Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, should I start to worry? I have tried red wigglers, salad,
fruit, reptomin and small mealworms. I am soaking my new baby every morning. Set up is as follows
enclosure is 32 by 32 inches.
cypress much as substrate and a hide with moss.
50 watt bulb over one area with Reptisun 5.0 over enclosure.
temps 85-90 under basking light
mulch is misted 2 X daily.

It hides in the cooler area of the enclosure. It is bright eyed and does not appear to have an illness. Please let me know if I should try something different. I have had him since Saturday.

Thanks, Linda

I would just leave him alone for a week, more or less depending on him of course, until he has acclimated. Don't stressed him/her out by handling him/her in order to soak him/her. A lot of reptiles are that way when they get into a new home. My baby bearded dragon didn't eat for about two weeks, but when she had acclimated, the crickets disappeared like fritters on the fat farm. My boxie didn't eat very well either and it took some time for him to switch over to a more healthy food, that he should be eating. Eventually, he started eating a lot. Just as long as he is hydrated (you can do that by keeping the substrate moist and provide a water dish for him), turtles can go extremely a long time without food. How does he feel to you when you pick him up? Does he feel heavy for his size? If so, I wouldn't worry about it.... They need time to acclimate. My rescued female took a little bit of time to get use to her new surrounding and now she eats like champ. At first she kept walking and wondering around the cage and wouldn't bury herself, which is the opposite of the presence. IF she is not hungry, she remains bury.

No, it doesn't feel very heavy. It does seem to be drinking when I soak it. I have been soaking it daily because of this.

Linda

I mean does he have some weight on him when you pick him up. Turtles are built for famine, so they can go quite a long time without any food and water. If he feel like he doesn't have any mass, then you want to take him to the vet. I say keep handling to a minimum for a week or so, or whenever he is acclimated.

Can you post some pictures. This is my Three Toed who is 1 year old. Remember that boxies in the wild would be on the forest floor where the sun is filtered through the trees. So...low light, warm humid environment. Plenty of leaf litter to hide under.
This is a hatchling

I wanted to post the picture of the year old Three Toed...I forgot to put it in the last post. Sorry

If he drinks a lot, then soak him. But don't handle him other than when you need to soak him. Maybe you could try feeding him in the water and see if he will eat.....

Yep, tried feeding him in the water. I only handle him to soak him.

Thanks, Linda

The one year old looks more like mine as far as body shape. I can't tell the size of the turtle from the picture. I am going to get a picture of mine hopefully tonight.