I have two leopard tortoises, one male, one female. They have just come out of hibernation and have started to nibble.
The female is a machine but the male who only comes to life when he wants to mate doesnt want to eat. I feed them lettuce, tamatoes, cucumber, bread and water melon.
What must I do and what foods can I give them to improve their nutrition?
2007-09-16 08:02:29 · 6 answers · asked by richardtruff 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Try giving them daily soaks in chin deep lukewarm water for 20-30 minutes. Feed them immediately afterward.
Speaking of food, you really need to change their diets. Here is a diet page for Leopard tortoise...
http://africantortoise.com/diet.htm
and an edible plant list...
http://africantortoise.com/edible_landscaping.htm
BTW, shouldn't they be getting ready to hibernate?
Why are they just now waking up at the end of the summer?
Good luck with them... =)
2007-09-16 09:57:57 · answer #1 · answered by Eva 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just come out of hybernation in September???? Where are you located? They should be getting ready to hybernate in the next few weeks! How long have you had them?
Sounds like they need to be checked by a reptilian specialist, only because you want to make sure that their anorexia is not due to a vitamin or calcium deficiency. Worse yet, a renal infection or something life threatening.
They should be exposed to natural light, bulbs for those tortoises aren't all they're advertised.
Tell you by experience with a boxie. Bringing those animals out of hybernation is the most dangerous time in their lives, and should be done under medical supervision if you aren't experienced with them.
2007-09-16 08:13:20 · answer #2 · answered by TURANDOT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What were the conditions that you hibernated them in exactly? Leopard tortoises are NOT one of the tortoise species that hibernates. Trying to hibernate them is potentially fatal.
2007-09-16 11:49:28 · answer #3 · answered by Thea 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why are they coming out of hibernation this time of year? And why are you hibernating an African species which doesn't hibernate?
2007-09-16 17:31:25 · answer #4 · answered by madsnakeman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your diet is completely wrong. What are they kept in? What are their basking temps and UVB availability? Check out these sites for complete care and diet info:
http://www.leopardtortoise.com/
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/cpardalis.html
2007-09-16 08:27:39 · answer #5 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots of greens! Give it time..... don't blame me if it dies :P
2007-09-16 08:10:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