- Joined
- Nov 27, 2013
- Messages
- 216
Hello!
I've had my hatchling Ibera Greek tortoise for a whole two days now (woohoo!) So of course, I am still as paranoid as ever.
First question: I never see him pee or poop, he seems happy enough to soak and I soak him several times a day, but should I expect to notice this or will he need to get bigger first (he is TINY right now)
Second question:
I have noticed that he seems to rub his face on his legs pretty frequently. I have checked his eyes for discharge or discoloration and I don't see anything that makes me concerned. Is he just scratching an itch? Is this normal?
And finally:
He is super active when I wake him up, but as soon as I leave him alone and am not soaking him or letting him run around, he might walk around for 10-15 minutes and then he burrows. I have been told that this is partly a survival mechanism, I am just wondering why he is always burrowed-possibly just the stress of moving? The substrate I started with was cypress but I have added coco coir as a base to help keep the humidity up since he is a hatchling. He seems to be eating just fine and doesn't appear to be lethargic... just likes to burrow?
Again-a brand new, paranoid, questioning tortoise owner... I didn't know I'd be so obsessed so quickly!
(and technically he's not even mine... my fiance will be getting him for Christmas!!)
I've had my hatchling Ibera Greek tortoise for a whole two days now (woohoo!) So of course, I am still as paranoid as ever.
First question: I never see him pee or poop, he seems happy enough to soak and I soak him several times a day, but should I expect to notice this or will he need to get bigger first (he is TINY right now)
Second question:
I have noticed that he seems to rub his face on his legs pretty frequently. I have checked his eyes for discharge or discoloration and I don't see anything that makes me concerned. Is he just scratching an itch? Is this normal?
And finally:
He is super active when I wake him up, but as soon as I leave him alone and am not soaking him or letting him run around, he might walk around for 10-15 minutes and then he burrows. I have been told that this is partly a survival mechanism, I am just wondering why he is always burrowed-possibly just the stress of moving? The substrate I started with was cypress but I have added coco coir as a base to help keep the humidity up since he is a hatchling. He seems to be eating just fine and doesn't appear to be lethargic... just likes to burrow?
Again-a brand new, paranoid, questioning tortoise owner... I didn't know I'd be so obsessed so quickly!
(and technically he's not even mine... my fiance will be getting him for Christmas!!)