overactive tortoise ?

[daisylovesatlas]

ive noticed recently my RT has been really REALLY over active. like stretching out trying to get out and has been everywhere climbing over everything. im scared hes going to topple over and im not going to be there to flip him back over. i just adopted a cat and hes really sweet. he just stares at the turtle but i wonder if that has anything to do with it. anyone going through the same thing? any suggestions? thanks in advance.

 

[Trudy_the_tortoise]

ive noticed recently my RT has been really REALLY over active. like stretching out trying to get out and has been everywhere climbing over everything. im scared hes going to topple over and im not going to be there to flip him back over. i just adopted a cat and hes really sweet. he just stares at the turtle but i wonder if that has anything to do with it. anyone going through the same thing? any suggestions? thanks in advance.

My tortoise does flip itself over and what I do is I put it in a container that it can't climb until it sleeps. I suggest you place it in a container it can't climb in or escape, if you are away or if you are going out of the house, so you won't have to worry about it flipping it's self over.

 

[JoesMum]

How big is your enclosure an how big is the tortoise? Chances are that it’s too small.

Photos of the enclosure and lighting will help.

Resist the temptation to let your tortoise explore the world outside its enclosure and get a proper sized one setup

Read this care sheet for the information you need

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

Thanks Tom, I will indeed do that. The Solarmeter 6.5 looks like a good bit of kit! ? I really appreciate all your help. I’ve ordered the basking bulb and T5 bulb and will be relieved when it up and running because from the info I’ve read it says the MVBs are to harsh and dehydrating and we...

www.tortoiseforum.org

 

[wellington]

My tortoise does flip itself over and what I do is I put it in a container that it can't climb until it sleeps. I suggest you place it in a container it can't climb in or escape, if you are away or if you are going out of the house, so you won't have to worry about it flipping it's self over.

Does this container allow for him to get too his food, water, uvb, out of the uvb, etc.? A better idea is to make the enclosure safer so flipping can't happen. Remove climbing objects, cover any glass at their level they can see thru, use enough substrate they can get a grasp on to right themselves and place flat rocks around they can also use to right themselves. If a wood enclosure block the corners with a piece of wood angled across the corners.
Putting a tortoise in a small container they can't flip in has to be a very small container and that's not right.

 

[Yvonne G]

Sounds like the enclosure is too small, or maybe not enough hiding places to get out of the light???

 

[Trudy_the_tortoise]

Does this container allow for him to get too his food, water, uvb, out of the uvb, etc.? A better idea is to make the enclosure safer so flipping can't happen. Remove climbing objects, cover any glass at their level they can see thru, use enough substrate they can get a grasp on to right themselves and place flat rocks around they can also use to right themselves. If a wood enclosure block the corners with a piece of wood angled across the corners.
Putting a tortoise in a small container they can't flip in has to be a very small container and that's not right.

I removed all the climbing objects, and added more flat stones and substrate, the glass is already covered up, but the tortoise doesn't seem to mind the new changes. The container I put the tortoise in is a very large, 40 gallon opaque blue storage box with flat edges it can't flip itself in. It is only there for a few minutes or 3 hours max, either, when i'm cleaning the tortoise's enclosure or for any other reason. No i'm not keeping it there until night time, I mean my tortoise gets bored easily and decides to sleep. I do have spare tortoise supplies like a spare UVB and UV light, I have another bag of substrate and other materials that I put in the 40 gallon large storage container. The storage box is only used as a temporary area for my tortoise. I followed all you suggestions for making the enclosure safer.


The spare box I put my tortoise in looks like this, but it is blue . My tortoise is only 5'' and that's no larger than my hand.

 

[wellington]

I removed all the climbing objects, and added more flat stones and substrate, the glass is already covered up, but the tortoise doesn't seem to mind the new changes. The container I put the tortoise in is a very large, 40 gallon opaque blue storage box with flat edges it can't flip itself in. It is only there for a few minutes or 3 hours max, either, when i'm cleaning the tortoise's enclosure or for any other reason. No i'm not keeping it there until night time, I mean my tortoise gets bored easily and decides to sleep. I do have spare tortoise supplies like a spare UVB and UV light, I have another bag of substrate and other materials that I put in the 40 gallon large storage container. The storage box is only used as a temporary area for my tortoise. I followed all you suggestions for making the enclosure safer.


The spare box I put my tortoise in looks like this, but it is blue . My tortoise is only 5'' and that's no larger than my hand.
View attachment 314891

Why not just set that tote box up as his enclosure? Many people use them for hatchling enclosure upto around a year old maybe 2 years depending on species and size.
But either way it seems to work for you. I was imagining a very small container. Glad it's not