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Holding the Hatchlings
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blackTITAN
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Question  Holding the Hatchlings

So I believe, one of the owners of a red foot, suggested not to pick up the baby tortoises for a while. (Mine was hiccuping quite a lot and it's now really starting to die down Big Grin). When or how much time should pass before I can hold Titan for more than waiting for him to dry off from his bath? ^_^ What are are tortoises really considered adults?

01-03-2008 06:57 AM
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egyptiandan
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RE: Holding the Hatchlings

Hi Kat,
You should handle a hatchling the least amount of time possible. A short 2 or 3 minute inspection everyday to make sure everything is okay and the same amount of time to put him on a paper towel after a bath to let him dry some.
You must remember tortoises aren't mammals and don't respond well to being picked up. In the wild when a tortoise leaves the ground it usually means something is trying to eat it, especially a hatchling. They will struggle the best they can when their feet leave the ground. Hoping what ever has picked them up will drop them. It is very unnatural for a tortoise to leave the ground.
Be content with watching him and what he does when your home. Big Grin

Danny

01-03-2008 10:13 AM
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blackTITAN
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RE: Holding the Hatchlings

when are tortoises considered a adult?

01-03-2008 11:36 AM
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blackTITAN
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RE: Holding the Hatchlings

and only because im curious but doesn't the holding thing only apply to onces that have been captured in the wild? I was told that if your tortoise is captive born then you are more free to take it out of its enclosure, pick it up, etc...

01-03-2008 11:40 AM
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egyptiandan
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RE: Holding the Hatchlings

It depends on the species of tortoise. A tortoise is considered adult when it's large enough to either lay eggs or impregnate a female.
All this depends more on size than age.
That I'm afraid is not true about hatchlings or adult CB tortoises. The same rules apply with CB or WC. What I said before is all instinctual. Every hatchling, through millions of years of evolution, are hard wired to react this way. Captive breeding doesn't change that in the least. Almost everything a tortoise does is instinctual.

Danny

01-03-2008 12:12 PM
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blackTITAN
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RE: Holding the Hatchlings

That makes sense, I just was told numerous things. Smile just asking ^_^

01-03-2008 12:53 PM
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