Radiated tortoise not moving much

[Brymus]

Hi my radiated tortoises are very Unactive is this normal or is there something wrong any ideas would be appreciated

 

[TammyJ]

Hi my radiated tortoises are very Unactive is this normal or is there something wrong any ideas would be appreciated

Hi there. You need to provide us with the details of the tortoises, their enclosure and conditions, and some pictures, then we will be more able to help!

 

[zovick]

Hi my radiated tortoises are very Unactive is this normal or is there something wrong any ideas would be appreciated

This is not normal unless possibly you just got them and they are scared of the new surroundings. Are you soaking them daily? You should do that every day for 20 minutes or so in lukewarm water, then after the soak, place them in front of a pile of food. If they are healthy, they should begin to eat, possibly right away, but likely it might be after a few days to a week or so if they are in a new environment.

 

[wellington]

A lot more info is needed. Pictures will help too.
We need to know everything about the care you give, their diet, the temps throughout their enclosure. How many do you have, are they in their own enclosures, etc, etc.

 

[Brymus]

Hi I hope these pictures help under the IR it’s 32/34 and the same under the 160 watt D3 lamp and up buy the window is the colder end where it varies between 20/25 I bath them twice a week and they eat weeds romane lettuce grasses and baby salad leaf mazouri thank you for your help

 

[TammyJ]

No red light.

 

[Brymus]

No red light.

The red light is infrared for heat ?

 

[zovick]

Hi I hope these pictures help under the IR it’s 32/34 and the same under the 160 watt D3 lamp and up buy the window is the colder end where it varies between 20/25 I bath them twice a week and they eat weeds romane lettuce grasses and baby salad leaf mazouri thank you for your help

Just looking at the pictures, my guess is that the tortoises are not warm enough to stimulate much activity with winter coming soon. They may also be lacking in UV light. You really should use a strip fluorescent for the UV such as an Arcadia or Reptisun 10.0 T5 bulb.

 

[Brymus]

Just looking at the pictures, my guess is that the tortoises are not warm enough to stimulate much activity with winter coming soon. They may also be lacking in UV light. You really should use a strip fluorescent for the UV such as an Arcadia or Reptisun 10.0 T5 bulb.

Thank you I’ve just got a T5 strip light that I’m putting up tomorrow and you think I should make it hotter than 35 to 25 ?

No red light.

What do you suggest for heat if not infrared I only no about these and ceramic which is also infrared and the D 3 light has Infrared to so please let me no thank you

 

[zovick]

Thank you I’ve just got a T5 strip light that I’m putting up tomorrow and you think I should make it hotter than 35 to 25 ?

What do you suggest for heat if not infrared I only no about these and ceramic which is also infrared and the D 3 light has Infrared to so please let me no thank you

Personally, I have no problem with using the infrared lights for heat. There is one school of thought which feels that the red light on the substrate makes the tortoises think the substrate is a red food item and eat it which can cause problems. However, I used those same infrared bulbs with my tortoises from the late 1950's until 2020 and never had such a problem. Hence, I say that using the IR light bulbs for heat is fine. You can change it if you wish, but I don't consider it any problem.

The temperature gradient from 25 to 35 is fine, but you said it was 20-25 in the cool end. I consider 20 a bit too low. Also the cool end is right next to a window and I question if it is actually even 20 on the level where the tortoises are. How accurate is your estimate of the temperature? Are you using a good quality temp gun or a pet store thermometer?

You need to soak them daily, not twice a week.

Finally, you didn't say how long you have had them. Are they new acquisitions or ??

 

[Brymus]

Personally, I have no problem with using the infrared lights for heat. There is one school of thought which feels that the red light on the substrate makes the tortoises think the substrate is a red food item and eat it which can cause problems. However, I used those same infrared bulbs with my tortoises from the late 1950's until 2020 and never had such a problem. Hence, I say that using the IR light bulbs for heat is fine. You can change it if you wish, but I don't consider it any problem.

The temperature gradient from 25 to 35 is fine, but you said it was 20-25 in the cool end. I consider 20 a bit too low. Also the cool end is right next to a window and I question if it is actually even 20 on the level where the tortoises are. How accurate is your estimate of the temperature? Are you using a good quality temp gun or a pet store thermometer?

You need to soak them daily, not twice a week.

Finally, you didn't say how long you have had them. Are they new acquisitions or ??

Thank you so much for getting back to me the building I keep them in is kept at 22 as a minimum right by the window is a digital thermometer and I checked them with a temperature gun but will check tomorrow morning to make sure I will bath them daily from now on I’ve had them since April and even when they go outside they don’t walk about much I will let you know in the morning what the temperature is by the window thank you

 

[Brymus]

Thank you so much for getting back to me the building I keep them in is kept at 22 as a minimum right by the window is a digital thermometer and I checked them with a temperature gun but will check tomorrow morning to make sure I will bath them daily from now on I’ve had them since April and even when they go outside they don’t walk about much I will let you know in the morning what the temperature is by the window thank you

Hi I’ve checked the temperature by the window and it was 22.8 and under the infrared lamp it’s 32.4 thank you for your help

 

[Sterant]

You should probably remove the sphagnum moss too. Some say its an impaction risk. I have never experienced that, but I don't use sphagnum.

 

[Brymus]

You should probably remove the sphagnum moss too. Some say its an impaction risk. I have never experienced that, but I don't use sphagnum.

Ok

You should probably remove the sphagnum moss too. Some say its an impaction risk. I have never experienced that, but I don't use sphagnum.

ok thank you

 

[Troyhuoo]

This is not normal unless possibly you just got them and they are scared of the new surroundings. Are you soaking them daily? You should do that every day for 20 minutes or so in lukewarm water, then after the soak, place them in front of a pile of food. If they are healthy, they should begin to eat, possibly right away, but likely it might be after a few days to a week or so if they are in a new environment.

It’s said radiated tortoises needn’t soak. They will drink water by himself when in hot and wet environments. In cold and dry environments, radiated tortoise can keep away with water as long as several months.

 

[RichardS]

It’s said radiated tortoises needn’t soak. They will drink water by himself when in hot and wet environments. In cold and dry environments, radiated tortoise can keep away with water as long as several months.

If it’s not said by @zovick, then toss it out. Bill is a legend and speaks from 40+ years experience with radiata. Nothing wrong with questioning the status quo, but the benefits of soaking tortoises is very widely accepted, regardless of species.

 

[zovick]

It’s said radiated tortoises needn’t soak. They will drink water by himself when in hot and wet environments. In cold and dry environments, radiated tortoise can keep away with water as long as several months.

If you want a Radiated Tortoise which looks like a hand grenade instead of a sphere, then you don't need to soak it daily.

 

[TammyJ]

If you want a Radiated Tortoise which looks like a hand grenade instead of a sphere, then you don't need to soak it daily.

Thanks for clarifying that one!!!

 

[Brymus]

Since reading the message about bathing daily I’ve been doing it and after the bath putting them in front of food which they eat then they walk of and stay where they go till the next day

 

[Troyhuoo]

If you want a Radiated Tortoise which looks like a hand grenade instead of a sphere, then you don't need to soak it daily.

Pyramiding is caused mainly by environment’s humidity, not by whether soaking. Precisely, pyramiding or smooth growing is determined by night humidity in the high temperature seasons.