I can't do it anymore

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

The bark IS NOT a good soil.
And who even said I was getting commercial soil? Lol

This is what bark did to the enclosure:

Expanded rotting middle support, and mold in every screw in the enclosure:

Any exposed screws or unsealed seams in a wooden enclosure is going to mould no matter the substrate, if your substrate isn’t damp enough to cause this to these unprotected areas, it’s too dry, the key is getting these areas protected with aquatic seal

 

[PalestTortie]

Just a random thought...we, as their keepers, are to them giant predators...could you all the sudden (to her) show up and she acts like that? Maybe you are standing over her looking down when this happens...sorry about your experience with orchid bark, I have had the same soil in 2 of my tort tables in the house for 20 years. The same orchid bark...one of the tables contained a Redfoot with the corresponding heat and humidity and yet I have never experienced what you describe...I spot clean as needed and stir the whole stuff up maybe once a month...frankly, I love it...

No, I walked into my room and she was already on edge, then it probably just set her off.

Many more times this happened I was asleep.

That’s ok, sounds like normal eating habits, they graze throughout the day

I’d highly encourage sticking with the orchid bark, but maybe give her a deep clean and start fresh? Keeping up with the mixing etc, it has to be maintained properly. You can still go bioactive with it too

Hide wise, perhaps an opaque container? Turned upside down with an entrance hole cut out, you could get one big enough to last her

Unfortunately I won't go with the bark ever again.

With all the post I’ve read above I get the feeling your baby is getting crawled on by these “mold gnats” as you said.
All things mentioned are possible but I have seen my tortoise “freak out” and it’s usually because of something instant.
Like :
Pain
A bite from a bug or something in there that she/he wants immediately away from.
When a torts head goes inside it’s because of fear or pain.
Banging against the walls tells me that he/she is trying to get away from what is hurting her/him repeatedly..
Pretend you are outside and a wasp keeps flying around your head. Don’t you swat at it and then run away?
What if it chases you???
You keep swatting and running right?

I feel soooo bad for both you and your tortoise I want to help so much!!!
I know what anxiety you are feeling because you feel helpless. PLUS ITS FREAKIN’ SCARY AND HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!! I totally get it in every way.

So, try checking her/his body for bite marks or scratches,cuts, nails missing or bent outta shape or nose area scratch or sore/cracked beak or anything wrong with a foot that when she /he steps down it goes up her/his foot? Like a dogs paw.. when they get something in there they go bonkers.!
But I definitely feel like it’s because of pain.
Head in and hissing and bagging..
That’s what I’d do if I were in pain!!!

Good luck
I will be watching for updates!
Keep asking questions till you get it solved!!
DONT GIVE UP!!!!!!!

I checked her thoroughly, nothing appears to be out of the ordinary. Gave her a shower today from the pressure sprayer

Forgive me if someone already asked this, but is he pooping normally? My sulcata was acting very distressed, in a similar manner to what you describe, and eventually he passed a very large, hard, urate. Also, when he has gas, this can cause discomfort and pain. He would withdraw his head into his shell and act very restless, trying to pass the gas (sorry for being so graphic). I have found that warm, daily, soaks, for at least 30 minutes, has helped tremendously by keeping everything moving smoothly. Just a suggestion.

She does poop normally. Her pee has no round solid urates, it's always been this wet tissue mess with some water. But I keep her a shallow plate with water, she sits there for quite a bit. So I think that's why, not an issue, needs adjustments

 

[PalestTortie]

Any exposed screws or unsealed seams in a wooden enclosure is going to mould no matter the substrate, if your substrate isn’t damp enough to cause this to these unprotected areas, it’s too dry, the key is getting these areas protected with aquatic seal

Pond liner is what I'm gonna get.

And this is mineral deposit actually! Looked like mold

So just need vinegar and a toothbrush 🫩

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Probably, it's just an oxidation from water exposure and has nothing to do with substrate. If you don't like moldy food/poop leftovers in bark (I understand, me too) - you can just add the cleanup crew, like you do with bioactive setups.

Using substrate mixes (like Arcadia EarthPro) makes sense if you want densely planted enclosure. However, tortoises show no mercy to live plants and keeping enclosure lush and green takes a lot of efforts. Potted plants are much easier to keep alive.

