home alone?

[Jenley]

We have to go out of town for 2 days this weekend. It will be out of state.. So I am not sure if we are allowed to take him over state lines. Hubby says Crush will be fine for 2 days without us...We have no one to watch him. I'm not sure what to do...Any suggestions?

 

[JoesMum]

How big/old is Crush? Does he have a history or capsizing?

When I had to do this indoors with Joe, I turned the heat and lights off for the two days that I was away so that he became lethargic and couldn't get into any mischief. The house heating was off too, so the house didn't get too warm,

Lights and heat were switched on when I got back. Joe was soaked and he was back to normal in no time.

I wouldn't do this in a humid enclosure as cold and damp is not good. Cold and dry is fine.

 

[Jenley]

He is only maybe 3 inches long...I think he is maybe 2 months old..I'm not really sure. So far he hasn't tried to fall over onto his back or anything. My house actually has the air conditioner on at 80 every day...so if we were out of town we would turn it off and the house would become hotter than 80...probably in the 90's.

 

[JoesMum]

Do you have a basement or garage that stays cool?

 

[Jenley]

Nope. Neither of them.

 

[JoesMum]

Is there any reason the air conditioner couldn't be left on?

 

[EchoTheLeoTort]

I have gone out of town 2 weekends in a row now (actually out of state) and had to leave little Echo home alone. I've simply just turned off the MVB lamp, put a pile of food in his cage, filled up his water dish, and left. Every time I've come back, some food has been eaten , the humidity is still high for him, and its still 80 degrees in his cage. We don't turn the air on but the house stays around 75 degrees, but for some reason his closed chamber stays warmer. 80 is a little cold for him since its usually 90 degrees with 80% humidity when the light is on, but he is just fine when I come home and the lamp gets turned on right away. He comes to greet me, i make sure he is eating, he goes and soaks up some heat, and he carries on just like when I left. Echo is a leopard tort, he is only 2.5 inches, so small like yours. I am positive your tortoise will be perfectly fine

 

[Jenley]

Is there any reason the air conditioner couldn't be left on?

...because it's expensive...

---

I have gone out of town 2 weekends in a row now (actually out of state) and had to leave little Echo home alone. I've simply just turned off the MVB lamp, put a pile of food in his cage, filled up his water dish, and left. Every time I've come back, some food has been eaten , the humidity is still high for him, and its still 80 degrees in his cage. We don't turn the air on but the house stays around 75 degrees, but for some reason his closed chamber stays warmer. 80 is a little cold for him since its usually 90 degrees with 80% humidity when the light is on, but he is just fine when I come home and the lamp gets turned on right away. He comes to greet me, i make sure he is eating, he goes and soaks up some heat, and he carries on just like when I left. Echo is a leopard tort, he is only 2.5 inches, so small like yours. I am positive your tortoise will be perfectly fine

thank you! (and Joesmum). You guys have made me feel better about him being alone for a couple days.

 

[lkwagner]

With the humidity high for sulcata hatchlings you should still have the temp ~75-80 at least at all times. You dont want to deal with a respiratory infection. I went out of town a couple weeks ago, set light timers, left on the Che's, gave them a nice soak and fresh food and water and they were fine.

 

[Jenley]

Yah with the AC off while we are gone it won't get below 85 for sure inside the house. And like I said...even with the AC on we set it at 80 anyway.

 

[Tom]

I would shut the lights off, leave the house AC off, empty the water bowl so he doesn't foul it on day one and drink from it okay two, soak him before you leave and when you return, and finally go to a Mexican grocery store like Vallarta or Tres Sierras and get a fresh spineless opuntia pad to drop in. They are called "nopales" at those stores. Cactus pads last a long time, so you don't have to worry about them spoiling, and this will keep him hydrated too.

 

[Jenley]

I would shut the lights off, leave the house AC off, empty the water bowl so he doesn't foul it on day one and drink from it okay two, soak him before you leave and when you return, and finally go to a Mexican grocery store like Vallarta or Tres Sierras and get a fresh spineless opuntia pad to drop in. They are called "nopales" at those stores. Cactus pads last a long time, so you don't have to worry about them spoiling, and this will keep him hydrated too.

That is a great idea about the cactus pads!! I wouldn't have even thought of that. Thanks!!