Tortoise neglect at Petco?

[TheBigAnimation]

First off, I joined this forum not because I have a Tortoise, but because I was worried for a little Russian Tortoise at a Petco - who kept trying to claw its way at the glass.

My therapist told me that once she saw a water turtle trying to get to this edible plant and it was banging its skull up against the glass, she told the employee at the store to remove the plants from the area so it wouldn't be so confused but she said "I don't think the ever did, so I was pissed."

So I think that's whats going on here. The guy lied to me (I can tell it was a lie because he just didn't give a damn! My mom ate every word though. I hated it!) Saying "oh they do this all the time even on the other side too - sometimes they'll all flip over at once and I'll be like come'on guys!"


I was grinning and laughing and I was like 'what BS', but hey, its Petco?

So my mom and I left because we had a doctor's appointment and we couldn't do anything sadly. I don't know anything about Tortoises but I do know that also when they are on their backs, they are feeling defenseless and this little guy/gal didn't look that happy when he/she was flipped over.

They looked terrified and almost like they weren't breathing, so I checked again and tapped on the glass, but then it started to move, so thankfully it was alright. I think also there were two fighting but i'm not sure since like I said - i'm not a reptile expert and I have only had two baby red-eared sliders once, when I was like 5.

I'm 16 now so that was a long time ago >_<!

Does anyone know whats wrong? I'd want to help it if I could, but I don't know whats wrong.

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. Nice to see a non tortoise owner with such concern, thank you. You could as the store to block the view put the glass. Just some paper taped along the outside at the level that the tortoise can see would help. It is common, but that's why we suggest people use tortoises do this to block them from seeing out.

 

[Yvonne G]

Tortoises do that at home too. In my opinion, tortoises belong outside in large, safe habitats. Some just don't do well indoors in small containers, but then again, some take to it very well.

The tortoises you saw in the pet store might have been new arrivals. It always takes a while for them to settle down and stop trying to escape.

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

For 16 yrs old your a very smart person
I know many adults that don't know what you do get your answers from people that know not your friends . Thank you for being smart enough
Ask those that know I'm very proud
To have met you ( and your concern
For the tort was nice also)

 

[ascott]

Also, more times than not the torts you see at the big chain stores are /were wild caught....so this can add to the stress you see....however, even if they are captive --as said, they take time to settle in and the tanks that they house them in are waaaayyyy too small to begin with...then they put a few or so into that already small space....you will see some ramming/biting/fighting going on....you see, the pet stores are in the business to make a profit....not much more. I suggest not going into the pet stores, there is always something running a foul in them....

Also, you may want to share your view with your Mom...perhaps she is stuck in the "hey they work at the pet store so they know what they are talking about" trap....explain to her that there is no animal knowledge that a sales clerk has to bring with them in order to be hired...