Hides?

[Johnlaws]

I have an 8 month Sully who will not use a hide. There are two in the enclosure but he won't use either. Is it a big deal? Is he just so comfortable he doesn't feel the need?


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[wellington]

Comfortable or stubborn. You could move one to his favorite place to sleep. Then see if he will still sleep there. Also, are the hides big enough to turn around in? May be too small for his liking.

 

[Johnlaws]

I would say both... They are each in areas he frequents. And are large enough. I tried for a while to put him inside at lights out but he comes right back out.


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[wellington]

If it were me. I would take one hide out. Leave him one to use if he wants and then don't worry about it. If he doesn't use it, it's not a big deal, but I would always have one available.

 

[Haira32]

Mine was doing the same thing, I had the night temp set to 79 and when I turned it up 82 he stayed in the hide and continues to do so. I think the hides keep a bit cooler than the ambient tempurature.

 

[Tom]

I have observed that hatchlings and young ones tend to avoid any sort of hole in the ground, or dark retreat. I suspect this is a survival instinct due to the fact that any hole in the ground was made by some animal that might not care for the tortoise sharing its space. I find babies and small ones would rather tuck into the bases of plants and be in heavy vegetation.

 

[Johnlaws]

Tom, that seems right on. He won't use the hide but he will tuck himself under the fake plants in the enclosure. I guess I'll leave it up to him to know what makes him feel safe.


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[Dizisdalife]

If he is protected, warm, and humid then I would not be too concerned. He could feel secure out of the hide and/or insecure inside the hide. A picture of the hides and the enclosure might give us a clue.

 

[Johnlaws]

I can take a pic later after work. But I'm using a sealed vision cage, cool side is 82 warm side is 90 with a basking spot of 110. Humidity is around 80%. I'm using super pet woodland critter wood houses as hides.


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---

He's very outgoing and cocky, eats like a hog. I've just read so much about providing hides and he could care less about them. Was just curious as to why he wouldn't want one. I guess to each his own..


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[Dizisdalife]

He's very outgoing and cocky, eats like a hog. I've just read so much about providing hides and he could care less about them. Was just curious as to why he wouldn't want one. I guess to each his own..

That sounds good. He may decide at some point that he wants to use the hide so I would keep it in the enclosure. My sulcata lives outside full time. I have watched him pass by a turnip plant several times a day for weeks without ever smelling it. Then, one day, he eats the whole plant. I have come to the realization that what seems logical to me doesn't apply to a sulcata.

 

[Johnlaws]

Not a great pic but good enough.


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