Turbo Tort.

[Weed Botherer]

I've just been watching my torts on the cctv I set up to monitor them without them being disturbed by my presence. One of them, Tuvok, has spent about an hour and a half charging round the perimeter of their enclosure at an incredible speed like he's high on something. Anyone know if this is normal or what's given him this turbo charge. As his sibling is snoozing in the corner, I can't think it's environmental.

Any thoughts?

Paul

 

[tortoisenerd]

I have noticed that increased activity can be caused by it being too warm or a change in environment (move things around, new substrate, etc). Also, sometimes torts just get more active than typical. Just because your other tort didn't have the behavior doesn't rule out environmental issues. I however don't see anything to worry about unless this continues. Any update?

 

[Weed Botherer]

Thanks Kate. My other Tortoise did the same thing the next day. I was using a Exo Terra Solar Glo light/heat lamp and I think you're right, it may have been too warm and or they may have been responding to the flicker which I discovered the lamp has. When I tried to film the activity. I noticed the flicker while recording. It's inperceptable to the human eye but they might see it? The camera catches it and it's quite annoying! Anyway, I changed back to a Halogen spot, UV tube and ceramic heater and they seem to have settled. I also put them out in the Garden pen for a couple of hours in the early afternoon on sunny days (not that many in Scotland of recent) and then return them to their box, so they are getting moved around a bit. Do you know if tortoises have much of a memory....will they get used to being moved between their two separate environments? Both seem ok now. Eating well and normal activity. Thanks again for your info Kate.

Regards Paul.

 

[tortoisenerd]

They should get used to a certain routine, and yes they will remember enclosures. What is the temperature gradient now? I would think the Mercury Vapor Bulb would have a better UVB output, but you may need to work with your set up to get the temperature appropriate. Can you fiddle with it when they are out of the enclosure? What kind of stand set up do you have? Did you just buy the Solar Glo? What kind of flicker? You mean you only see it on the camera feed on your computer, or it's in the actual enclosure and bothering the torts? When I put a web cam in I swear for the first week or two my tort was staring at the light on the camera. He got used to it though and I don't see him looking at it anymore. I love tort webcams!