Indian star tortoise

Question
QUESTION: Hello sir
        I am having problem with my tortoise as he seems to be sick for the past 2 days. Whatever he eats, it just get out in 4 hours through vomiting. For the last 1 year, i m giving Cucumber(daily) only & as we are having open space around he is sufficient with the sunlight.
Please suggest the cure.

ANSWER: Hi Yatrik,

Cucumber is a completely inadequate food for tortoises, as it contains almost no nutrition, and because it appears that this has been your tortoise's sole diet for at least a year, he is probably extremely malnourished.  I'll put links below on complete care information that you should read over carefully so that you can change his diet and enclosure.  Star tortoises are primarily grass, hay,and cactus eaters.  Some leafy greens are also fine (turnip, mustard, kale, collards, dandelion, chicory, etc.), but they should get plenty of fresh grasses and hay.  A varied diet is EXTREMELY important--you should never feed just one thing exclusively.

Ideally, your tortoise should be living outside where he can graze naturally, so if at all possible you should build an outdoor pen for him.  If inside, he still needs an enclosure with substrate, basking area, and UVB light (unless he is outdoors for several hours daily).

The cure for his problem is proper care, so you should implement changes immediately.  You should also take him to a good reptile vet as soon as possible, since with the symptoms you are describing he is already in very poor shape.

Read the following care information:

http://www.chelonia.org/articles/Geleganscare.htm
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/celegans.html
http://www.chelonia.org/articles/Geleganscare.htm
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-startortoise.htm
Note:  I recommend that you NOT feed fruit or commercial diet (pellets).

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the immediate reply,
I have another question that in some of the article it is written that we can give fruits to them.
If yes than what are the fruits that i can give him.

Answer
No, do not feed fruit or vegetables.  Their digestive systems aren't meant to digest fruit.  A tiny amount very rarely wouldn't harm a healthy tortoise, but yours is in bad shape and should only be fed the best diet.  NO FRUIT.  You need to be feeding primarily grasses, hay, and cactus, with a small amount of leafy greens.