I have a 3 yr old horsfield and i am a new owner and still trying to figure torty out. I was a bit worried as my horsfield has not eaten for 4 days now and i bath him daily and also try and hand feed but he is not interested, he will just go in his table and bury himself. At the moment he is buried in the hot end. He seems to want to sleep ,even sleeps in his bath. Also if i did not take him out of his bed  he will stay there all day. Can tortoises be allowed to sleep for a day or so, he can sleep 24 hrs if left. His temps are fine and he is on sand and soil. As far as ive asked the set up is fine so what else can i do????Helpful advice would be good.

thank you

sharon f

Hi Sharon and

How long have you had your tortoise? try to giving him some naughty food, a piece of cucumber, to try and tempt him to eat.
Can I ask what set-up you have him in? Horsfields do tend to sleep more than Hermans, and of course the weather has now changed, what was he like when the weather was warm last week?
Sorry for the questions but trying to get a bit of background
Jane

Hi, I find that out of my four species, horsfields are always the first to react to the cooler weather. Since the weather has changed since that weeks Indian summer, all of the horsfields have slowed right down, dont want to go out, eat or bask.
But in the wild, they only 'come out' for about 3 months of the year, as winter they hibernate and summer they estivate, so it looks like its in-built to sleep!!
I just keep the lights on, perhaps add an extra flourescent light just to improve the light,keep the heat up and carry on feeding and bathing.
Regards Vivienne

 hi jane, i have only had him since august and dnt really no his personality as it has changed again since october. I have been advised by the tortoise trust to over winter him this year as i dnt really no him yet and dnt no his personality lol. I live in scotland and the weather was not that warm last week, but he seemed more active in warm weather here. He is kept in a table by 2.5ft  by 3ft. He has a basking lamp temp between 30 -32 and cooler end is 16 jst now. He also has a uvb light and a uva light. At the moment i still have 2 dig him up in the morning and put him under his basking lamp and i bath him ever day. When i cme home from work he is buried again is this ok? Tonight he has buried himself in the hot end but last night he went to the cool end . Is this normal for torties to chop and change??? Your advice would be good.

tnx again

sharon f

hi vivienne tnx for ur reply.The problem is hes not that interested in food and i have tried to hand feed but he just walks over the food , i have recently fitted a full spectrum lamp along with his uvb lamp. I also bath him daily but as soon as i put him in his table he burys himself in the hot end and as i speak he is sleeping at that end. Will he eat when he wants to as i have given him food every day but it is left. How long can they go without eating as im not sure???

tnx

sharon

Hi Sharon,
My horsfields are exactly the same, they know that the weather has changed and their body clock is telling them to hibernate.
Torts can go ages without feeding so try not to worry.
If you are really concerned tho, by all means take him to a tort specialist vet to let him a check and ask for his poo (if he does one for you) to be checked for worms/parasites, incase that is making him sluggish.
Please keep us informed of his progress, as it will help other members who are experiencing the same problems.

Regards Vivienne

Hi vivienne, thanks for your reply, your advice has helped greatly as im not worrying as much as i was. My horsefield has not pood for a while and he normally does it when i bath him but ive not seen one for some days. He might  have something to eat every fourth day. I have been advised not to hibernate him this year as i only got him in august and dont no his personality yet but i will probably hibernate him next year as i hopefully will be better at looking after  him     i and not worrying as much but many thanks for your advice it has helped again

sharon f