If your tortoise has stopped eating, it can be stressful and confusing.
In many cases, a loss of appetite is caused by environmental issues, stress, or seasonal behavior but sometimes it can signal a more serious problem.
In this guide, we’ll cover the most common reasons why tortoises stop eating and what you can do to help them get back to normal.
Behavior changes can sometimes include defensive actions like biting.. Do Tortoise Bite?
Why Is My Tortoise Not Eating?
A tortoise may stop eating due to:
- Low temperatures
- Lack of UVB lighting
- Stress or environmental changes
- Incorrect diet
- Dehydration
- Illness or parasites
Most cases can be fixed by correcting their environment and care setup.
When Should You Be Concerned?
Contact a reptile vet if your tortoise:
- Has not eaten for several days
- Is losing weight
- Appears lethargic
- Has swollen eyes or discharge
- Shows signs of illness
Common Reason for not eating
1. Temperature Is Too Low
Tortoises rely on external heat to digest food. If temperatures drop too low, their metabolism slows down and they may stop eating completely.
Fix:
- Provide proper basking temperatures
- Maintain a temperature gradient
- Use a thermometer to monitor conditions
Read More on Do Tortoise Need UVB light
2. Stress or Environment Changes
New enclosure, relocation, or handling can cause stress. Many things can cause stress but tortoises are a thing of habit and do not like to much change.
Fix:
- Give your tortoise time to adjust- Try not to over stimulate your tortoise when you they are introduced to a new enclosure or home.
- Limit handling- Handling is stressful for all reptiles including tortoises. I rarely handle my tortoises unless needed i.e. Soaking, weigh ins.
- Provide hides and a secure setup- I like to provide 2 hides or more. Just to give options and let them choose where they want to be. When a tortoise is really comfy and no stress at all they will sleep out in the open.
3. Improper Diet
If food is not appropriate or varied, they may refuse it. Be sure to always offer a proper diet which usually consist of leafy greens, weeds high in fiber and calcium. Learn more of What Do Tortoises Eat with this post.
Fix:
- Offer fresh greens and weeds- High in fiber in calcium is key. Weeds and Leafy Greens are best.
- Avoid low nutrient foods- Some food like lettuce, celery are low in nutrients. Not necessary bad for your tortoise but also not good.
- Rotate diet options- A nice varied diet is key. You don’t want to feed the same thing over and over as it can lead to nutrition deficiency. Try to keep things mixed up and interesting
Continue building your tortoise’s diet:
Best Weeds for Tortoises to Eat
Best Leafy Greens for Tortoises
4. Dehydration
Dehydrated tortoises often lose appetite. Dehydration can lead to many things but can also be the cause on why your tortoise stopped eating.
Fix:
- Provide fresh water daily- Provide a nice water dish that is easy to walk in and out of the dish. Make sure it’s not to deep to prevent drowning.
- Soak your tortoise regularly- Soaking especially for young tortoises is important and will help keep your tortoise hydrated. Younger tortoise dehydrate faster so soaking is more important. As they age soaking can be more spread out.
Learn more on Dehydration, water, and soaking with the articles below:
5. Seasonal Behavior (Brumation)
Some species naturally eat less during cooler months and that is normal. They will slow down with the seasons if they are from areas with seasons. Some tortoises will not slow down as they are from areas where the temperature is fairly constant all year round.
Fix:
- Confirm species behavior- check on your species and see if it bromates or if they have a winter in their natural environment.
- Maintain proper temps if not bromating- If you have a species that does not bromate make sure to bring them in during cooler weather, or provide a heated hide or area for them to keep warm.
6. Illness or Parasites
Loss of appetite can be a symptom of illness. Weight loss and being lethargic also would confirm some kind of illness or parasite. check tortoise feces for visible worms and or take a sample to a vet to confirm.
Signs include:
- Runny nose- Tortoises should have a dry nose and shouldn’t have a runny nose ever.
- Swollen eyes- Swollen eyes or eyes that are swollen shut are a sure sign of illness
- Lethargy- as mentioned above if a tortoise is sleeping a lot or having trouble holding its head up this can be signs of illness or parasites.
Vet check recommended if you see any signs of illness or parasites. Be sure to isolate the tortoise from other tortoises and schedule a vet trip.
7. New Tortoise Adjustment Period
New tortoises often don’t eat right away. This is pretty normal and nothing to worry about. Keep offering food and mix it up to see if they find a favorite.
Fix:
- Give 1–2 weeks to settle- Don’t overly stress the tortoise by picking it up or standing over the enclosure. Give your new tortoise time to adjust and get use to the new routines and life.
- Keep environment stable- Make sure to have consistent temperature, humidity and keep the lights on for a consistent time each day. Use timers to help manage this.
What To Do If Your Tortoise Is Not Eating
- Double check temperatures and lighting- Be sure all things are working properly. Sometimes it can be simple as a light or heat source is off.
- Offer favorite foods (like dandelion greens)- This can help your tortoise to eat. Even if its not the heathiest foods for them, just trying to spark interest can help.
- Soak your tortoise- I soak my tortoise in warm water to help with hydration and also to warm my tortoise up to see if that will give them energy to drink. Also a warm soak can help a tortoise poop.
- Reduce stress- Put your tortoise in a quiet low traffic area of the house. Try not to bother or overly check your torotise.
- Monitor behavior closely- After awhile you learn what is normal and what is not. Observe and even take notes to help keep track of your tortoise base lines.
Foods That May Help Stimulate Appetite
- Dandelion greens- One of the best greens for a tortoise to eat. A perfect balanced green to offer and usually a favorite.
- Hibiscus leaves and flowers- The bright colors tend to attract tortoises and the sweet pollen also can be hard to resist for a tortosie.
- Collard greens- Another favorite a great staple green to feed and commonly found in the grocery stores.
- Plantain weed- This weed is commonly found and also a great weed to feed.
Learn more about a tortoise diet below
FAQ Section
Healthy tortoises can go days or even weeks, but it depends on age and species.
No — this can cause harm. Identify the cause first.
Yes, some species eat less due to seasonal changes.
Yes — especially during seasonal changes or cooler temperatures.
Yes, stress from new environments or handling can reduce appetite.
Final Thoughts
A tortoise not eating is usually caused by environmental or care issues that can be fixed quickly. By checking temperature, lighting, diet, and stress levels, most tortoises will return to normal eating habits.
If symptoms persist, always consult a reptile veterinarian.