 

[Vicks the clannie]

Is there away to open up slightly one side of the glass doors and put somthing up so she can’t escape. Vivs like this can really heat up and tortoises like to chose
Especially in summer, am thinking she’s to hot, and if you can block the bottom of the glass so she can’t go turn crazy thinking she can get through, no judgement at all just my thoughts
I use soil and thick enough so Vicks my tort can burrow herself
And like others have said maybe nice leafy plants and hides
In her picture she looks lovely sorry can’t be more help
It’s good your going to ask a specialist vet, I hope this stops soon you must be so worried xxx

 

[TortoiseMama2025]

As the title says.

This is 5th time in 2 weeks, it's 06:34 as of writing THIS rn. This is a very recent thing.

She just completely freaks out, running around with her head in, making these hissing sounds, banging the shell in very tank like manner (pushes everything away from her way), and tons of scratching in one spot.

I don't know why she's doing this. Sadly though, if I won't be able to find the root cause of these freak shows, then I'm going to have to get rid of her.

So, her humidity is kept around 80%, it's 75% rn. 12% UVB (Arcadia brand), I use ExoTerra Intense 75 Watts for her heating spot? Which is being kept 34 Celsius during the day. She's going to be 2 years old next month, and one year will pass since I got her blah blah blah blah!

I want to know why she doing this or she going

Hello. Sorry to hear that. Make sure you have your tortoise see a vet — just in case, she is actually unwell. My 2-year-old Greek tortoise’s enclosure has the temperature, during the day of 27C maximum, and at night, 24-25C. She does have a place to hide. I give her a lot of tortoise hay (for food and a place to hide/dig under; it also has a calming smell), a variety of other delicious tortoise food (textures and smells), a small light ball to roll around, and a big dish of water (so she can drink and wade in — it’s a BIG thing for her). I rub her gently (all over) as often as I could, to keep her tame — she does also hiss, if I haven’t handled her for a while. She especially LOVES gentle chin rubs, and often, she also wants gentle neck rubs amongst the folds (she actually extends her neck out to me). She likes it and actually smiles at me when I hold her up, eye-to eye with her, as I compliment her (as “my flying tortoise”). Greek tortoises typically do NOT like to be lifted up (lots of scratching and hissing), but we now have a bonding ritual that seems to work. I hold her for *short periods of time*, before putting her down gently on a floral bed of tortoise hay. I give her a context, through my eyes and tone of voice, that I’ve got her — it’s about trust. I do also comment to her about the state she leave her terrarium, as I am cleaning and fixing it, when she goes on a rampage (she is like a bored teenager). She knows my tone of voice when I talk to her, and has a smug look on her face, as she is observing me cleaning/fixing her enclosure. That’s when I later pick her up, and we go through our bonding ritual. It seems to work.

 

[TortoiseMama2025]

Hello. Sorry to hear that. Make sure you have your tortoise see a vet — just in case, she is actually unwell. My 2-year-old Greek tortoise’s enclosure has the temperature, during the day of 27C maximum, and at night, 24-25C. She does have a place to hide. I give her a lot of tortoise hay (for food and a place to hide/dig under; it also has a calming smell), a variety of other delicious tortoise food (textures and smells), a small light ball to roll around, and a big dish of water (so she can drink and wade in — it’s a BIG thing for her). I rub her gently (all over) as often as I could, to keep her tame — she does also hiss, if I haven’t handled her for a while. She especially LOVES gentle chin rubs, and often, she also wants gentle neck rubs amongst the folds (she actually extends her neck out to me). She likes it and actually smiles at me when I hold her up, eye-to eye with her, as I compliment her (as “my flying tortoise”). Greek tortoises typically do NOT like to be lifted up (lots of scratching and hissing), but we now have a bonding ritual that seems to work. I hold her for *short periods of time*, before putting her down gently on a floral bed of tortoise hay. I give her a context, through my eyes and tone of voice, that I’ve got her — it’s about trust. I do also comment to her about the state she leave her terrarium, as I am cleaning and fixing it, when she goes on a rampage (she is like a bored teenager). She knows my tone of voice when I talk to her, and has a smug look on her face, as she is observing me cleaning/fixing her enclosure. That’s when I later pick her up, and we go through our bonding ritual. It seems to work.

