very active male tortoise !

issyjward

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Mar 20, 2026
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London
hello, my 15 year old male has been extremely active this year since waking from hibernation a few weeks ago. he’s currently in his temporary indoor enclosure while the uk weather warms up but is seeming increasingly active and restless. it hasn’t helped that for the past 5 or so days i’ve been letting him in the garden (supervised) while it’s been nice and sunny. during the warmer months, he spends the majority of his time in the garden where he has full roam and plenty of plants and weeds to graze on, as well as the food i provide. now that the weathers changed and he’s back inside, he hates it !! especially today he’s been relentlessly digging at the corners and trying to climb the sides. also, he usually loves his daily soaks and will sit comfortably for a good 15-20mins before showing he wants to get out, now it’s hard to keep him in for 10, and when i put him in his towel to dry he starts biting it which is very atypical behaviour for him. i have taken him to the vets for his post hibernation check and they said he was fine. i’m getting him a larger indoor enclosure today so hopefully that helps. i would appreciate any advice anyone has to offer on how to calm him down and make him more comfortable inside (but before you suggest putting plants in the corners, i’ve already tried and they did not last a day 😭). thank you !
 

Pák

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Nyergesújfalu
I think if you provide him a small outdoor hide, mostly referred here as a night box, with some heating (15-20 °C) you can leave him out right after the hibernation ends.
 

Tom

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hello, my 15 year old male has been extremely active this year since waking from hibernation a few weeks ago. he’s currently in his temporary indoor enclosure while the uk weather warms up but is seeming increasingly active and restless. it hasn’t helped that for the past 5 or so days i’ve been letting him in the garden (supervised) while it’s been nice and sunny. during the warmer months, he spends the majority of his time in the garden where he has full roam and plenty of plants and weeds to graze on, as well as the food i provide. now that the weathers changed and he’s back inside, he hates it !! especially today he’s been relentlessly digging at the corners and trying to climb the sides. also, he usually loves his daily soaks and will sit comfortably for a good 15-20mins before showing he wants to get out, now it’s hard to keep him in for 10, and when i put him in his towel to dry he starts biting it which is very atypical behaviour for him. i have taken him to the vets for his post hibernation check and they said he was fine. i’m getting him a larger indoor enclosure today so hopefully that helps. i would appreciate any advice anyone has to offer on how to calm him down and make him more comfortable inside (but before you suggest putting plants in the corners, i’ve already tried and they did not last a day 😭). thank you !
First, hello and welcome!

Don't worry about whether or not he wants to stay in the soak. Leave him in there for 30-40 minutes and keep the water warm. We call scrambling on the sides to climb out "the tortoise treadmill". Its good exercise and will allow him to burn off some of that spring energy while remaining well hydrated.

I agree with Pák. Make an insulated night box with temperature controls and a heat lamp for cooler weather days, and let him live outside full time. With some care and attention to temperatures, you can even let him brumate in it over winter. It's a great way to keep the tortoise at the necessary warm temperatures when the weather isn't cooperating. This box and much more is explained here:

I made this next thread for people new to the forum, not necessarily new to tortoises. This forum is on the forefront of new tortoise knowledge, and most every other source is repeating the same old wrong info. Check it out:
 

zolasmum

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Hello and welcome from Devon.We have a male Hermanns tortoise too - he is 25 years old, and full of energy at this time of year. Luckily, he has a fair- sized conservatory - and also if the weather is good, we can take him to the sea at Bude,nearby,where there is a very long rocky breakwater which he can walk/climb along for ages -well supervised, of course. We have considered getting an exercise wheel -is that something your boy might like? I don't know much about them, but I think some members here have them - of course, you would have to stay with him all the time (and the wheel would probably end up covered in poo inside).
Angie
 

issyjward

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Joined
Mar 20, 2026
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London
thank you all for your welcomes and advice ! in the past few days he has calmed down slightly and today i’ve put him in his new and improved indoor enclosure. it’s still on the smaller side but had a better UV set up, fresh plants, a cosy hide, etc. hopefully he likes it ! as for the night box, i think it’s something i’d consider for next year if i find myself in this position again. however, i just think it would be too limited for him as he would be inside there for a solid 2 months whilst the weather heats up, so a larger indoor area seems more suitable for him. again, thanks a bunch for your advice !! i may look into the exercise wheel if he gets restless again.
 

Littleredfootbigredheart

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Dec 28, 2023
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7,679
Location (City and/or State)
UK
thank you all for your welcomes and advice ! in the past few days he has calmed down slightly and today i’ve put him in his new and improved indoor enclosure. it’s still on the smaller side but had a better UV set up, fresh plants, a cosy hide, etc. hopefully he likes it ! as for the night box, i think it’s something i’d consider for next year if i find myself in this position again. however, i just think it would be too limited for him as he would be inside there for a solid 2 months whilst the weather heats up, so a larger indoor area seems more suitable for him. again, thanks a bunch for your advice !! i may look into the exercise wheel if he gets restless again.
I hope you find the links I added in your other thread helpful! But thought I’d also include these videos I made on tortoise wheels for you here😊

 

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