HELP - I'm heartbroken!
- Thread starter rwfoss
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MEG 90 thats a good idea, and I dont think a mess would be a problem as RWFOSS just want to find him and we have all got anything crossed!
xxx
xxx
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From my experience, if it had fell the stress would trigger a response to just hide and stay tucked in for days.
Flour would only be effective if you litterally cover your entire house. The trouble of flouring and not having people or other pet step on it is too much trouble. Also keeping in mind it is less likely the tort would travel at night. I don't mean o bash on your idea, I just don't want to give him too much trouble given he's proud stressed enough
Flour would only be effective if you litterally cover your entire house. The trouble of flouring and not having people or other pet step on it is too much trouble. Also keeping in mind it is less likely the tort would travel at night. I don't mean o bash on your idea, I just don't want to give him too much trouble given he's proud stressed enough
Set up a light that shines on the floor during the day, making a hot spot for the tortoise to come to. Like fifthdawn said, they don't travel at night, so your best bet to find him is during the day, or early evening when he's scratching to make his hiding place more comfortable.
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Meg90 said:
Havent' thought of dusting the floor. Checking poo is actually something I've done, believe it or not. I keep checking, though. (Both dog and cat.)
That was one thing I've done well is keeping the temperature down. My wife thought maybe we should raise it to get him moving, but I thought about keeping it low (like we usually do) and slow him down. I do have heat lamps through the house for him.
Considering the temperature is down and he probably took a tumble, I would also bet that the little guy is tucked in somewhere. The question then is wear is this hiding spot? Tortoises are surprisingly good at hiding. One time I had my red foot running around my room while I was getting ready to go to work (he was scratching at walls of his enclosure which at the time was very small, so supervised wandering was allowed). Darned if I didn't go off to do something else and end up running straight to work, forgetting about the poor red foot who got the run of my room for the day.
Keep in mind, this is a tortoise that, at the time, was 10" and 6 pounds, yet it still took me a bit of time to find him in the room (he had found a hiding spot under a blanket). This was of course after I got the phone call from my parents asking "where's the big tortoise and why is his door open?" That was when I decided it was a good day to leave work early. I'm just glad I had left the door to the room open, because there's a flight of stairs just outside the bedroom door.
I wish you the best of luck, and I would say now is the time to really analyze the room/house and figure out any other spots at all that the tortoise could have ended up.
Keep in mind, this is a tortoise that, at the time, was 10" and 6 pounds, yet it still took me a bit of time to find him in the room (he had found a hiding spot under a blanket). This was of course after I got the phone call from my parents asking "where's the big tortoise and why is his door open?" That was when I decided it was a good day to leave work early. I'm just glad I had left the door to the room open, because there's a flight of stairs just outside the bedroom door.
I wish you the best of luck, and I would say now is the time to really analyze the room/house and figure out any other spots at all that the tortoise could have ended up.
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-ryan- said:
Quick update for everyone, still no Gus. (You'll know when I find him.)
We've taken the advice of leaving heat lamps on during the day to keep a spot warm for him. We are getting ready for company, so not only is the house getting a thourough going over for cleaning purposes, we will have an extra pair of people keeping an eye out. (Although that is still a few weeks away and I'm sure hoping to find him by then.)
Ryan, it makes sense that he is cold and holed up some where in the house. That's the frustrating part, though - where? That is where my personal frustration comes in because I keep thinking, "How many places can there be?" When my wife told me he was missing, I was on the hour drive home last Thursday. I wasn't really panicked because I knew he had to be somewhere. Here we are closing in on one week missing, and I'm no closer to finding him. Anytime a cat or dog does ANYTHING than lay down and sleep, I'm watching to see where it goes and then look in that area.
On an interesting side note, we are probably going to the breeder that owns Gus' mom and/or dad. He was given to me by a friend, but I didn't realize he came from a breeder (or former breeder) close to my home. Ever since getting Gus, I've been dying to interact with an adult sulcata. I've very excited, but will be sad not to have Gus to come home to (if he's still MIA).
Thanks again my TFF's - Tortoise Forum Friends!
Rick
I know the most frustrating thing is trying to find out where he may have gone. This is a bit different, but I think it applies for some of the same reasons. My fiancee was putting on some diamond earrings that I had gotten her and dropped one. She looked all over for it and could not find it anywhere. Months went by and she figured it was long gone, and then she had to take one of the dresser drawers out for some reason and there it was in the bottom of the dresser. Don't know how it got there, but it did, and it was absolutely the last place we thought it would be.
Granted this is a tortoise and not a ring, so that's a plus because it's much larger, but a negative because it has the capability to move and time is a big factor.
Good luck. Keep us posted on the outcome. I am always worried about the snake getting out, or the frog, or even the lizards, but I have never thought about the tortoises getting out and getting lost.
