New Hermann, have concerns

[zwylde]

We have had our baby tort, Stretch, for almost two months now. The first couple days Stretch was very active and cruised around his rubbermaid enclosure for a good part of the day. His "race track" was very evident when we got home from work. About day three things changed. He has been buried or sleeping fairly consistently. If you were to let him remain, he wouldn't even come out of the soil (coco coir) or move all day. My wife usually removes him from the dirt on her lunch break, gives him a warm soak for 20 to 30 minutes, something he HATED the first couple days but now will just sit. And then puts him over by the food to eat. He's very picky but will eat when presented with something he enjoys (pansies, rose of Sharon, dandilion, plantain and a couple others I can't think of right now). We are using a MVB bulb during the day (6AM to 8PM) and warming the basking spot to to about 100 degrees. The temps are varied throughout the enclosure from about 70-100 degrees. His hide is usually around 85 degrees. We try to maintain a 50+ humidity (tough in Utah). During the night it is usually 70-80 using a ceramic heater. Seems to poop and eat daily... but I'm not sure he would if we didn't drop him right in front of the food. A few times there has been some white solids in the poop. Anyway, don't know what else to say. Just a little worried about our little guy. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Jake

 

[wellington]

Not sure what to tell you. Everything, temps, etc. sounds good to me. Will give your thread a bump to get some more help/opinions for you. Good luck

 

[ascott]

Welcome to the Forum and we LOVE PICS

What species of tortoise is Stretch? Does Stretch get outside time? How large is Stretch? Where did you get Stretch from?

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Ohhh duuuhhhh , I just now realized that I read what type of tort you have when I read the thread title....apologies.....but will you entertain us with the other information, please....

 

[zwylde]

ascott,

Stretch was a hatchling from Tyler at Tortoise Supply. Right now the shell measurement front to back is 1.75". We've taken him outside a few times with no change in behavior.

 

[CactusVinnie]

Where in Utah do you live? Ibera would be more fit for your area... but the little Hermanni would benefit too from being outdoors. A small 1x1m enclosure, and you can play the "dwarf yard": a few plants, a little house (humid hide), shallow recipient for water, shade, filtered sunlight... food sounds good.
Believe me, they will go for it when hungry, but they also can be spoiled and wait for you to get them out and put the food in front of them. Break that habit- put the food in front of his hide and knock a few times every time. He will learn! If too hot and dry, spray with a little water before feeding and he will come out like a rocket!

 

[CourtneyAndCarl]

ascott,

Stretch was a hatchling from Tyler at Tortoise Supply. Right now the shell measurement front to back is 1.75". We've taken him outside a few times with no change in behavior.

Oh my goodness! I think Stretch and Carl might be hatchling mates I also got my hermann's hatchling from Tortoise Supply approximately two months ago Stretch's behavior also sounds just like Carl's when I would leave him indoors for most of the day. Once I finally made the leap and put him in an outdoor setup during the day, he got SUPER active, eats three times as much as he used to, and while he still sleeps for most of the day, I've heard that's pretty normal for hatchlings.

 

[zwylde]

Where in Utah do you live? Ibera would be more fit for your area... but the little Hermanni would benefit too from being outdoors. A small 1x1m enclosure, and you can play the "dwarf yard": a few plants, a little house (humid hide), shallow recipient for water, shade, filtered sunlight... food sounds good.
Believe me, they will go for it when hungry, but they also can be spoiled and wait for you to get them out and put the food in front of them. Break that habit- put the food in front of his hide and knock a few times every time. He will learn! If too hot and dry, spray with a little water before feeding and he will come out like a rocket!

I'm in Salt Lake City. We have an area outside we're prepping for him so we can leave him out while we're at work. We weren't going to until next year but it looks like it's needed now.

 

[zwylde]

ascott,

Stretch was a hatchling from Tyler at Tortoise Supply. Right now the shell measurement front to back is 1.75". We've taken him outside a few times with no change in behavior.

Oh my goodness! I think Stretch and Carl might be hatchling mates I also got my hermann's hatchling from Tortoise Supply approximately two months ago Stretch's behavior also sounds just like Carl's when I would leave him indoors for most of the day. Once I finally made the leap and put him in an outdoor setup during the day, he got SUPER active, eats three times as much as he used to, and while he still sleeps for most of the day, I've heard that's pretty normal for hatchlings.

I'm excited to see how Stretch takes to the outdoors. So far it's usually only been for 2-3 hours after work. We'll rig something up this weekend to protect him while we're gone.

 

[CourtneyAndCarl]

I'm in Salt Lake City. We have an area outside we're prepping for him so we can leave him out while we're at work. We weren't going to until next year but it looks like it's needed now.

I wouldn't say it's necessarily "needed", if you are really worried about leaving him out. But it's so much easier for torts to naturally regulate themselves outside, where it may seem like so many factors are out of our control as opposed to indoor enclosures where we can make everything perfect. What you describe doesn't sound like a sick baby tortoise, just one that is definitely living indoors. They always thrive mentally outdoors, too, since it's more natural for them. I honestly think Carl was just bored inside.

 

[CactusVinnie]

Maybe a little too high and dry for a Hermanni, but it is OK. They thrive in worse places. Yes, bored, but bored for too long will became a problem. They need to be outdoors, after all.

 

[expo tort]

Umm is the burrowing normal mine has only done that when I kept him in to wet conditions.

 

[trav1s]

I have had Travis just over 3 months and within the last couple of weeks he has really settled in, Stretch sounds as if he is behaving exactly like Trav was, I wouldn't worry (I did like crazy!!) he will be just getting used to things, it sounds like your doing everything right. Trav has only just started to eat better and is gaining more weight now, good luck with it 😁🐸