Tortoise seems inactive

Greg Earnest

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Messages
61
My tortoise seems very inactive recently comes out to eat then goes back to sleep all day, I've been feeding him kale, dandelion greens, and collard greens. And he has some grass planted in there to eat. I've also been soaking him for 30 minutes daily. Any suggestions?
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
You've not given us enough information to help you. It's like taking a sick child to the doctor then not allowing the doctor to see the child.

Where is the tortoise?
Is it hot where you live?
How big is his enclosure?
Does he have water and does he go into it on his own?

Maybe a picture of the tortoise in his habitat will help us help you.
 

Jodie

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2014
Messages
4,359
Location (City and/or State)
Spokane Valley WA
What kind of tortoise? What age? What are your temps? Babies sleep a lot and all of mine go through phases, so more info will help us tell you if there are any obvious problems.
 

Greg Earnest

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Messages
61
You've not given us enough information to help you. It's like taking a sick child to the doctor then not allowing the doctor to see the child.

Where is the tortoise?
Is it hot where you live?
How big is his enclosure?
Does he have water and does he go into it on his own?

Maybe a picture of the tortoise in his habitat will help us help you.
Tortoise is outdoors
It's mid 90's out right now
Enclosure is 8ft x 6ft
He does have a shallow dish of water
ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1436113653.149807.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1436113671.014853.jpg
 

Greg Earnest

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Messages
61
What kind of tortoise? What age? What are your temps? Babies sleep a lot and all of mine go through phases, so more info will help us tell you if there are any obvious problems.
It's a California desert tortoise, I'm not sure of the age but I believe around 5, but he seems fine just really lazy lately. I can add some pictures of needed
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
My desert tortoises are not coming out of their house either. It's just too darned hot for them. I think when it cools down just a bit you may see a bit more activity
 

Jodie

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2014
Messages
4,359
Location (City and/or State)
Spokane Valley WA
I would guess it is getting hotter in that enclosure than you think. Add some shade plants and more vegetation. I don't know much about CDT's though. Yvonne will be able to help more.
 

Greg Earnest

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Messages
61
My desert tortoises are not coming out of their house either. It's just too darned hot for them. I think when it cools down just a bit you may see a bit more activity
Okay awesome. He is out more right now and it's a nice temp of like 70. Thank you very much
 

Greg Earnest

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Messages
61
In this very hot weather, it's probably worth giving you tort a good soak to help ensure IT doesn't become dehydrated
Yea my tortoise loves soaks. I could probably leave it in there for hours and it wouldn't try to get out. Could that mean my tort is dehydrated?
 

Lyn W

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
23,497
Location (City and/or State)
UK
He doesn't have many plants maybe he's just nervous of being out in the open.
You've only just moved him in to your new enclosure haven't you? Perhaps it's the change.
 

JoesMum

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,606
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
Yea my tortoise loves soaks. I could probably leave it in there for hours and it wouldn't try to get out. Could that mean my tort is dehydrated?
No it just means it's enjoying it. :) Can you create a mud hole/scrape in that enclosure? Free access to cooling soaks will probably help :)
 

Greg Earnest

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Messages
61
He doesn't have many plants maybe he's just nervous of being out in the open.
You've only just moved him in to your new enclosure haven't you? Perhaps it's the change.
That could be true. I never thought of that I'll have to plant some full size plants to make it better for him. Thanks!
 

Greg Earnest

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Messages
61
No it just means it's enjoying it. :) Can you create a mud hole/scrape in that enclosure? Free access to cooling soaks will probably help :)
He has a little saucer in there to soak in but it's just a shallow dish. I soak him I'm a little warmer water and deeper when I take him out to soak! Thank you for all the help
 

Gillian M

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2014
Messages
15,417
Location (City and/or State)
Jordan
If the enclosure is relatively new, it could be the CHANGE. Please keep in mind that tortoises take time and A LOT of time to adapt.

Good luck to you and your tort.
 

Gillian M

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2014
Messages
15,417
Location (City and/or State)
Jordan
My desert tortoises are not coming out of their house either. It's just too darned hot for them. I think when it cools down just a bit you may see a bit more activity
I have known since I was a child that tortoises (and reptiles in general) 'like' HOT weather. Is that incorrect?

Appreciate an answer. Thanks.
 

JoesMum

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,606
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
I have known since I was a child that tortoises (and reptiles in general) 'like' HOT weather. Is that incorrect?

Appreciate an answer. Thanks.
If it gets too hot, a tortoise will aestevate. Aestivation is like a summer hibernation. The tort's body starts to shut down and it will find somewhere a little cooler to rest out of the heat.Torts need heat to bask in so that they can become active and digest their food... they don't need it to be very hot all the time.

They like warm weather, but not very hot weather
 

Gillian M

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2014
Messages
15,417
Location (City and/or State)
Jordan
If it gets too hot, a tortoise will aestevate. Aestivation is like a summer hibernation. The tort's body starts to shut down and it will find somewhere a little cooler to rest out of the heat.Torts need heat to bask in so that they can become active and digest their food... they don't need it to be very hot all the time.

They like warm weather, but not very hot weather
Interesting! Thanks a lot your answer and the information. No wonder my tort sometimes goes to relatively cool corners during these HOT days.
 
Top