Help!! (Wants out of his cage)

Mandi0327 · Nov 20, 2020

I have an eastern hermanns that I hatched and he has been doing great. He is about 6 months old. He’s been gaining weight like he should and never has had any issues eating. About a month ago I decided to let him walk around in the kitchen for 10 mins everyday. I noticed he started obsessing and non stop scratching on the inside of his cage to get out. I did some research and found out that it’s a bad idea to let them out and walk around. So I stopped doing this like 3 days ago and he has non stop been scratching and obsessing over getting out and now has stopped eating. I’m wondering if this obsessing over getting out will stop and he will start eating again or what I should do? He needs to eat!

zovick · Nov 20, 2020

Mandi0327 said:
I have an eastern hermanns that I hatched and he has been doing great. He is about 6 months old. He’s been gaining weight like he should and never has had any issues eating. About a month ago I decided to let him walk around in the kitchen for 10 mins everyday. I noticed he started obsessing and non stop scratching on the inside of his cage to get out. I did some research and found out that it’s a bad idea to let them out and walk around. So I stopped doing this like 3 days ago and he has non stop been scratching and obsessing over getting out and now has stopped eating. I’m wondering if this obsessing over getting out will stop and he will start eating again or what I should do? He needs to eat!

Maybe the tortoise is just not eating because this is the time of year they would normally slow down and prepare to hibernate. Perhaps raising the temp in his enclosure would help.

Mandi0327 · Nov 20, 2020

zovick said:
Maybe the tortoise is just not eating because this is the time of year they would normally slow down and prepare to hibernate. Perhaps raising the temp in his enclosure would help.

He’s constantly scratching at the side of the cage...he’s definitely not slowing down at all.

zovick · Nov 20, 2020

Mandi0327 said:
He’s constantly scratching at the side of the cage...he’s definitely not slowing down at all.

What is/are the temperature(s) in your enclosure?

Tortoises can go weeks without eating. If all else is fine, the tortoise will eat again when it gets hungry enough.

Mandi0327 · Nov 20, 2020

zovick said:
What is/are the temperature(s) in your enclosure?

Tortoises can go weeks without eating. If all else is fine, the tortoise will eat again when it gets hungry enough.

One end of the enclosure is 75-80 and the other end where the basking light is placed at is 90-92. Humidity is around 65-75

zovick · Nov 20, 2020

Mandi0327 said:
One end of the enclosure is 75-80 and the other end where the basking light is placed at is 90-92. Humidity is around 65-75

It sounds all right. I would just soak the tortoise daily for 20 to 30 minutes in lukewarm water, then put it in front of a pile of food. Eventually it will eat.

I doubt that you will be able to stop the tortoise from walking the perimeter of its enclosure and "climbing the walls". They just do that sometimes. Some get over it in a couple weeks or so and others persist in doing it for quite a while.

Mandi0327 · Nov 20, 2020

Ok thank you. This never happened until I started bringing him out to walk on the floor and now he just constantly wants out. I’m hoping he gets over it.

Mandi0327 · Nov 20, 2020

Mandi0327 said:
Ok thank you. This never happened until I started bringing him out to walk on the floor and now he just constantly wants out. I’m hoping he gets over it.

And he does get soaked everyday for about 10 minutes.

zovick · Nov 20, 2020

Mandi0327 said:
And he does get soaked everyday for about 10 minutes.

I would probably increase the soak time to 20-30 minutes as the tortoise gets a bit older.

Sarah2020 · Nov 20, 2020

Send a pic of the enclosure you need to check size and also sight barriers add in a hide and substrate to burrow in maybe add plants like ferns if not in. I think it is great to let them out in a safe supervised enclosure to stretch those legs! Not roaming around unattended to avoid loosing it or consuming something they should not.

Violanna · Nov 20, 2020

Are the sides of the enclosure see through?

