We have two horsfield hatchlings that are eleven days old now. They are housed in a tortoise table 50/50 topsoil/sand; basking spot 30 deg; litttle shallow dish of water; various weeds planted. I put in fresh weeds picked each morning dusted with Nutrabal. The hatchlings are moving around and look healthy however they do not seem to eat anything. Should they be actively seeking out food by now? Their weight is same as when hatched. also is this sand/soil mixture the best substrate for them as they are terribly covered each morning and need a bath.
Any comments welcome please.
I wouldn't worry too much, they will still be surviving from their egg sac at the minute, keep up the baths for hydration and make sure you aren't watching them too much- a friends horsfield torts where really really shy. Have they constructed a burrow yet?
like josh says just keep giving them baths.horsfields are shy.mine sometimes wont eat if he knows i am watching him.i love baby torts and i would find it really hard not to watch then 24/7.
(08-17-2009 10:24 PM)tortoise_dude Wrote: [ -> ]I wouldn't worry too much, they will still be surviving from their egg sac at the minute, keep up the baths for hydration and make sure you aren't watching them too much- a friends horsfield torts where really really shy. Have they constructed a burrow yet?
Thanks for that, I will bathe them as normal then. One has constructed a burrow about 10 cm deep (quite impressive for such a little thing), the other seems content to either settle under the log or in the flower pot.
(08-18-2009 01:37 AM)TICKANDTOCK Wrote: [ -> ]like josh says just keep giving them baths.horsfields are shy.mine sometimes wont eat if he knows i am watching him.i love baby torts and i would find it really hard not to watch then 24/7.
I work from home and have stationed my laptop right in front of them so that I can watch them. Guess I'll have to move then and give them some space.
Gary
hiya there
at 11 days old, they should be actively seeking out and eating independantly
what are you offering them?
try putting some fresh wet dandelions on a piece of slate with NO nutrobal, you will probably find that the nutrobal is a bit smelly and off-putting for them.
I give mine nutrobal (a light dusting) twice a week, the other 5 days a week they get a dusting of limestone flour
i always offer my weeds wet as i find the calcium powder sticks better and doesn't blown/kicked off
i hope that helps
oops i should have said "try dandelion with no nutrobal just for now" then introduce new leaves/flowers
Yes, I have been giving them dandelions each day, not always dusted. Wet leaves a good idea, I'll try that. However since I have stopped watching them so much they seem to be taking crafty bites out of the weeds that I have planted around their table. So I hope their appetites will grow from here.
Thanks.
i'm sure they will
i also think they are here to make us worry :rolleye: