definitely add more dandelions and other weeds like plantain and clover and a little grass. From the grocery store you can add in turnip greens (just not the turnip), collard greens, endive, and escarole. Be sure to put some calcium/d3 powder (like that from RepCal) on the food a couple times a week. : 5) Let him get out in the sun when the temps are above 60F outside. Keep an eye on him. They : are very good at sneaking away or digging out. : : : : : We got my 9 year old a Russian Tort for Christmas, have done reading/research of food etc. And the tort (named Torty) seemed to be very happy and active (has a half log in the pen and likes to climb up one side and slide down the other). Anyway, several days ago the tort seems to have stopped eating and doesn't seem very active. : : We give Torty at least 2 soaks/baths a week in a tub of warm water to hydrate and he almost always defecates in the water a couple times. Last two soaks Torty hasn't been eating and just sort of lays in the water, if Torty defecates it is just a small amount. When we put warm water in he seemed to perk up but then calmed down again. He does urinate (white stuff) in the water. : : The Tort hasn't eaten at all in 2 days, we have varied the food, but primarily Romain lettuce which has always been eaten, throw in some carrots, turnip, cabbage and lately dandelions. : : I am worried he is sick, but could he be trying to hibernate? It got WARM in NH for a week then cooled off again. : : --Bob

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