Yingg
Active Member
yeah thank you for everyone's support so far, it really means the world to me 🙏 ❤️ i will definitely try rubbing pumpkin in.
dry tortoise shell?
- Thread starter Yingg
- Start date
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
I really think she’s turned a corner by the sound of things! Keep us in the loop❤️🥰
Yingg
Active Member
Yingg
Active Member
The_Four_Toed_Edward
Well-Known Member
It is great that he is eating something, but sad that he doesn't do it on his own yet. Remember that tortoises recover slowly from everything, so patience is the key!
RIGHT ON !!!!!
I must apologize, I was referring to him as her. Please let him know I'll get it right for now on.
I must apologize, I was referring to him as her. Please let him know I'll get it right for now on.
Yingg
Active Member
oh she is a her!! hahahaha don't worry
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2013
- Messages
- 3,642
It is now obvious that your tortoise is NOT constipated so you can stop feeding the mineral oil and aloe.
Try getting a very small head of radicchio (it's expensive) and shave some little slices off with a sharp knife. Make a small pile of those slices and put the tortoise right in front of the pile after you have soaked it. Hopefully it will start eating it. If not, mix a bit of the pumpkin in with the radicchio and try doing exactly the same thing the next day.
Hint: handling the tortoise and carrying it in and out of your house are all stressors and may slow down the animal's interest in eating. I would recommend leaving it inside 24/7 in its enclosure and soaking it once daily in the AM, then putting it in front of a pile of food and then leaving it alone until the next day. In this way the tortoise can get into a routine and not be constantly stressed by too much handling and moving from place to place (such as inside to outdoors) several times daily.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
The problem with that is there inside enclosure is currently far too small hence they let them outside to get some needed roaming time
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2013
- Messages
- 3,642
IMHO, an enclosure which is too small is still better than the stress of manipulating the tortoise at least 2-3 times daily and keeping it from being able to feel "safe" and develop a routine. It is already stressed from being handled several times daily for the last two and a half months and continual picking it up and worrying it won't help make it better.
I would just leave it alone most of the time and do as I suggested for a couple of months.
Yingg
Active Member
oh, i think she is quite used to me bringing her out... when i come into the room she instantly walks out to me. is that alright? i want to train her to know when it's time to go outside. that way it won't stress her. if i leave her inside, i'll just efficient be training her to never go outside. Plus, she knows the yard. I can put her anywhere and she will locate her favorite log.
sorry if this sounds like arguing, i would rather stress her out for a couple of weeks and get her used to being both outside and inside then have her live inside for the rest of her life. Plus, she will have to remain indoors a lot for winter. (the enclosure is 34 inch x 44 inch.)
on a side note, i'm pretty sure she's alright with being picked up seeing that she walks to me when it's time to go outside. As i type this, she is walking on the sidewalk beside me!
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
I understand where you’re coming from and don’t disagree, I’m just wondering if they can manage being in a 3x2 foot for that long? They’re trying to work on building her muscle strength as she already drags
Yingg
Active Member
oh and, another note, she ate fine before. I handled her a lot these past few months, and only up until now did her appetite drop and she wouldn't poo.
and i handled her almost two-three times a day. when she had a small enclosure (a few weeks ago) i even constantly opened it to mist her. her appetite was fine. i think she is completely used to my handling.
Tortoise can get used to a routine. Just be consistent about order of events and timings. Zovick is right, that sporadic handling stress them out.
Yingg
Active Member
okay, i will be sure to be less sporadic and do everything with a routine so she gets used to it. and happy birthday! 🎂🎊🎁
Thank you!
A LEGEND .....
You have no idea of her stress level, with torts it is sometimes VERY hard to tell ... they do not act or respond like us. There could of been a crow that scared her in the outdoor pen and she is stressed everytime she goes out there. Not a diagnoses just an example of how unknowns can affect a tort., something happened we just don't know what that was. You HAVE to work on a larger indoor enclosure NOW, winter is coming. The dragging is an issue but nothing happens fast with Tortoises, it most likely will take a long time to remedy that issue. Not trying to beat ya down just being honest, I have interacted with ya enough to know you can handle it without getting your feelings hurt. Get a game plan and stick to it, with as little stressors as you can give her.
Yingg
Active Member
my parents won't allow me to have a bigger enclosure. that is 100% not even viable. you might not have read the rest of the thread seeming how long it is, so i'm telling you now that it's completely out of the question. when i move to college i will give her off to my teacher who used to be a vet. after that, when i seriously move out, i will upgrade her to literally the biggest enclosure ever. 1.5-2 years.
as for winter, i still plan on taking her out, just less. during the peak hours of the day, i will be able to get her out.
i also don't mean to argue, but why can I not make a norm for her to simply go inside to sleep and outside to roam? if she gets used to it (i've done this for years, just more often in recent months since i decided to up her care) is there any problem? likewise, she could also be stressed staying inside. I used to see her scratching the walls of her enclosure and coming to me every time i walked by like she wanted to get out. i wouldn't really know a tortoise, but i think i just want her to have some outside time since a large enclosure is literally 100% impossible unless i win the lottery, and move out. which is also impossible.
and no i'm not hurt or offended, i am just curious haha. i want the best i can give her, within these two years. Before i go ahead and donate a whole room to her ^^
Yingg
Active Member
A couple of moments on the enclosure:
1. Basking lamp and UVB lamp should be placed closer to each other, they work together for vitamin D3 synthesis.
2. The enclosure is not dangerously small but needs some enrichment (like potted plants and some sight barriers). Breaking line of sight provokes tortoise to explore more.
3. You can think if it's possible to make a second level with a ramp. It's not a perfect option to increase walking area and comes with some drawbacks but may work out. A hamster (chinchilla/guinea pig) wheel can be also useful for exercise.
4. What is walls height? They look pretty "climbable" on that photo.
