Can't get my Russian Tortoise to eat

[Amazon_Addict]

Well the thing is, she does eat. She just doesn't eat a lot. I'm mainly trying to ask if these tortoises just don't have a big appetite, given that they don't move around much, and come from an area where food is somewhat scarce.

 

[QBert]

Vet. There's a herp vet in West Allis if that's not too much of a haul; they might be able to recommend someone closer to you.[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, san-serif][SIZE=2"]
Dr. Troy Semandel
Spirit of 76th Veterinary Clinic
7606 W. Lincoln Avenue
West Allis, WI 53219
Tel: (414) 546-0750[/SIZE][/FONT]

How often do you soak her? You mentioned lighting and heat but not humidity...if the ambient humid[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, san-serif]i[/FONT]ty is low she won't digest well and won't want to eat. More weeds, less grocery store stuff would be a good place to start, but that won't be easy in your area. Get her a bag of hay from the rabbit section of the pet store - Oxbow is good quality - and see if she'll take some of that. If she's wild-caught she may be attempting to hibernate - you can't do it now, you need her healthy and fasted to start out with. If she's drinking and otherwise OK, try letting her have a cooler dark area for awhile - an otherwise healthy tort can go weeks without food with no ill effects.

 

[Amazon_Addict]

Thanks for the info on the vet. That's not to far at all. Only about a half hour. Yeah weeds at this time of year is impossible, but I will try the hay. I soak her once, or twice a week for about an hour.

 

[QBert]

Best of luck with her. When you get the hay look for Timothy or Orchard Grass - the Alfalfa isn't ideal. If she eats consistently I wouldn't worry too much about quantity. They don't need a huge amount, especially in winter when the body wants to slow down, and you don't want to overfeed; rapid growth can cause problems. Get the vet to look her over, they'll probably worm her if it hasn't been done recently.

 

[coura]

Have you taken it to the vet? What did he said? And no, this are actualy normaly very voracious toises. And dont soak her unless there is a clear reason to do so, this are dry land tortoises and increases in moist can cause hillness.