Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone
I am a little concerned about my EBT Dozer. I brought him in for the winter (as suggested on this forum) because I haven't had him very long and am uncertain about his health for hibernating. Since I've had him indoors, he hasn't been eating. (It's been about a month now). When he was outdoors, he would readily gobble down strawberries, worms, apples, slugs - and his favorite: cantelope. Indoors, he won't even accept cantelope. He will walk over to the food dish, crane his neck to look into it, and then return to his hiding place. The only thing he has eaten was a cricket about 5 days ago. I've tried more crickets since, but he is uninterested. I'm worried. I keep him in a 55 gallon rubbermaid container w/ a 100 watt bulb for heat and a 60 watt UVA/UVB bulb. I use fir bark (purchased from the pet store) as substrate, and he has a "house" to hide in at the cooler end of the enclosure. He also has a large water dish in which to soak and a piece of slate under the basking light. He is taken out of his enclosure for about an hour a day to roam around the room - I don't understand why he isn't eating. In the mornings (when he used to eat) I spray down the enclosure with warm water and place his food in the dish (and a little on the slate) - No luck yet. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
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1.0.0 Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
0.1.0 Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
1.1.1 Eastern Box Turtles: Daisy, Dozer, and Magnum
0.1.0 Red Eared Slider: Rosie
0.2.0 Rats: Clementine and Elsie

Is Dozer wild-caught or captive born?

I had a WC ebt in a tank for a while. He would eat mealworms, strawberries, and crickets, but eventually stopped eating altogther - so I put him back in the woods near where he came from.

>>Is Dozer wild-caught or captive born?
>>
>>I had a WC ebt in a tank for a while. He would eat mealworms, strawberries, and crickets, but eventually stopped eating altogther - so I put him back in the woods near where he came from.

WC - when he was found he had a pretty serious injury and he was incredibly thin so I took him in. He has spent all this time outdoors in a pen since I got him, but this winter I wanted to keep him in since I wasn't sure if he was well enough to hibernate. They tore down the woods near where he was found to build condos so I can't return him to that area with all the construction (Plus its getting cool and I don't want to introduce him to a new area this close to hibernation - he may not find a suitable spot before it gets too cold). Thanks for the reply.
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1.0.0 Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
0.1.0 Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
1.1.1 Eastern Box Turtles: Daisy, Dozer, and Magnum
0.1.0 Red Eared Slider: Rosie
0.2.0 Rats: Clementine and Elsie
0.0.2 Rainbow Cichlids

Here's a few things that you can check on:

Does he get 14 hrs of light?
Does the temperature range from about 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit in his setup?
Is there adequate humidity for him?
Can he soak in shallow water for extended periods of time?

The idea is to trick him into thinking that it is mid-summer: warm, humid, long days. This can be a challenge, especially if he was already going into 'hibernation mode' when you brought him inside. Also, try allowing him to soak before attempting to feed him.

I looked at the photos of the set up, and there are a couple of things that I would consider changing if I were you. Either use a more moisture retentive substrate or add something to what you have already. The bark you're using isn't really ideal for trapping and retaining moisture.
Also, it looks like the board that forms the 'roof' to his house may be pressure treated lumber: I would switch that with something that doesn't contain toxic chemicals.

Hi Steph,
Thanks for the quick reply.

>>Does he get 14 hrs of light?

He is probably getting closer to 12 - But I can add a timer for his light and set it for 14 hours.

>>Does the temperature range from about 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit in his setup?

The warmer end is in the low 80's and the cooler end can't be below 70 (because of the temp in the house). I'll add thermometer strips at each end so I can measure this better and I'll make changes as necessary.

>>Is there adequate humidity for him?

His enclosure is thoroughly misted twice a day with warm water - once in the morning before he is offered food and again when I get home from work (between 6pm and 8pm).

>>Can he soak in shallow water for extended periods of time?

He has constant access to the blue bowl (pictured) which is always full. He can fit his entire body in the bowl, so soaking shouldn't be a problem for him. Also, I ocassionally take him out of his enclosure to soak in another rubbermaid in warm water.

Thank you for all the wonderful advice As you recommended I'll switch him over to a better substrate so his enclosure stays more humid. I was wondering what you would recommend. I have heard sphagnum moss recommended for hatchlings but what would be more suitable for an adult? When he was outdoors, he was in mulch and topsoil, which seemed to retain moisture well. I was just trying to find something with less of an odor than topsoil since his enclosure is in my bedroom (My brother kept a vivarium w/ red eyed treefrogs in my room when I was a kid and the smell of wet topsoil was awful ).

Also, as you recommended I will change the roof of his "house" over to slate.

Thanks again for the reply!
-Lisa

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1.0.0 Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
0.1.0 Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
1.1.1 Eastern Box Turtles: Daisy, Dozer, and Magnum
0.1.0 Red Eared Slider: Rosie
0.2.0 Rats: Clementine and Elsie
0.0.2 Rainbow Cichlids

Bed a beast would work fine.

I too am a fan of Bed A Beast. There are other brand names, that I can't think of right now, but it is coconut shell fiber.
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0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.12.0 chickens
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband