Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Having kept other reptiles - I know how easily they are stressed.

Examples of other reptiles/animals:

Nobody would suggest to someone that has just purchased a king
snake (for. example) or monitor lizard to take it home and offer it a mouse that day.

Getting a new tarantula or invert. I would suggest waiting a few
days before offering crickets.

Why is it that every post I see about somebody getting a brand new
tortoise they're immediately complaining that it isn't eating like
it should? Should? What happened to ACCLIMATING an animal?

I guess people are excited about the new arrival and want to
do what everybody wants to do - feed something. Please, give
these animals a break, after all they've had a rough ride to
your house. Leave them alone set up in a new place to gather
their wits. Poor things, when they do eat something right away
they're probably getting indigestion from the stress alone.

I know when we get new horses, as soon as they get off of the
trailer, we give them water and hay and a chance to settle.
It would be crazy to immediately offer grain and sweet feed.

niki

First of all, if you read my post, my primary concern was that the tortoise was displaying lethargy, NOT that it was not eating--that was by far a secondary concern. I offered food (and water) mostly to give it a chance to get used to the sights, sounds, and smells of a new environment. I was actually very surprised that it was eating the first day--and THEN I was concerned because it no longer ate. I'm pleased that it ate today mostly because it is now displaying the behavior I observed on the first day.

Secondly, while it is true that many (or most) reptiles do not eat for some time after arriving in a new environment, it is not always the case. I have had both snakes and lizards eat within 2-3 days of arrival in my home, and I've never had a reptile refuse a first meal offered within the first week. Many times a new reptile will display signs of hunger or an interest in feeding within 24 hours--which probably depends on how long it had been since last fed by the breeder.

I don't particularly see any issue with offering food to a new tortoise. It's not as though the tortoise is being force-fed; the food is just there if it wants it. Should I assume that a tortoise is not hungry and withhold food on that basis when in fact it may be perfectly willing to eat? I really can't see how a small pile of greens is in any way going to impede the process of acclimation.
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

I fed my new Russian within hours of getting her home. She ate like a little chow hound and hasn't quit since. All of my animals have eaten as soon as I get them home. I don't see anything wrong with offering food. They probably have gone a while without a meal... At least a couple days. Like Sohni said, it's not like force feeding, just making it available.

Of course I do understand that some animals won't exactly want it when offered... and that's ok too. I'd just try again later and make sure water was available.

That is true, Sohni. An amimal knows when it doesn't want to eat and will just refuse food until such time as it feels able to handle it. It is very common for an animal that has been shipped to have "jet lag" and lay off of food for a while. But if they do want to eat, why not let them have the choice?

I can understand why people do this as I have juts gone through the same thing. I have had mine for a few days now and have treated him like a baby. I looked at him as if he were so small that if he didnt have something to eat it then he could die easy. I just kept offering it once a day and if he chose not to eat then so be it.

I was concerned about what he has been fed in the past and if I were just introducing him to new foods that he was not sure about.

Well today he took his first bite and ate quite well.

I guess to answer your question I would say everyone wants to see them eat as soon as they can so they know all is ok on that subject.

Matthew

on this subject in the last 5 years I've been on this forum,
so don't flatter yourself. Basically they're still reptiles
and whether they eat or not immediately, it's the concern of
the owners that gets out. It should be more acceptable that
they don't eat if they choose not to, somebody trying to
feed an animal or watch to see if it's eating is just adding
to the stress by the constant presence and fiddling. I guess
it's just hard to avoid doing. Glad yours seems better.

shion

it used to be that any post placed in reply to one, showed up
directly under it and you could tell the older posts because
they were last. Since they went to this new format, it's the
other way around and sometimes confusing as to who is posting to
what.

Well who is it that shouln't flatter themselve then???

Shew!

LOL!! I was not sure there and didn't have time to get a referee or my gloves on! Glad it was not me. I can wipe away the tears now..

I have not had torts for very long, about 5 yrs, but everyone I've ever had has wanted to eat on the first day. It didn't matter wether it was shipped from across the country or I went and picked it up in my city. They seemed to not notice and eat immeditatly. Now my box turtles are a different story. They usually won't eat for a while, until they are acclimated. These are just my small observations ;0)

Kim