Granted this is a tortoise and not a ring, so that's a plus because it's much larger, but a negative because it has the capability to move and time is a big factor.
Good luck. Keep us posted on the outcome. I am always worried about the snake getting out, or the frog, or even the lizards, but I have never thought about the tortoises getting out and getting lost.
Everyday I will look at this post!
Each time if i see that gus is not found I will post good luck
So here is todays
*G*O*O*D* *L*U*C*K*
Each time if i see that gus is not found I will post good luck
So here is todays
*G*O*O*D* *L*U*C*K*
ok.. so i dont see an update, and i know your getting tired of looking and probably want to just move on...
Just another idea.... at night, turn down the heat in the house, but leave a central room, or one that you think is the easiest seen.. turn all the lights on, put a space heater on high and put in a very smelly food, maybe open a can of pumpkin, strawberrys what ever else has a strong odor he would like....
do this for a few nights... so if he is scared he can see it and smell it and decide its safe to go to....
Just another idea.... at night, turn down the heat in the house, but leave a central room, or one that you think is the easiest seen.. turn all the lights on, put a space heater on high and put in a very smelly food, maybe open a can of pumpkin, strawberrys what ever else has a strong odor he would like....
do this for a few nights... so if he is scared he can see it and smell it and decide its safe to go to....
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terracolson said:
I like this idea!
Kymiie said:
Thanks! Today is a week.
I know this is morbid and it's too late to intervene if it's true, but is there any possibility Gus fell into the trash?
Am also continuing to pray to St. Anthony so you will find Gus...
Am also continuing to pray to St. Anthony so you will find Gus...
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Stephanie Logan said:
There isn't a way for him to have falled into the main trash for the house. However, we looked through the little trash cans in all of the rooms prior to empyting. I got to sift through some gross stuff looking for him.
Thank you Stephanie!
During his fall could he have stuck on or against something on the way down and not made it to the floor? Maybe wedged in or against something. In-between the wall and dresser or in a drawer or anything else he could have landed on. Just a thought, still hoping and praying you will find him in time.
M
Maggie Cummings
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TortieGal said:
This is really good thinking!!!
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maggie3fan said:
It is good thinking. I actually thought, when my wife called me a week ago, that she had checked that. I called her back on my way home and had her pull the dresser out from the wall, but nothing. Even though the drawers were closed, I looked through them anyway. Doing another BIG search after work since the weekend is here. Immediately after work, I am going to a co-workers hours to see her adult Leopard tort and feed her strawberries. If the rain stays away, I will be visiting Gus' mom tomorrow.
So here is the morbid question I don't want to ask. With Gus being a year (or less), how long can he last without food? None of the food I've left out for him has been eaten.
*G*O*O*D* *L*U*C*K*
Although I cant answer your question, I have another question following yours, your probably thinking it TBH!
I do mean to be nasty & please dont be offended, but how much longer do we keep praying for Gus to show up?
When is the time to give up?
If I lived near you I would sleep outside for you and help look for him! But unfortunatly I dont, I think about him everyday, and I do keep praying, Crush is trying to think of his best hiding places
At least you have Gus' mom to see, that will make you a little happier, maybe the owner of Gus' mum will know? Maybe he missed him mom and went back?
xxxx
Although I cant answer your question, I have another question following yours, your probably thinking it TBH!
I do mean to be nasty & please dont be offended, but how much longer do we keep praying for Gus to show up?
When is the time to give up?
If I lived near you I would sleep outside for you and help look for him! But unfortunatly I dont, I think about him everyday, and I do keep praying, Crush is trying to think of his best hiding places
At least you have Gus' mom to see, that will make you a little happier, maybe the owner of Gus' mum will know? Maybe he missed him mom and went back?
xxxx
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Kymiie said:*G*O*O*D* *L*U*C*K*
Although I cant answer your question, I have another question following yours, your probably thinking it TBH!
I do mean to be nasty & please dont be offended, but how much longer do we keep praying for Gus to show up?
When is the time to give up?
If I lived near you I would sleep outside for you and help look for him! But unfortunatly I dont, I think about him everyday, and I do keep praying, Crush is trying to think of his best hiding places
At least you have Gus' mom to see, that will make you a little happier, maybe the owner of Gus' mum will know? Maybe he missed him mom and went back?
xxxx
No offense at all. I understand the question and hate asking it myself. If he is inside like we think, he hasn't had anything to eat or drink (that we have noticed) in a week. Granted, he may be colder than normal IF he is in another part of the house. The room he was being kept is always warmer in the winter because of our other critters. If he is colder, I know he "slows down," which might extend his time. The problem is that, logically, I cannot be ripping the house apart forever. At the same time, I'll never forgive myself if I give up once their is still hope. (This is part of the reason I'm visiting some torts this weekend - I miss interacting with Gus and really want that!)
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