I'm worried. I went on holiday at christmas and left clear instructions and weeds for my neighbour to feed my horsfield tortoise and stated that if she ran out then it would be ok to give him iceburg lettuce.

What could go wrong???

She fed him cucmber every day and said "He loved his cucumber" well of course he did!!! I have never fed it to him as it is a treat and not recommended for everyday use and also i had just weaned him off those pellets.

Now he won't touch his weeds at all. He just walks all over them and doesn't eat them, he's been like this for over a week now and i'm getting worried. Please help. What can i do?

P.S. He's not hibernating cos i got him late in the year

Persist, he wont starve himslef

__________________

Increase the heat under his lamp but maje sure he retires each night to a much cooler area. Give him warmer than usual baths just before feeding for as long as possible in a dark coloured container. This often works.

__________________
Take care
Sue

wizzasmum@aol.com

Thank you, at the moment he has retired to his favourite place to dig - under his water dish. I think cos the substrate is very moist there. I will do his bath and feed tomorrow when he is out and about.

I'll let you know how it goes

just to add moist substrate is a no no with horsfields as it can cause shell rot,respiritary infections

"This is a species that requires a very dry, well-drained substrate indeed - Horsfield's tortoises are unsuited to maintenance on damp soils, or on grass. If Horsfield's tortoises are maintained on damp ground, expect repeated skin, shell and respiratory infections" taken from tortoisetrust.org

Have you tried mushing up some cucumber and coating it over the weeds? just so it gets the smell n flavor onto the weeds then gradually wean him off that way..might be a completely daft idea but just a suggestion

__________________

I'd reccomend simply leaving out the weeds and bathing more often- He won't let himself get so hungry to starve himself.

However, with him being a horsfield, he may be showing his strong urge to hibernate.

__________________
Josh
www.tortoise-world.com

He hasn't come out at all today, he is in his tunnel hiding

Most of his substrate is a dry mix of top soil and sand but where he spills his water when he walks thro it it gets damper than the rest (not wet) and this is where he prefers to dig his tunnels. Its not soaking just damp

Why use a dark container? im using alight clored one jus wondering if this can affect my tort.
Thanks
Greg

im not sure if you should have reccomended iceberg lettuce either?

__________________
Cheers,
Shaun

My Pets0.0.2 Hermanns Torts (Lucy/Loosey-Goosey and Millie/Millie Poo-Pops)

What I Want - Eventually!0.0.1 Bearded Dragon 0.0.1 Redfoot 0.0.1 Chihuahua

true, but i guess a tiny bit is no harm.

__________________