P.S. Her terrarium is located in the quietest place in the house. But, she also likes ABBA music, and similar kinds of music. She will bob her head to it — like a teenager. She’s a rebel — tortoise-style. Lol.

 

[TexasMimi]

As the title says.

This is 5th time in 2 weeks, it's 06:34 as of writing THIS rn. This is a very recent thing.

She just completely freaks out, running around with her head in, making these hissing sounds, banging the shell in very tank like manner (pushes everything away from her way), and tons of scratching in one spot.

I don't know why she's doing this. Sadly though, if I won't be able to find the root cause of these freak shows, then I'm going to have to get rid of her.

So, her humidity is kept around 80%, it's 75% rn. 12% UVB (Arcadia brand), I use ExoTerra Intense 75 Watts for her heating spot? Which is being kept 34 Celsius during the day. She's going to be 2 years old next month, and one year will pass since I got her blah blah blah blah!

I want to know why she doing this or she going

Are you sure she is not a male? And is her enclosure too small? Im no expert just trying to throw things out there that may help

 

[MaNaAk]

Just two points here I've had Jacky and Daisy (1942 - 2022) Greek Spur-thighed Tortoises for sixty years. They originally belonged to mum and nana and Jacky is now nearly 90. Daisy was quite small when they first had her and she was quite fast. The hissing could be the expelling of air which I could hear Jacky doing more often than Daisy. Could the scratching be digging? I am in a flat and I have to put Jacky in an enclosure if I am out. She is settled in her enclosure but I have to put tape around the bottom so that can't see out of it otherwise she would be bashing and shoving. She does this when I pick her up and always done. You could take your little one to the vet to be sure that there is nothing wrong.

Natrah

 

[MaNaAk]

Hello. Sorry to hear that. Make sure you have your tortoise see a vet — just in case, she is actually unwell. My 2-year-old Greek tortoise’s enclosure has the temperature, during the day of 27C maximum, and at night, 24-25C. She does have a place to hide. I give her a lot of tortoise hay (for food and a place to hide/dig under; it also has a calming smell), a variety of other delicious tortoise food (textures and smells), a small light ball to roll around, and a big dish of water (so she can drink and wade in — it’s a BIG thing for her). I rub her gently (all over) as often as I could, to keep her tame — she does also hiss, if I haven’t handled her for a while. She especially LOVES gentle chin rubs, and often, she also wants gentle neck rubs amongst the folds (she actually extends her neck out to me). She likes it and actually smiles at me when I hold her up, eye-to eye with her, as I compliment her (as “my flying tortoise”). Greek tortoises typically do NOT like to be lifted up (lots of scratching and hissing), but we now have a bonding ritual that seems to work. I hold her for *short periods of time*, before putting her down gently on a floral bed of tortoise hay. I give her a context, through my eyes and tone of voice, that I’ve got her — it’s about trust. I do also comment to her about the state she leave her terrarium, as I am cleaning and fixing it, when she goes on a rampage (she is like a bored teenager). She knows my tone of voice when I talk to her, and has a smug look on her face, as she is observing me cleaning/fixing her enclosure. That’s when I later pick her up, and we go through our bonding ritual. It seems to work.

Yesterday I was shoved and kicked when I picked Jacky up !

Natrah

 

[ecachuh]

The only other thing that comes to mind (that I don't think was mentioned) would be that he is seeing his reflection and it's fight or flight. No where to hide and might feel vulnerable.

Maybe just aggravated at things he cannot change. Mine gets pissy if he doesn't like something. Lol bad teenager.

I don't have experience with Greek tortoises I have two sulcatas and a Russian.

 

[ecachuh]

The only other thing that comes to mind (that I don't think was mentioned) would be that he is seeing his reflection and it's fight or flight. No where to hide and might feel vulnerable.

Maybe just aggravated at things he cannot change. Mine gets pissy if he doesn't like something. Lol bad teenager.

I don't have experience with Greek tortoises I have two Sulcatas and a Russian.

*she

 

[Flash_100YardDash]

Hello. I do have to agree that orchid bark wasn't my preference either. I prefer cypress mulch. I don't know if you can get it in your area, but this is the kind I use:

Zoo Med Forest Floor Natural Cypress Mulch Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag​

It might be a good idea to start fresh with a new substrate to get rid of the bugs you have. Also, Bromeliad plants can be a nice addition to a tortoise enclosure, and they might catch future gnats.

