Sleepy Tortoises...

[rockintrixi]

My tortoises are very sleepy even though they have an interesting habitat... They eat well and no signs of problems, so....Is this normal???

 

[Yvonne G]

What kind and how old? If they're just babies, then, yes it is normal. If they are adults, then no, there's something wrong.

Yvonne

(And welcome to the forum, Trixi!! )

 

[Greg T]

Not sure, but it may also be a personality trait. I have two leopards, one is always awake and one only loves to sleep in the heat. Same habitat indoors, but total opposites. The sleepy one does get energetic when in the outside habitat, so maybe he is just bored inside.

 

[Laura]

New? Temperatures? More info please...

 

[desertsss]

I have two adolescent desert tortoises and I find that they sleep a lot more if the temp is low in their tank. Also, I think they get bored of playing leap frog with eachother. If I turn the lights out at night and it drops to 75 or 80 they are asleep for the night. In the morning if I wake up late my littler baby Twitch will be out and about but My bigger baby Gordo will sleep in. Could be personality, too. So long as eating healthy and pooping I wouldn't be too concerned. Watch their eyes though, when I first got my babies they were very unhealthy and their eyes showed it.
Then again I am very new here, so other people have waaayyy better advice.

 

[rockintrixi]

I think I need to change things up a bit.....their cage is kinda boring and I want to change it up, but really don't know what to do with it. They really "love" being the center of attention and want more 'people socialization' than being closed up in a cage sometimes.

I want to build a more 'interesting' cage, but I don't know what to put in it that would provide them with 'tortoise friendly' entertainment. I had just made a 'turtle ramp' for my red eared sliders and I could make the same thing for them (with a few major modifications).

It seems that the more 'hiding places' I provide them, the more they sleep, but I don't want to deter them from digging and hiding. When I try to create new and exciting 'play areas' by leaning branches around the side of the cage, propping old logs up for them to crawl under, etc., they knock things down every single time.

I will look in that forum area for some ideas unless anyone has any quick suggestions?

Here's pics of my turtle ramp that I built for my red-eared sliders:

http://s731.photobucket.com/albums/ww317/rockintrixi/


-rockintrixi

P.S. By the way, one of my tortoises loves to cuddle with me while I watch a movie and will fall asleep right there on chest for the entire movie!

 

[tortoisenerd]

Here is what I've done to give you a couple ideas: water dish with steps to climb (Groovy Jacuzzi), rocks to climb on, in the past I've given his different substrates to try out (once even sinking in a tupperware of moist substrate in his dry substrate), a piece of driftwood to play around (when he's bigger he can climb on it), a hay pile to play in, he digs his own burrow, slate tiles to bask and eat on, a half log he climbs on, and a plant to hide under. I would try to fasten anything you put in there if needed so it doesn't fall down. Depending on the enclosure type you could build a ramp and second story, etc.

Pictures would be helpful!

Very cool ramp by the way.

 

[rockintrixi]

Right now I am using a 'aquarium'.....I know, I know, it is the worst cage imaginable for the russians....that's why I said that I need to build something larger....pronto!!!

Thanxs for the ideas, it sounds pretty neat. They are kinda funny and don't want water, even though I give them a 'pool'. I am hoping that with a little more space, maybe that will change.

- rockintrixi

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I am not an expert with Russians but I do have one and she has less personality then a rock. But thru researching her care I read from other Russian keepers that they plain don't like water. I have a soaking pool for Natasha and I have seen her in it once or twice so I have put her in a tub to soak and it totally freaks her out and I have had her for a couple of years. She was an adult when she was given to me. She only has one eye and I imagine she was badly mistreated. Her body is much bigger then her carapace or plastron. By now she should know she is safe here...but she just doesn't care for water...her choice I guess. She panics not just doesn't like water...so I don't make her soak anymore...
She comes out to eat then buries herself right after that...boor...ring