Redfoot Tortoise Care Problems, Please Help, Very Worried!!

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Posted by J.A. on April 14, 2002 at 00:27:49:

Hello! I had a cherry redfoot shipped to me about 4 days ago. He is about 5 inches. I do know the proper care of the redfoot, and have him set up according to standard, with temp. as it should be, and everything is as it should be (heat lamp hot spots, water bowl, misting, etc). He, for some reason, does not want to eat-he walks past the food as if he did not see it (usual tortoise fasion when they are not hungry, my other torts do this when they just do not want anything to eat.) He seems to want to sleep a lot. My other torts sleep quite a bit too, but perk up when the food comes usually. It almost seems like his head is too heavy to hold up-I know this sounds silly, but this is how he acts, like he doesnt want to hold his head up for long-when I pick him up he is perky, and he will move around wehn I put him down, but he does not seem to really want to much. I am just wondering if he is still adjusting to his new environment and is stressed out by it? How long does it take these guys to get adjusted usually, how long before I should start getting worried? I do know when we moved to a new location, my Russian Tort had some trouble adjusting, and would not eat for over a week and acted weird, but I know how he acts, and I do not know ther personality of this tort yet. I have tried every kind of food I know, and believe me, I keep other torts, and know just about all their favorite foods, so this should not be the problem either, strawberries are almost always a winner, but he squished right over them. I have tried removing him from the enclosure to feed him also, and I do not bother him any more than I need to. He just seems "mopey" and lazy, it does not seem to be a R.I., for I have seen this in torts, and it does not seem to be this. He also keeps going into his shell sort of and rubbing the side of his face (or eyes?) He had eaten before he came, for he did poop when he got here, some solid poop, and then when he got his soaks, some wet poop, but he does not seem dehyrated either, he didnt drink tons and tons, just normal drinking. Can these guys get overly stressed by shipping, and simply not adjust, or is it usually a passing problem? Please let me know if anyone has had this similar problem, and what happened, I would feel so much better if I saw the redfoot eat anything at all, i am just getting really worried, and he was dewormed also before he came here, so I can only believe that the problem lies somewhere in the stress of shipping. Thanks everyone for all of your help, I usually do not have problems with my torts, unfortunately now I do, and hopefully he pulls through, poor lil guy, if this continues, I will have to find a vet to take him to. Thanks!!!!!

Follow Ups:

Re: Redfoot Tortoise Care Problems, Please Help, Very Worried!! Terry 04/14/02 (0)
parasites got my vote and... EJ 04/14/02 (0)
Re: Redfoot Tortoise Care Problems, Please Help, Very Worried!! Pete 04/14/02 (0)
Re: Redfoot Tortoise Care Problems, Please Help, Very Worried!! mikey 04/14/02 (0)
Re: Redfoot Tortoise Care Problems, Please Help, Very Worried!! samuele 04/14/02 (0)

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: Hello! I had a cherry redfoot shipped to me about 4 days ago. He is about 5 inches. I do know the proper care of the redfoot, and have him set up according to standard, with temp. as it should be, and everything is as it should be (heat lamp hot spots, water bowl, misting, etc). He, for some reason, does not want to eat-he walks past the food as if he did not see it (usual tortoise fasion when they are not hungry, my other torts do this when they just do not want anything to eat.) He seems to want to sleep a lot. My other torts sleep quite a bit too, but perk up when the food comes usually. It almost seems like his head is too heavy to hold up-I know this sounds silly, but this is how he acts, like he doesnt want to hold his head up for long-when I pick him up he is perky, and he will move around wehn I put him down, but he does not seem to really want to much. I am just wondering if he is still adjusting to his new environment and is stressed out by it? How long does it take these guys to get adjusted usually, how long before I should start getting worried? I do know when we moved to a new location, my Russian Tort had some trouble adjusting, and would not eat for over a week and acted weird, but I know how he acts, and I do not know ther personality of this tort yet. I have tried every kind of food I know, and believe me, I keep other torts, and know just about all their favorite foods, so this should not be the problem either, strawberries are almost always a winner, but he squished right over them. I have tried removing him from the enclosure to feed him also, and I do not bother him any more than I need to. He just seems "mopey" and lazy, it does not seem to be a R.I., for I have seen this in torts, and it does not seem to be this. He also keeps going into his shell sort of and rubbing the side of his face (or eyes?) He had eaten before he came, for he did poop when he got here, some solid poop, and then when he got his soaks, some wet poop, but he does not seem dehyrated either, he didnt drink tons and tons, just normal drinking. Can these guys get overly stressed by shipping, and simply not adjust, or is it usually a passing problem? Please let me know if anyone has had this similar problem, and what happened, I would feel so much better if I saw the redfoot eat anything at all, i am just getting really worried, and he was dewormed also before he came here, so I can only believe that the problem lies somewhere in the stress of shipping. Thanks everyone for all of your help, I usually do not have problems with my torts, unfortunately now I do, and hopefully he pulls through, poor lil guy, if this continues, I will have to find a vet to take him to. Thanks!!!!!

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