 

[MaNaAk]

Yesterday I was shoved and kicked when I picked Jacky up !

Natrah

I was shoved and kicked tonight as well!

 

[Pippen's Pal]

As the title says.

This is 5th time in 2 weeks, it's 06:34 as of writing THIS rn. This is a very recent thing.

She just completely freaks out, running around with her head in, making these hissing sounds, banging the shell in very tank like manner (pushes everything away from her way), and tons of scratching in one spot.

I don't know why she's doing this. Sadly though, if I won't be able to find the root cause of these freak shows, then I'm going to have to get rid of her.

So, her humidity is kept around 80%, it's 75% rn. 12% UVB (Arcadia brand), I use ExoTerra Intense 75 Watts for her heating spot? Which is being kept 34 Celsius during the day. She's going to be 2 years old next month, and one year will pass since I got her blah blah blah blah!

I want to know why she doing this or she going

Are you able to check inside her mouth?
One of the torts I received would not stick his head out of his shell. He walked around bumping into things all the time and would not eat. I had him x-rayed and he had stomatitis that had spread to his jawbone. Terrible pain. I had him euthanased.

 

[chigs184]

A little late to the thread and you may have already added plants but .. I have tried several inside the vivarium. Tropical hibiscus thrives in the vivarium and he loves the leaves, probably his favourite food, the other plant that always seem to grow really well in there is boston ferns. He doesn't eat the fern very often, but he's often hiding amongst the leaves. Not had a lot of luck with spider plants, or succulents really. You can germinate the hibiscus seeds in the enclosure, it seems like the perfect conditions for it. Hope that helps.

 

[shellcior]

As the title says.

This is 5th time in 2 weeks, it's 06:34 as of writing THIS rn. This is a very recent thing.

She just completely freaks out, running around with her head in, making these hissing sounds, banging the shell in very tank like manner (pushes everything away from her way), and tons of scratching in one spot.

I don't know why she's doing this. Sadly though, if I won't be able to find the root cause of these freak shows, then I'm going to have to get rid of her.

So, her humidity is kept around 80%, it's 75% rn. 12% UVB (Arcadia brand), I use ExoTerra Intense 75 Watts for her heating spot? Which is being kept 34 Celsius during the day. She's going to be 2 years old next month, and one year will pass since I got her blah blah blah blah!

I want to know why she doing this or she going

perhaps a video of one of the incidents could help? Sounds like something is biting her and she is reacting to that. i'd check her neck and legs to see if anything is on her.

 

[Chefdenoel10]

perhaps a video of one of the incidents could help? Sounds like something is biting her and she is reacting to that. i'd check her neck and legs to see if anything is on her.

I said the same thing!!
The reply was … checked everything out and no….no bite marks or cuts..
Keep thinking!
This person needs to solve this problem before her break down!!

 

[Madkins007]

Hi!

Greek's are not really my thing so I am not going to offer any care advice on that front. (I've got several thoughts, but no real experience with the species.) However...

It's my experience that unless the shop has STRONG experience with torts, their advice is iffy (especially if the sell what they recommend). Zoos don't do things the way hobbyists do- I study zoo journals and studies all of the time and there is great stuff in there, but not often helpful to the typical keeper.

May I ask why you got a Greek when you seem experienced in lizards? If this was an impulse (which I fully understand- I've made a lot of impulse reptile purchases), or an experiment- it may indeed be best to re-home it and try something else.

If you want to try to get this to work, my advice might be to ask around the sub forum for Greeks for the best books and articles people can suggest and basically start over.

Having said all that, this sounds like challenge behavior to me (or mating if it is big enough to be sexually maturing)h hissing, charging with the head pulled in... Especially if it is mostly hitting a few places or sides of the tank.

I'm wondering if the lighting from inside and outside the tank is causing a reflection that it is responding to? Changing lighting through the windows could explain why it suddenly started and why it is an occasional thing.

You could experiment with simple visual barriers on the glass to see if it helps. Something like a few steps of painter's tape should be enough to test the theory.

Good luck,
Mark