Is this normal?

[fanofthedog]

HI guys- I took my 100lb guy to the vet today as I'd mentioned in the other post. We got home from the appointment at about 11:30 am and it is now 3:30 pm. He is in the garage in the same spot since I took him out of the car. I have put every kind of delicious weed and treat in front of him and he is SO PISSED. Last 2 times he went to the vet he did not sulk like this. Should I be worried? Its not cold here- should I let him stay in the garage or should I have my husband get him into his house? I put blankets on him. He is really being alotta SULK-ata

Thanks so much for any feedback!

Karen

 

[Yvonne G]

I'd ask my husband to put him out in the yard so he can go into his house on his own. He'll sulk for a bit, but will eventually get over it.

 

[wellington]

LOL, sorry, just funny when a big Sulcata acts salty for no real reason. At least I hope he is just perturbed and nothing else.

 

[fanofthedog]

I think he finally reached his tolerance level with going to the vet! The last two times he walked around the vets office like he owned the place but today he was doing that hiss and backstep motion. He was so angry !! This time the vet flipped him though and he was so mad he peed. One thing I did not know was that Tylers plastron was curved inwards! The vet showed me to explain that its curved in so that male tortoises"fit" better when mating with a female. It was really interesting. Tyler is a virgin, except for the watering can, a blue cinderblock and an occasional grapefruit that falls off the tree. (was that too much information??) I am so happy that he is 100% healthy.

 

[mike taylor]

He's a good looking sulcata.

 

[tortdad]

Get him a a tortoise blow up doll so he can lose that v-card.

Tort blow up doll = half flat basketball

 

[Jodie]

lol. This thread made me and my husband laugh out loud. Sulcatas are such characters. Hope he gets over his temper tantrum soon. He is very beautiful.

 

[HLogic]

Flipping a tortoise is a sure way to upset them. They don't have a diaphram to separate the thorax and abdomen. When they are flipped the organs press on the lungs and make it very difficult to breath - especially a large tort. He'll get over it but it may take a while...

 

[Tom]

He's not angry. He's stressed and scared.

 

[Moozillion]

Flipping a tortoise is a sure way to upset them. They don't have a diaphram to separate the thorax and abdomen. When they are flipped the organs press on the lungs and make it very difficult to breath - especially a large tort. He'll get over it but it may take a while...

That's just what I was thinking.
The staff at a large zoo near me used to flip their big Aldabras in order to draw blood for their annual check ups. The torts were very distressed and would pee and poop. Later, one of the big males started trying to ram the keepers when they came near. The staff decided on a different approach and worked very hard to TRAIN the torts to come where they were needed; they were always rewarded with tasty treats which they ate as their blood was being drawn. No more distress, no more ramming.

 

[puffy137]

That's just what I was thinking.
The staff at a large zoo near me used to flip their big Aldabras in order to draw blood for their annual check ups. The torts were very distressed and would pee and poop. Later, one of the big males started trying to ram the keepers when they came near. The staff decided on a different approach and worked very hard to TRAIN the torts to come where they were needed; they were always rewarded with tasty treats which they ate as their blood was being drawn. No more distress, no more ramming.

Kindness & affection usually works on animals & humans . Wish some people with a modicum of authority would hurry up & learn that!