Hi all, I have just got a spur thigh 6 month old hatchling. I did lots of research before getting him and hoped I had done a good job. But since getying him a few days ago he is sleeping a huge amount and not eating. I have seen they can sleep a lot but he slept for over 18 hours the other day! He is kept in a large tortoise table with top soil substrate and a mega ray combined light at one end. There are flower pots, a hide, a surace for food and a water dish. He has come from a breeder but he was in a vivarium with a heat mat. He was also being fed tortoise pellets along with fresh. I know the pellets arent recommended but i i am giving him these (along with fresh mixed salad as recommended for their winter diet) to  try and encourage him to eat. my tortoise weeds are growing inside but not ready yet. I have read vivs and the feed aren't good but now I am worried the change in environment may have shocked him?

Hello Jess,

Hi tom, I will check the cert 10. No that is just a normal light as the corner of the room he is in is a little dark. The mega lamp is shining the light in the corner, I will take a better pic. I turned the lamp on at 7am to encourage him to wake up as he had gone to bed at 7pm the previous evening. I left him but woke him at 12.30 as I was worried. I turn the light off again when he goes to bed around 6-7pm so it is on for 12 hours. I have only used an old thermometer to check and I am dubious about its accuracy so getting a new, more sensitive one tomorrow. Have put better image up now. 

Thank you,

Thank you so much for your advice tom. I will go looking for dandilions and try to speed up my seedlings. So I should move the lamp more into the middle of the table  if possible?  The bulb is 30cm above tort table currently. Will also get a better thermometer tomorrow to check temp. Thank you again, jess

A pleasure Jess.

Hi Tom, we have moved the light so further in but as the box is long there is still a cooler area. He has been up earlier today and been romping around although I still haven't seen him eating. Will go and hunt dandelions and I think I have dog violets in the garden which I have seen they like (will check identification first). Also placed a plastic cover over my seedlings to act as a propagater. Thank you again for your advice on this site, is so reassuring to get proper information.

Great news! Horatio is up and about today and has devoured a whole dandelion flower and a campanula flower, both I found growing in my garden! He even had another nip at his cuttlefish and is having a good romp around his table!! Thank you for the lighting advice, it seems to have helped a lot.

That's good,

Ok thanks for tip. Yes checked cert and it says UK in box 10. The guy has been breeding them for 12 years which is why I was a bit confused about the different advice. Horatio is more lively today but still not eating. Had a bit of cress which I know is not ideal but just thought he might go for a stronger flavour. Still, I guess he is just getting used to the change? Nw thermometer says basking area is 30degrees and cool end is 20 degrees.