Cooper horn
Member
Do any of y’all think that if I build a new enclosure for my yearlings that they would be stressed?
Stress??
- Thread starter Cooper horn
- Start date
Jay Bagley
Well-Known Member
When I introduced my tortoise to his new enclosure, it took him a few days to settle in. For the first few days, there was lots of pacing around, he really couldn't sit still. He also went a day or two without having much of an appetite. All is well now. I think if they don't take to it right away, with a little time they will settle into their new surroundings.
Tortoise as they grow get new enclosures all the time. In my opinion, they don't get as stressed as some think. I used to change up the interior of the enclosure all the time and he seemed to like it. Would spend more time investigating until he had a few days of this he went back to being a sleeping hatchling. That was 2011. I don't coddle mine like they are fragile. They are tuff little tanks. If heat, humidity, uvb hydration and diet is good, they are good.
So, build a bigger enclosure not smaller.
So, build a bigger enclosure not smaller.
Jay Bagley
Well-Known Member
Are they being housed together?
Cooper horn
Member
Ok. I’m building a bigger enclosure and yes they are being housed together.
Assuming you have a pair, they need to be separated. Tortoises are solitary animals, and in pairs, there is always a dominant and a submissive. The dominant is constantly trying to get the other out of its territory, and the submissive is constantly being bullied. Both are very stressed.
Sounds like you need to make two bigger enclosures.
Cooper horn
Member
Ok I will
When I got my Aldabran tortoises as hatchlings, they stayed in a shed built for their adult size, on a shelf in a tort table. As they grew and graduated to larger enclosures, they were always in the same enclosure that was going to house them as adults. I started out with a small fenced area in the large yard, and as they outgrew that I just moved the fence. Finally at about 5 years of age, they had the whole yard which was just the right size for them as long as I had them.
To answer your question, yes, moving to any new enclosure will cause some stress. However, its not a big deal. They all get used to it with minimal problems.
Cooper horn
Member
So you kept them together
Cooper horn
Member
How big do y’all think my enclosure needs to be if I half it for both
An 8x4 foot enclosure for each will last them both until they’re ready to live outside full time. So two 8x4 enclosures would be best.
Cooper horn
Member
Ok thanks
