Why the turtle does not eat - the main causes of strange behavior

The question why the turtle does not eat, arises in most beginners. Almost always the answer should be sought in the wrong conditions of the content, the desire to feed the pet more, as well as a simple ignorance of some features of the life of reptiles.

How many can not have a turtle?

The pet refuses food for more than the first day and it is not known whether there will be a change of behavior in the near future. This picture is observed by many owners of turtles. Quite naturally begins a panic, because the rejection of food can not be safe for the body for a long time. If we consider the question of how many red-eared tortoises can not eat, then we are talking about terms of the order of three weeks. Some land species do not want to eat during the heat, when on a thermometer above 25 ° C. Fasting can last up to two to three months.

Why does the turtle not eat anything?

Refusal of food can be the consequence of a variety of reasons. Some species are sensitive to temperature changes, others do not eat the proposed feed, sometimes it is the process of adaptation or behavior patterns in different periods of the years.

  1. When an exotic pet appears in the house, the process of feeding him captures and wants to be pampered with different delicacies. However, the first and frequent reason why a turtle does not eat is overfeeding. Young animals eat daily and gradually, and the adult is eaten only for three meals a week. Watching the turtle, you can determine its portions and taste preferences, because it can not force feed.
  2. If there are several individuals in the aquarium, the male tortoise does not eat because of the attraction to reproduction. Pets simply do not want to waste time and energy on food. After mating, everything will return to normal and appetite will resume.
  3. When a turtle does not want to eat, and even does not open its eyes, it should be taken to a specialist. A common cause of illness is low temperature, improper care. This issue is resolved only after consultation.

Why do not turtles eat in winter?

Many species with the advent of autumn cold begins to prepare for hibernation. In this case, there are several important points.

  1. The essence of wintering is to fall asleep in a cool and humid place before the temperature rises. If there is food left in the stomach, after the awakening, the death of the turtle is inevitable, at best it will wake up sick and long-term treatment will begin.
  2. Therefore, at home, to ensure the correct mode of hibernation is difficult. But nature itself prompts the refusal of food and the transition to a small expenditure of energy. A red-bellied tortoise does not eat in winter for the same reason: it is gradually preparing for anabiosis.
  3. To prevent hibernation, you should increase the temperature regime, install a UV lamp.

Why does the red-bellied turtle eat nothing?

This kind is whimsical and fastidious in matters of domestic content. Long before the purchase, you should learn more about the basic rules of the content in order to avoid typical mistakes.

  1. With a decrease in temperature in the apartment, the red-bellied tortoise is sluggish and does not eat. These are the first signs of preparation for a winter sleep. At home, you can not allow hibernation in hibernation. You should increase the temperature in the house, install the lamp.
  2. If the turtle does not eat, but the activity remains the same, you have acquired a male and he shows sexual activity. This is typical for the cases of keeping several turtles in an aquarium. After the mating season, the red-bellied turtle will eat the same portions.
  3. It makes sense to observe the situation in the aquarium, where several individuals are kept. Sometimes larger ones begin to dominate and simply take food from the other cohabitants.
  4. Red-bellied turtles need a constant temperature of about 30 ° C. This is the main condition for the maintenance of vital processes, this also applies to the appetite of a reptile.
  5. We should not forget about the features of feeding. A young red-eared turtle eats only meat, for adults half of the diet is food of plant origin.

Land tortoise does not eat

Inexperienced owners of land tortoises often do not fully understand the importance of respecting the conditions of reptiles. The Central Asian species does not claim a lot of attention, reptiles are really unpretentious. However, every newcomer faces the problem of lack of appetite. If the general answers already given to the question of why the turtle does not eat do not fit the description, the landed python probably rejects food because of another reason.