Mandi0327 · Nov 20, 2020

Sarah2020 said:
Send a pic of the enclosure you need to check size and also sight barriers add in a hide and substrate to burrow in maybe add plants like ferns if not in. I think it is great to let them out in a safe supervised enclosure to stretch those legs! Not roaming around unattended to avoid loosing it or consuming something they should not.

Mandi0327 · Nov 20, 2020

Violanna said:
Are the sides of the enclosure see through?

No they are not. He has never had this problem until I started letting him out everyday

Yvonne G · Nov 20, 2020

Well, as you have learned the hard way, once you allow your tortoise to know there's more to the world outside the walls of his enclosure they're no longer satisfied to be kept inside the enclosure.

How big is the enclosure? Any chance you can give him a new, bigger enclosure with a few interesting things to explore? Otherwise you're just going to have to go with tough love and wait him out.

Sarah2020 · Nov 22, 2020

The thorny cactus looks eye level and dangerous I would remove and if you want a plant get a succulent or fern.

queen koopa · Nov 22, 2020

Omg so small and cute in there! I feel Yvonne is dead on with this subject. This happened with my Sulcata back when I would take her out to graze on a separate lawn from her enclosure. She would scratch and pace the entire enclosure when she got back and the next day. Eventually she got used to this and I also added another 400 sq ft. To her enclosure. She is content now but I have had her going on 3 years. I adopted an adult RES turtle that was INSANE scratching and flipping out every time I walked in the room. He was given too me in a 20 gal aquarium with no dry “land” included. His previous owner cleaned his tank once a month and let him roam around each time. So he was constantly trying to get out and he could see when someone would approach. Previous owner referred to him as “feisty”. Upgraded up to 75 gal stock tank and only take him out for body inspections and he does not roam anywhere but his enclosure. Turtle is no longer “feisty”. I think your guy will get forget about his adventures of the kitchen after awhile. I have not cared for a baby/ hatchling though....

GMDVM · Nov 22, 2020

Our tortoises are much smarter than given credit for!
your enclosure looks great. I would worry about any spiny plants though Perhaps a hanging pothos instead.

MenagerieGrl · Nov 22, 2020

Mandi, On the flip side, I comend you for letting your Tort out to roam, (Please under supervision). While you can be irritated at the pacing, there is a big world out there and letting your Tort out enriches her/his life. I don't know if you have an outdoor pen, enclosure, but that's a good place to let it roam to see the world when the environmental conditions are good. IMHO

pawsplus · Nov 23, 2020

Yvonne G said:
Well, as you have learned the hard way, once you allow your tortoise to know there's more to the world outside the walls of his enclosure they're no longer satisfied to be kept inside the enclosure.

I don't see how you can help that, as most torts are eventually going to get time in an outdoor enclosure. I find that every fall, Beasley takes a month or so to stop asking me to take her outside, as I do every AM from late April through early Oct. Whenever she sees me, she rushes over and tries to climb up to me. She won't eat at all if I'm there because all she wants is to go OUT! I drop her food and run LOL.

I suspect that it the poster just holds out, the tort will eventually give up. Beasley does.

Mikki · Nov 24, 2020

Mandi0327 said:
Ok thank you. This never happened until I started bringing him out to walk on the floor and now he just constantly wants out. I’m hoping he gets over it.

I am curious as to why you can not allow your tort to walk around in your kitchen if you are right there supervising. I am sure many on this forum do not agree with it, but there are many people that allow their torts to have free roam of their home once they are bigger and live inside the homes.. Your species does not get that big, and actually to be honest, there is a lady on a facebook group that has this species, and I am not joking at all when i say she sleeps with her tort.. Literally her tort has it's own blankie, sleeps right next to her and she said if her tort has an accident it nudges her, she gets up, gets another blankie, cleans up her tort and back to bed they go... Anyway, I am just wondering if it is cold outside where you live, and to give your tort more exercise why not allow your tort out daily to walk in your kitchen.. As long as you are right there to make sure it does not get into danger, I don't understand why not!

Help!! (Wants out of his cage)

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