Why does my tortoise keep sleeping and is inactive?

JoesMum said:

Which country are you in? Wild-caught Russians are sold by pet stores in the USA. In the UK this is not legal and your tort will be captive bred.

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That depends. Tortoise/exotic pet smuggling is a very lucrative trade; especially in certain parts of the world that do have specific import bans. Suppliers can provide fake paperwork and easily disappear within a moments notice, only to remake a similar operation in matter of days. Profit margins are far too high for pet shop owners to ignore.

I am not condoning people from buying wild caught tortoises. I just don't want unsuspecting buyers to pay average captive breeder prices for a wild caught tortoise that was poorly cared for.

TammyJ said:

Hi there! You came to the right place to get help for your little guy, so that's good news! Stick with us and take the advice here, it's good advice, I can assure you. Read the care sheets for that type of tortoise, keep him at warmer temperatures and the correct humidity level and give him the right kinds of food. The vet visit would be awesome if you can manage to get him to a good reptile vet too. All the very best and THANK YOU for caring!

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My mum and I are saving for a better vividarium so he can explore more and live healthy and happy.

Minority2 said:

That depends. Tortoise/exotic pet smuggling is a very lucrative trade; especially in certain parts of the world that do have specific import bans. Suppliers can provide fake paperwork and easily disappear within a moments notice, only to remake a similar operation in matter of days. Profit margins are far too high for pet shop owners to ignore.

I am not condoning people from buying wild caught tortoises. I just don't want unsuspecting buyers to pay average captive breeder prices for a wild caught tortoise that was poorly cared for.

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How can you tell which are wild?

MaxisMYtortoise said:

How can you tell which are wild?

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Wild caught have rougher shells and looked more scratched. Russians are scruffy looking anyway.

In the UK it has been illegal to import since CITES laws were enacted decades ago. This is very tightly policed and no pet store would sell wild caught animals.

My Greek, Joe, was a wild import, but he was bought in 1970. Torts like him cannot legally be sold as they don’t have the captive bred paperwork; they can only ever be given away.

Your tort is still growing. The pale lines between the scutes (shell plates) are pale because of new growth. The shell will darken in time.

JoesMum said:

Wild caught have rougher shells and looked more scratched. Russians are scruffy looking anyway.

In the UK it has been illegal to import since CITES laws were enacted decades ago. This is very tightly policed and no pet store would sell wild caught animals.

My Greek, Joe, was a wild import, but he was bought in 1970. Torts like him cannot legally be sold as they don’t have the captive bred paperwork; they can only ever be given away.

Your tort is still growing. The pale lines between the scutes (shell plates) are pale because of new growth. The shell will darken in time.

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If I understand correct, certain species of tortoise do not require certificates to be bought or sold in the UK and other EU member states.

Horsefield is among the list of species that do not require a certificate. I don't live in the UK so I can't say this for certain. I do however, believe the original poster's tortoise is most likely a wild caught and is at least several years old.

T

JoesMum said:

Wild caught have rougher shells and looked more scratched. Russians are scruffy looking anyway.

In the UK it has been illegal to import since CITES laws were enacted decades ago. This is very tightly policed and no pet store would sell wild caught animals.

My Greek, Joe, was a wild import, but he was bought in 1970. Torts like him cannot legally be sold as they don’t have the captive bred paperwork; they can only ever be given away.

Your tort is still growing. The pale lines between the scutes (shell plates) are pale because of new growth. The shell will darken in time.

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Thank you. But why is my tortoise so active at night. I'm tired and he wants to play. I brought him out of his cage almost all day.

Minority2 said:

If I understand correct, certain species of tortoise do not require certificates to be bought or sold in the UK and other EU member states.

Horsefield is among the list of species that do not require a certificate. I don't live in the UK so I can't say this for certain. I do however, believe the original poster's tortoise is most likely a wild caught and is at least several years old.

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Max is 7.

MaxisMYtortoise said:

T

Thank you. But why is my tortoise so active at night. I'm tired and he wants to play. I brought him out of his cage almost all day.

