Parents and Tortoise Care

[randominique]

Hello,
As I’ve learnt more and more about tortoise care, I have realized that I haven’t been giving my tortoise the best life. If you would like to know more about my tortoise’s living conditions, here they are:
https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/i-have-neglected-my-russian-please-help-me-change.219622/

I’ve tried to talk to my parents (I am 13 and cannot buy/build anything for my tortoise) about this issue, mostly my dad because he’s the one who’s more involved in my tortoise’s life, but they are still convinced he’s fine and living a good life. I even sent my dad a Google Doc that contains links to a bunch of threads providing information on tortoise care, and out of the 10+ links I gave him, he read…one. Not the one about beginner mistakes, not the one about proper care, just the one with a couple housing ideas. My dad still insists my tortoise’s tiny 2x4 house is fine because “he’s a small tortoise and doesn’t need a large enclosure, like the guy at the pet store said!”

Honestly, this ignorance makes me pretty mad. I don’t want you guys to think that my parents are abusive, ignorant people who don’t care about their pet, they’re really good people, but they really need to realize that something has to be done. I don’t even know if my parents would allow me to rehome my tortoise, so informing them is my only decision. How do I get them to realize that something needs to be changed?

 

[wellington]

We have had other kids have your same problem. Seriously, I don't know why parents don't understand they are not teaching their kids proper animal husbandry when they do it wrong.
If you don't have the space to go bigger lengthwise, you can build a second level. Maybe that would be easier for him to handle. Some even do an L shape along the walls.
Otherwise you should rehome the tortoise if they won't do better.
If you can house him outside in a bigger enclosure when weather is right, do that and brumate him in winter months. That's about 3 months he doesn't have to suffer in such a small enclosure.

 

[randominique]

We have had other kids have your same problem. Seriously, I don't know why parents don't understand they are not teaching their kids proper animal husbandry when they do it wrong.
If you don't have the space to go bigger lengthwise, you can build a second level. Maybe that would be easier for him to handle. Some even do an L shape along the walls.
Otherwise you should rehome the tortoise if they won't do better.
If you can house him outside in a bigger enclosure when weather is right, do that and brumate him in winter months. That's about 3 months he doesn't have to suffer in such a small enclosure.

I actually spoke to my dad a little after I posted this. He said that if I really want to, we could build something in my bedroom (I did the measurements and there’s enough room for a decent enclosure). However, my dad, who will most likely be the only one helping me, is very busy with work and this project (my dad likes to call it the Sneem Expansion Project haha) might take weeks or months to finish. Should I just rehome him at this point if it’s going to take that long to build an enclosure? I don’t think my parents even know what brumating is and how to properly do it.

 

[SinLA]

A few questions before anyone can help you answer this. 1) In four years, do you think you are going to leave for college/work/military etc, somewhere you can no longer care for him? 2) If that is the case, do you trust your parents would adequately care for him?

I will say, finding a new home "sounds" great, but its also pretty hard to find someone who won't keep it the way he's been kept for his whole life already, and he does deserve better...

 

[randominique]

A few questions before anyone can help you answer this. 1) In four years, do you think you are going to leave for college/work/military etc, somewhere you can no longer care for him? 2) If that is the case, do you trust your parents would adequately care for him?

I will say, finding a new home "sounds" great, but its also pretty hard to find someone who won't keep it the way he's been kept for his whole life already, and he does deserve better...

In a couple years’ time, I do have plans for going to college. I don’t know if my parents would be able to care for him. Of course, he would be getting fed and soaked just fine, but I don’t know how things would be in terms of cleaning the enclosure. My dad cleaned the enclosure for the first 3 years I had Sneem, but now I’ve been the only one doing it.

 

[wellington]

In a couple years’ time, I do have plans for going to college. I don’t know if my parents would be able to care for him. Of course, he would be getting fed and soaked just fine, but I don’t know how things would be in terms of cleaning the enclosure. My dad cleaned the enclosure for the first 3 years I had Sneem, but now I’ve been the only one doing it.

I think you could keep him for now. If you add a pic of the enclosure, we might be able to help you expand it without really needing to build until your dad can get to it.
Then when you go to college, or close to it, you can have a talk with your dad to see if he will take over the responsibility again, if not, rehome him then.

 

[randominique]

I think you could keep him for now. If you add a pic of the enclosure, we might be able to help you expand it without really needing to build until your dad can get to it.
Then when you go to college, or close to it, you can have a talk with your dad to see if he will take over the responsibility again, if not, rehome him then.

Here is the enclosure. If you want the specific dimensions, I’m pretty sure it is in this post: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/i-have-neglected-my-russian-please-help-me-change.219622/

 

[wellington]

Remove lights and cut a section out of the area I circled that is facing the lights so he can walk out into the area the lights sit on. Add a piece of wood to the screen the lights sit on and a railing on the side that is open, not against the walls then hang lights over the top area and attach a regular tube fluorescent light to the inside of the bottom level if there isn't any lights down there. Can be just a regular fluorescent.

 

[randominique]

Remove lights and cut a section out of the area I circled that is facing the lights so he can walk out into the area the lights sit on. Add a piece of wood to the screen the lights sit on and a railing on the side that is open, not against the walls then hang lights over the top area and attach a regular tube fluorescent light to the inside of the bottom level if there isn't any lights down there. Can be just a regular fluorescent.
View attachment 380654

Thank you! Should this change be fine forever, or just until the larger enclosure is built? I’m guessing it’s the latter part of that question, but just making sure.

 

[wellington]

Thank you! Should this change be fine forever, or just until the larger enclosure is built? I’m guessing it’s the latter part of that question, but just making sure.

Yes, just until the larger one is built. This would give him more room for now, with not much work or expense.
However, if your dad wanted to, he could make an appropriate size section, with three sides and a floor that could be added on to the end that is along the right wall/end of enclosure. This keeps the enclosure you have and a inexpensive add on to it too get the right size.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I'm not sure if this will convince your dad, but tortoises need more space because:
1. They aren't great climbers and cannot use vertical space for exercise like lizards do.
2. Their body is not flexible, they need space for maneuvers - imagine a school bus on a narrow street trying to turn around.
3. In the wild they don't sit on a branch awaiting for food to crawl or fly nearby - they walk and forage.
4. Their physiology has adapted to such lifestyle - walking helps to move food through intestines. This is similar to horses, as I understand - when kept in stalls only they get sick.
5. Depending on species and conditions, they can cover distances measured in miles daily.
6. As any reptile they use environment to thermoregulate and take advantage of available microclimates. Small enclosure doesn't allow to create proper temperature/humidity/lightning gradients.
7. They are good at navigating and remembering territory. In a small enclosure there will learn all the routes in a few hours and it's just boring (like for humans to be contained in a bathroom for thr lifetime).
8. Free roaming around the house is deadly dangerous for them so it's not an option.