Hasn't Eaten in Months

[ThatGuy]

When my friend moved, I adopted his reptiles.  I have had them for only two weeks now.  He warned me before hand that this Russian tortoise was having problems and I have decided to ask for any advice you can give me.

For the first year that my friend owned this tortoise, he (the tortoise) ate and was active, no problem.  In the winter, he went into a brief estivation.  When he came out, he would not eat.  It has been 10 months since then.  His calcium deficiency is affecting his vision, to make matters worse.  Neither his previous owner nor I like the idea of force feeding, but after so long a period, it might be necessary.  Other than the obvious need to see a veterinarian (an option that I cannot afford), what, if anything, can I do to help this fellow?

Thank you in advance for your help.

[moeNlily]

does he have all the correct provisions... uvb lighting, temps, substrate, food, soakings etc?

[jacklee]

Can you let it outside? My russian for the first summer i had him would only eat broccoli, after a self impossed sleep he came out and would eat spring mix, now 6 yrs later he eats everything. I would bath yours in warm water and give him the flowers of a rose " no sprays" in his bath water "mine likes a blue tub ". after the  bath I would take him outside in the sun and watch him. give him more roses and see if he eats. I would do this everyday. I take mine to a small park with lots of weeds but were I know no sprays have been used. I can see no better options rather then taking him to a herp vet. hope he does better. Jack

[go_fish]

If your tort has not eaten for 10 months, you HAVE to take him to the vet. This forum can provide you with the correct provisions, but with a time period of 10 months of not eating (and not hibernating at all in that time), the situation is dire. One month, even 2 months, not a problem. But 10 months is bordering on emergency. Ensure that the temps are correct and give him good lukewarm soakings in the meantime.

I understand you don't have money now, and you may not like what I have to say --  but you may have to consider turning him into a rehabber or vet. Torts are expensive - uvb light, enclosure, basking light, etc. And if an emergency comes, I've always believed an owner should be prepared to take their tort to a vet. We choose our pets; they don't choose us...so we have to provide the best care for them.

[ThatGuy]

Thank you all for your comments.  I agree with you about needing to get him help, go_fish.  Thank you for the reenforcement of the idea.  I will finally start getting paid again soon (I refused to adopt until I had stable employment and housing, which I do now have, but no paycheck until later this week).  Once I do, I will see what I can do about getting him where he needs to be.  I will double check the equipment my friend included when I adopted the tortoise to make sure they meet his needs.  I will give your other recommendations a try over the next few days.  I'll keep you posted on how he's doing.

I did get him to bite some Romaine lettuce the other day, but he didn't eat any of it.  He just wanted it to go away.  I don't know how he has the energy to be as active as he is.  I don't know what a normal activity level is, but he's digging in that hole at least once a day for  a while

[Didi]

Check out this care sheet to compare to his conditions.  Lighting and heat are probably key to eating.
http://www.russiantortoise.org/care_sheet.htm

[go_fish]

Hey ThatGuy - I hear ya -  Maybe someone you know can help you pitch in for vet costs in the meantime. The concern is that even given the right provisions now (heat, lighting, humidity, etc), your tortoise is in a critical state in which it will not eat because he is too weak to swallow, or even be enticed by food.

Hope you can get him to see a vet asap. Good luck.