Reptile & Amphibian Forums

HELP!

I have a 40 lb sulcata tortoise. Male. I live in Sunny So Cal.

I feed him grass, greens and add some fruits and other veggies.

He spends most of his time either eating or running the perimeter of his enclosure looking for ways to escape.

For the past few days he has not been eating (well a tiny bite here and there) and has been very lethargic.

He has never, not eaten food given him, and this concerns me. Just prior to his loss of appetite, I fed him a LARGE meal of hand-cut grass, a banana, two tomatoes, and some romaine.

The next day when he did not eat, I figured he might actually be "full" for the first time in his life. Now it is the fourth day with little or no eating. I am concerend!

He did have a bowel-movement a couple days ago (after the loss of appetite situation began), but nothing since.

My concern is that he may have an impacted GI tract. Another concern I have is that I fertilized the grass a few weeks ago with a typical lawn fertilizer. I watered it well and waited a week before I fed any grass to my tortoise...did I maybe not wait long enough? Have I poisened him????

I have an appointment to see a local vet who specializes in reptiles.

If anyone out there has any thoughts...please post em here.

Thank you!

rsmith

Loss of appetite and lethargy are, unfortunately, non-differential symptoms. It could be anything. Look for more subtle symptoms and let your herp vet know. good luck...

Just in case, tell your vet about the fertilizer/lawn stuff and bring the product. I wouldn't feed him anything that has had chemicals in it for the past 5 years -I might be paranoid, but my lawn has not had anything but water for 5 years.

Also, a torto-turtle-expert from a rescue organization told me not to feed them tomatoes. Because tomato plants are poisonous, even if the tomato fruit is not, if the tort is outdoors she/he is at risk of poison him/herself.

I hope he gets better soon...

TT