Compulsive digging

[kristoformiller]

what do I go about a 6 inch sulcata that can't ever stop digging to nowhere ? On the floor or in his box he just digs and gets nowhere

 

[Yvonne G]

It's what they do. This is a clue to let you know that when he's big enough to live outside he's going to dig a burrow to China.

 

[Big Charlie]

Funny thing, I don't remember Charlie ever digging when he was indoors. Then the first time he was left alone outside, he made quite an impressive burrow.

 

[kristoformiller]

Harry digs in corners of his box for hours... I think he's special or ocd

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

How large is his enclosure? Sometimes excessive corner digging is symptomatic of an enclosure being too small.

 

[kristoformiller]

My room most of the time which is 10x12 and at night he sleeps in a 50 gallon glad tank
I think I figured out if he walks around more and I turn heat off at night he does less

 

[enzot91]

My room most of the time which is 10x12 and at night he sleeps in a 50 gallon glad tank
I think I figured out if he walks around more and I turn heat off at night he does less

If he digs whilst wandering around on your floor, he's probably too cold. That's not really a great environment for a tortoise, as he likely doesn't have adequate heating. It could also be dangerous in other ways.

 

[kristoformiller]

He has a heater on the floor and I lined the large area with 2x6 do he can't get lost

 

[enzot91]

He has a heater on the floor and I lined the large area with 2x6 do he can't get lost

What temperature is it when he's walking around outside his enclosure?

 

[Tom]

My room most of the time which is 10x12 and at night he sleeps in a 50 gallon glad tank
I think I figured out if he walks around more and I turn heat off at night he does less

Your tortoise should never be loose on the floor. It is not safe. Many of them get sick, impacted, injured or dead this way.

A 50 gallon is fine for a baby, but WAYYYYYYYY too small for a 6" tortoise.

He needs a 4x8' enclosure and he's likely to outgrow that by this coming summer.

Where are you? If you are in one of the Southern states, it might be time to build him a heated outdoor box and get him living outside full time.

He's digging like that because down on the floor he is exposed and he wants to dig in to the substrate for some cover. Since there is no substrate on your floor, he just keeps trying. They aren't the smartest lot...

 

[kristoformiller]

I am in north Carolina its always about 75 degrees in my room...
I would like to build an outdoor habitat asap

 

[Tom]

I am in north Carolina its always about 75 degrees in my room...
I would like to build an outdoor habitat asap

Its probably not 75 degrees down on the floor of your room. Put a thermometer down there overnight. You'll see what I mean. Too cold.

You'll need one of these:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/

 

[kristoformiller]

Thanks! Do you have dimensions and maybe the product names or links?

 

[Tom]

Thanks! Do you have dimensions and maybe the product names or links?

That box is built under a 4x4' lid.

The thermostat is:
https://www.hydrofarm.com/p/MTPRTC

The heat mat is a Kane:
http://www.tortoisesupply.com/kane

The radiant heat panel is from Reptile Basics:
http://www.reptilebasics.com/rbi-radiant-heat-panels

The box is custom built by hand from materials purchased at your local hardware store like Home Depot, Lowes or OSH.

 

[kristoformiller]

Thank you. I have plans to use an extra large wooden dog house that was for a great Dane and convert half of the shingled roof to swing up but I didn't know about the Kane brand of mat so I'll definitely get one and a thermo and plastic curtains and a ramp. Do you think he can go one last winter in the tank? I say 6 inches but he's not quite there yet.

 

[Tom]

Thank you. I have plans to use an extra large wooden dog house that was for a great Dane and convert half of the shingled roof to swing up but I didn't know about the Kane brand of mat so I'll definitely get one and a thermo and plastic curtains and a ramp. Do you think he can go one last winter in the tank? I say 6 inches but he's not quite there yet.

Dog houses don't work well. They are designed for dogs, not tortoises. They are too tall inside, not insulated or sealed well enough and the doors are much too tall and big, which lets all your heat out. Using the wrong night box means you have to burn A LOT more electricity to maintain adequate temperatures. All that electricity not only costs more, but it desiccates your tortoise too.

You need a much larger indoor enclosure right now. A 50 gallon tank is fine for the first couple of months with a new hatchling, but its too small for anything after that. Your tortoise cannot spend another winter and spring in that little tank.

 

[kristoformiller]

Ok please come build this box