  1. The place of purchase is of great importance. Purchasing from the hands of an unknown person increases the likelihood of bringing a sick animal home at times. It should first check the bottom of the shell and the mouth with the neck for the presence of yellow spots and flakes.
  2. Deliver the pet to the house is another test for the host. Refusal to eat at first is a consequence of adaptation. However, on the way home the turtle could catch a cold. For the same reason, experts strictly do not recommend letting the turtle into free movement around the apartment.
  3. Find out what the pet was fed before selling. The turtle eats more habitually in the new conditions.

Why does the turtle not eat food?

In the matter of feeding, any extreme can cause irreparable harm to the health of the pet. Therefore, the combination of dry shop feeds and natural food is considered the best solution. If the turtle does not eat a certain food, it can be a signal about the need to change the diet.

  1. Any pet has its own taste preferences. It is likely that the proposed feed brand did not like. Sometimes the composition causes constipation or indigestion, as a result the turtle ignores the pellets and does not eat.
  2. If you offer only natural food, the body will spend more energy on digestion, but will receive less amount of minerals and vitamin. The diet only from dry forage will fill the lack of trace elements, but will worsen digestion. It will be necessary to search by trial and error, why the turtle does not eagerly eat, but rely on the promises of the producers. The task of the breeder is to find the optimal ratio of natural and granulated fodder.

The tortoise does not open its eyes and does not eat

After the winter period, the activity and the former appetite should return to the pet. If this does not happen on the fifth or sixth day, you should consult a specialist. An alarm is the constantly closed eyes of a turtle.

  1. The obvious reason why a turtle does not eat, there may be a shortage of vitamin D. To repair its deficiency will help the UV lamp. Closed eyes, lethargy and refusal to eat the first symptoms of rickets or metabolic disorders. Sunbaths under the turtle lamp should take about 12 hours a day, in addition you need to enter the diet vitamins and preparations to restore the body after wintering.
  2. The picture, when the turtle does not eat anything, and its eyes are closed and signs of conjunctivitis are already visible, is typical for a lack of vitamin A. The fact is that vision in reptiles plays a major role for nutrition, so the inflammation of the eyelids will necessarily lead to a rejection of food. Washing, injections and other procedures will be appointed by a specialist, in such a case self-treatment presents a real threat to the life of a turtle.

The turtle does not eat and constantly sleeps

Wintering in an apartment setting without hibernation implies a low-activity lifestyle, but this period is concluded in a very specific time frame. Adult large specimens are in hibernation for 12-14 weeks, young growth is 8-10. If on the fifth day after the supposed end of hibernation the turtle did not start returning to the previous rhythm, this is a sign of abnormalities in the body.

  1. Appetite will return gradually, expect a sharp active eating of your favorite food does not make sense. Spring anorexia, when about 40% of weight is lost during the winter without food, is considered the norm. Warming under the lamp will return the pet to active life.
  2. The obvious reason why a turtle does not eat and constantly sleeps may be dehydration and depletion of the body. If before the period of hibernation the animal did not have time to empty the stomach, there is a possibility of renal or hepatic insufficiency due to incorrect wintering.

Tortoise does not eat does not float

The right conditions for keeping are relatively easy, it is the guarantee of the health and life of the pet. To let them walk on the floor or on the carpet, do not check the temperature of the water and air, forget about the gradual decrease or increase in the temperature regime with the change of the season - all this is the direct path to the development of pneumonia in the turtle. If the water turtle does not eat, and in the water immediately falls on its side, these are the symptoms of pneumonia. Here, injections, warming up under the lamp, increasing the temperature of the contents and steam warm baths will help. All this is appointed by a specialist.

Little turtle does not eat anything

For young animals, the typical reasons for refusing food are adaptation after changing conditions of detention, improper care. To avoid health problems, when a small turtle does not eat, one should follow the advice of experienced breeders.

  1. Acquire reptile exclusively in a proven pet store.
  2. Deliver home as soon as possible, and try not to catch a cold.
  3. Provide the house with all the necessary conditions of detention, give a week for adaptation. Only after five to seven days you can offer food.