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Your tort should not be brought out of his enclosure. They don’t play. They are solitary creatures that spend their days eating, basking and sleeping. They are not cuddly pets like dogs, they are healthy and happy in an enclosure with all 4 feet on the floor.

They need complete darkness at night. The lights go off and the enclosure can be allowed to cool to room temperature.

Unfortunately, the hot summer we have had has meant they have become less active by day and more active when temperatures drop. The weather change should have sorted that by now.

Your tort needs a large enclosure that he can roam and that he stays in. Letting Russians know there is a world outside is bad news and they will always want to get to it.

Your tort is at risk of escape, or worse still being stepped on if it roams your home and it is away from the heat and humidity it needs to be healthy.

At age 7, your tort is big enough to have an enclosure in your garden in the summer months. There are plenty of examples in our enclosures forum

Can I also suggest you get your Mum to read these threads we linked earlier so she understands too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Russian Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

JoesMum said:

Can I also suggest you get your Mum to read these threads we linked earlier so she understands too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Russian Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

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I never knew that they had to be alone. And sure I'll get my mum read them when she wakes up.

JoesMum said:

Your tort should not be brought out of his enclosure. They don’t play. They are solitary creatures that spend their days eating, basking and sleeping. They are not cuddly pets like dogs, they are healthy and happy in an enclosure with all 4 feet on the floor.

They need complete darkness at night. The lights go off and the enclosure can be allowed to cool to room temperature.

Unfortunately, the hot summer we have had has meant they have become less active by day and more active when temperatures drop. The weather change should have sorted that by now.

Your tort needs a large enclosure that he can roam and that he stays in. Letting Russians know there is a world outside is bad news and they will always want to get to it.

Your tort is at risk of escape, or worse still being stepped on if it roams your home and it is away from the heat and humidity it needs to be healthy.

At age 7, your tort is big enough to have an enclosure in your garden in the summer months. There are plenty of examples in our enclosures forum

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What about the youtube channels who hold turtles up for vids?

But I see people playing with their tortoises and he seems happy. I let him out so often because I'm trying to let him explore more then what he can in his cage. Since it's small and. I'm waiting for a new one.

MaxisMYtortoise said:

What about the youtube channels who hold turtles up for vids?

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Did you read the threads that were posted?

His eyes looked enflamed and that could be from the bulb you are using? Did you turn off the coil bulb?

What is the temperature under the basking bulb?

Did you change the substrate yet? Use orchid bark or coco coir. Don't use the Pets At Home stuff with the limestone bits in it.

Don't "worry" about him. Fix the things that need fixing.

Plus I make SURE no one will hurt him. I may be younger but I'm not stupid

MaxisMYtortoise said:

But I see people playing with their tortoises and he seems happy. I let him out so often because I'm trying to let him explore more then what he can in his cage. Since it's small and. I'm waiting for a new one.

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Believe me, he would much rather have a big enough enclosure. They are solitary animals, and don’t need to be “played with” like a dog.

Keep in mind that he needs a minimum enclosure size of 8x4 feet.

I'll

Tom said:

Did you read the threads that were posted?

His eyes looked enflamed and that could be from the bulb you are using? Did you turn off the coil bulb?

What is the temperature under the basking bulb?

Did you change the substrate yet? Use orchid bark or coco coir. Don't use the Pets At Home stuff with the limestone bits in it.

Don't "worry" about him. Fix the things that need fixing.

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Where is good places in england if I cannot trust petsathome.

TechnoCheese said:

Believe me, he would much rather have a big enough enclosure. They are solitary animals, and don’t need to be “played with” like a dog.

Keep in mind that he needs a minimum enclosure size of 8x4 feet.

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That's why I'm trying to get a better temp home for when he gets a bigger home.

MaxisMYtortoise said:

I'll

Where is good places in england if I cannot trust petsathome.

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You can still buy from pets at home, you just have to buy the right things.

MaxisMYtortoise said:

I'll

Where is good places in england if I cannot trust petsathome.

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Read the linked threads. It specifically says to avoid pet stores and buy most of your tortoise supplies at hardware or department stores.

Like Bnq?