scarlettedenrose
New Member
I've had my young Hermann's tortoise since the 1st Feb 2020 and overall it's been pretty smooth sailing! My main issue is she's become obsessed with scratching/trying to climb the walls of her tort table and I really don't want her flipping over all the time, which happens occasionally. She'll have episodes where for a few days at a time she'll try to climb out endlessly all day, but now its been over a week and she still wants out. I'd take her outside but I live in Yorkshire and its October! Plus I'm usually away at college all day. I was told by people on here a few months back that her table was big enough for a youngster for now, so I didn't think it was much of a problem yet. She's not eating and just wants to get out all the time... I've tried putting things in the corners but this just makes it worse as she climbs these and falls too. I'll make a little walk around enclosure on the floor of the room she's in to see if she wants to explore, but she'll try to get out of this too. I can't let her just wander around the house/room because we have cats and there are lots of things she could choke on or easily get lost. It's a bit on a dilemma!
Her temps are normal (around 30 degrees in the basking spot and room temp everywhere else), she has lots of things to climb over in the middle/break up the line of sight/hiding or burrowing spots - so I'm at a loss. Is space the issue?
The substrate I was recommended when I got her is awful (lots of tiny grains) and I've finally been able to order a better one (coco coir block). Hopefully this could make a difference if she's too dry?
Could I take her outside for a while at 11-13 degrees celsius? She's still a baby really.
I've attached some photos of her table - I know the substrate is awful, it's getting replaced soon! The places she climbs the most are the two opposite corners with the big rocks and the pink plant (near the heat lamp worryingly) and the plastic screen - this is covered up to make it opaque but she still goes for it!
Anyway, any recommendation I'd be grateful for. Thanks a lot!
Her temps are normal (around 30 degrees in the basking spot and room temp everywhere else), she has lots of things to climb over in the middle/break up the line of sight/hiding or burrowing spots - so I'm at a loss. Is space the issue?
The substrate I was recommended when I got her is awful (lots of tiny grains) and I've finally been able to order a better one (coco coir block). Hopefully this could make a difference if she's too dry?
Could I take her outside for a while at 11-13 degrees celsius? She's still a baby really.
I've attached some photos of her table - I know the substrate is awful, it's getting replaced soon! The places she climbs the most are the two opposite corners with the big rocks and the pink plant (near the heat lamp worryingly) and the plastic screen - this is covered up to make it opaque but she still goes for it!
Anyway, any recommendation I'd be grateful for. Thanks a lot!