Climbing Cherry Head??

[terryo]

I'm not used to this "bad baby". Pio never climbed, and was just a sweet slow moving tort. Solo is constantly on the go. Taking nibbles from all the plants, exploring....and now climbing. When I wake up he's usually on his slate waiting to eat...a great eater too. This morning he was on top of this hide. When he saw the food coming, he came right down. I didn't help him just watched. He turned around, and came down the back way where it is lower. I couldn't believe it. Now I don't know weather to change things around so he can't get up there or just leave it. I just afraid he'll fall when I'm not home. I can't believe what different personalities them have.

"spray them til they drip" and a bunch of greens

 

[LindaF]

Your enclosure is so beautiful, he must think he is wild and in the jungle!

 

[PeanutbuttER]

My 6" Kiwi will climb a little. I have a rectangular rocks in there that is maybe 2 or 3" higher than the substrate and many times I have come home to find her sitting on it with her legs splayed out in all directions just hanging off the sides. It's not near the heat source, so she just enjoys the feeling of getting off her feet I guess.

 

[Shelli]

Ugh!! I feel your pain everything you said describes Jaba she is a climbing nightmare.. lol.. Like you say I used to have a quiet good little tort named Olive.
If i'm going out for longer than an hour I have to put Jaba in her Rubbermaid because I just can't trust her to behave herself she is always on the go, very brave and friendly too.
She will walk past one of the rocks I have in her enclosure and purposely walk half on and half off it as she walks past even though there is plenty of room for her to just walk normally.... haha

Oh and I must add, yesterday she had climbed onto the large rock ontop of her airstone,,, so she was up on top of it .. vibrating away.. rofl...

 

[cdmay]

I am sort of at a loss as to what you should do.
One can see that by the design of your terrarium that there is a natural ramp above the hide for Solo to climb up on and it is reasonable to conclude that sooner or later he would do just that.
But regarding the question does it present a danger to him, that is hard to answer. I would say maybe not as he seems to have already exhibited the knowledge that he knows not to just walk off the ledge.
The other thing to consider is this....what if he did? Is it that far a drop? I can't tell from the photos but it might be. So if you feel that leaving the set up the way it is presents a real threat then by all means change the design.

 

[terryo]

Thank you. The back of the hide has a small baby tears trailing down to the substrate. That's where he must have climbed up, because that's where he went down. Tomorrow I'll be home all day and will watch him and see if he's OK with this. He's a brave little guy. If I have a paper towel in my hand and am cleaning the glass, he'll go right over and try to take a bit out of the paper towel.

 

[Candy]

Terry this is exactly what little Eddie did when I got him. He scared me half to death when he climbed up on his half log and fell off onto his back and was just laying there. If I wouldn't have come in I don't know if he could have turned back over or not so I took the log out. He's a terror you know. Anyway I haven't had the nerve to try it again. Solo sounds like he's very used to his mommy now that's a good thing. His enclosure looks great and he is growing beautifully. I know what you mean about them being so different, Dale never did that or even tried to. Ruby hasn't tried it either. They are definitely different in their personalities that's for sure.

 

[Kristina]

If you think that is bad, see what I came home to one day this past summer. Looked all over for my juvie Redfoot, finally found her...

That flower pot was three times taller than she would be standing straight up on the back of her shell. Little monster, lol.

I wouldn't worry. It isn't that far of a fall, and honestly, in the wild they are not on flat terrain. I have seen tortoises go down a slope on a roll, get back up, and continue plodding on. I am sure it is something that happens quite a bit in nature, going over logs and rocks and things and I see no way Solo could be hurt landing on that soft moss.

Just remember, 23 million years of evolution....

 

[terryo]

Thanks Kristina...could you please tell me how the h--l the tort got in that planter?????? Wow!

 

[Kristina]

I think she scaled the wall by wedging herself in between the pot and the landscape timbers, but I really have no idea. I was completely shocked. I have seen my Russians climb the corners by bracing their legs against both walls, but my (admittedly VERY heavy) adult Redfoots have never shown any inclination to climb, well, anything.

 

[allegraf]

He is king of the world! So cute. I have no clue if you should block his access to the top of his world. He will likely not appreciate that you are bringing him back down.

 

[Madkins007]

I let my guys climb as much as they want- I figure it gives me a functionally larger habitat, and gives them good exercise and challenges. Of course, they COULD fall and not be able to right themselves, but I check before I leave for work, get home, and before bed so they would not be stuck long.

Seriously, I think a species as intelligent as a tortoise, especially as a Red-foot, gets easily bored in most of the kinds of enclosures people set up for easy cleaning or viewing. Lots of studies have shown that almost every species benefits from habitats that offer naturalistic opportunities, challenges, exercise, and places to explore. Bravo for you doing it for yours!

 

[Tom]

This is the kind of thing that makes me love tortoises so much. All the different personalities and trouble they get into.

 

[Redfoot NERD]

I agree I would observe what he does.. from out-of-sight.. so as not to encourage his activity.

Sorry Terry.. just had to show the climbing K. erosa -

This is an 8" adult...

NERD

btw.. the walls have been changed to 'no-texture' panels.

 

[terryo]

Wow! That's really something to see.

 

[Shelli]

Oh my goodness!! lol That one is definitely on a mission.. .. !!

 

[Isa]

I feel your pain Terry, Hermy is always trying to climb on everything he finds I try do make his enclosure as safe as possible.
Good luck