Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just acquired to young K. erosa (I'm pretty sure at least). I have had the two days now in a quarantine tank with newspaper substrate, water soaking dish and a heat emitter....

neither have moved an inch on their own. I have soaked them both 2x daily and offered a variety of greens.....no movement.

Any help would be great!
Thanks

Put them in a damp mulch substrate, forget the heat emitter, and try feeding them some worms. They also like thawed frozen mixed veggies and various types of melon. The species is very secretive and is most active at dawn and dusk, and even after dark. If you have placed bright lights over them, they won't like it. They also like to have a place to hide. Tip a shoe box upside down, cut a fairly wide doorway in one side and place it in the tank after giving them the damp mulch substrate. Put the food items on a paper plate just outside the hide area. They will see it and gradually come out to get it. They will voraciously attack earthworms, mealworms, superworms, etc. The forest hingebacks are not your average tortoise. They don't graze on greens much; they are more opportunistic feeders.

If the back of the carapace drops off at a 90 degree angle at the rear, you have Home's Hingeback. Erosa have a gentle curving drop off. If you post a profile photo of the shell, I can ID the species for you.

Definitely Homes then! I will put up a pic soon though just to make sure.
I added paper all around the tank so they can't see out, light is minimal (not dark, but absolutely not bright!)
I have about 3 inches of wet mulch.

I was instructed to soak them twice a day...good idea?

Thanks so much for your help!

Mine soaks on its own, but definitely a shy species. BTW, they cannot resist Canadian nightcrawlers. That is how I got mine to finally eat. Even when acclimated, they will hide most of the day.
I don't think picking them up 2-3 times a day is a good idea. Too stressful. Let them decide to soak ( they will!)

Matthew

Thanks guys!

One of the two has started moving around its habitat. (moist bark mulch, soaking dish and large hiding area at 80 degrees) The other hasn't really moved too much yet.

As for feeding, the one that is moving around are some banana last night, the other, as far as I can tell, has touched nothing.
I am offering greens, canteloupe, banana, watermellon, worms, squash....

I'll keep everyone posted!

Nice fat LIVE canadian Nightcrawlers turned the corner for my Holmes. He is VERY picky about fruits & veggies. Seems to like slimy (Okra, yuck!) stuff. LOL

Matthew

Hey there, I have a small what appears to be female Homes that took a few days to adjust and start eating. I offer greens with every meal but have yet to see her touch them. She will tear up almost any kind of mushroom, which I dip in calcium once a week. She loves night crawlers, bannanas, watermelon and on a rare ocassion will eat carrot's. She just recenly started knawling on cuttlebone!!!!!!

She eats like a pig but only on the above food items. I have tried many items but those are the only ones that worked. Here is what I tried that just flat out continually fail: apple, plum, cucumber, apricot, tomato, kiwi, mango, any greens(Dandy, kale, collard, romaine, cabbage and some misc others) she ate one meal worm once and one wax worm once. I am thinking about trying celery and pepper maybe some potato or raddish next.

She is super super heavy for her size (about 4 inches), like a lead weight. I dont take her out or need to soak her. I have her on a shreded all natural harwood with a big pile of moss that I have under a heat lamp and soak regularly to keep up the humidity. I use a UV bulb and also have the enclosure sealed so that humidity stays in. She has a shallow dish to drink out of and sit in.

She seems to be doing excellent and will actually eat from your hand. It is a little frustrating trying to find a good balanced diet but she is eating, soaking on her own and even basking under a red heat bulb. I have one side at about 78 where her hide is and the other side at about 85 with wet moss keeping it humid.

I will continue to try different items to see what works and let you know. I am gonna get a pic up later!!!!!!! Hope this helps as I am always looking to improve husbandry and quality of life for my animals too.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, Jason
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Everyone Is In A Hurry To Get Nowhere Quick, Fast!!!!!!!!!!!

There seems to be this thing about "variety" being so important!

I've had F2 water turtles.. and raised hatchling tortoises to become proven breeders - ALL fed on 1-3 different STAPLE items.

AS LONG AS THE NUTRIENT NEEDS ARE MET.. THEY SEEMS TO CARE LESS!!!

Keep It Simple

Terry

Just wanted to update everyone on the HUGE break through..

My little ones have finally eaten!!!!!

Strawberry! the only thing that tempts them! I have even tried piles or worms.....

First thing you do is listen to zovick!
Follow everything he says. He has had every exotic tortoise on the planet.. and was there when the Ark docked.. [ BTW he is also my junior ].

This is a Kinixys homeana ( Homes ).. note the rear..

Terry

Just found out this little lady loves cauliflower!!!! I recently tried peas,asparagus, alfalfa sprouts and a variety of greens again to no avail!!!!!!!

So far, mushrooms, watermelon, bananas, cauliflower and earthworms are my Kinixys homeana favorite foods. I keep trying new foods to see what she likes but the above seems to be her favorite and only interest thus far.

Thanks, Jason
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Everyone Is In A Hurry To Get Nowhere Quick, Fast!!!!!!!!!!!

My little ones are now accepting : strawberry, banana, and very little mixed frozen veggie! These guys are worse than a two year old!