Why do Torti cry

[Wherethetortiroam]

So one of the last parties I had at my house some girls came over and wanted to see Herbert. A South American yellow foot that I kinda inherited from my friend, and looked like he was crying. Why is that?

And the other day I picked him up to look at him and it looked like he was sweeting. It smelled like he peed himself but how would pee get all the way up to his neck and head area?

Also when it looks like they're yawning what's that mean? The last time I took him in for a checkup the vet asked me that and I said no but I've been noticing it a lot more lately.

Thanks for your help guys

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Ethan:

Tortoises sometimes shed tears in order to help cool themselves off. It also could be an indicator that the tortoise is being kept too dry.

We sometimes mistake "yawn" for open mouth breathing. When a tortoise has a respiratory infection or nasal passages are plugged up, they occasionally open their mouth to breath. They don't seem to be able to continuously keep the mouth open and breathe, so it looks like an occasional yawn.

The moisture on the head and neck might have been saliva...another indicator that the tortoise is too hot.

 

[Wherethetortiroam]

Ohh wow ok I thought I was keeping to cold. His pen is in my living room which is the coldest room in my house cause its really big and open space and I have my thermostat set at 68 degrees F. A little while I gave Herbert ( the guy in the pic) a heated floor cause I'm in Nebraska and its cold as **** so maybe I should turn down the floor then.

 

[Yvonne G]

Don't you check the temp with a thermometer? Its very important to know what temperatures are inside your habitat. It should be around 80-85F degrees all over the whole habitat, with lots of moisture and humidity. Anything colder than that and the tortoise might get a respiratory infection. (Another thing the symptoms might tell you)

 

[Wherethetortiroam]

I turned down his heated floor temp to 85 so it's probably more like 80. I should get something for humidity cause the air is pretty dry this time a year.

 

[mainey34]

If you use a spray bottle with water in it and spray the substrate down it will create your humidity.

 

[Alan RF]

You could get some sphagnum moss to increase humidity and your tort might like it in its hide?

 

[Wherethetortiroam]

I do spray both my Torti with a spray bottle from time to time between soaks. I'm working on an actual bath tub table just for them in my basement, I'm almost done I need trim and plumbing.

That sphagnum moss is cool I be he'd like that. I have been putting chunks of this grass stuff in both my torti pens. The Russian like to hide in it and the yellow foot likes to eat it and crawl through it. He loves obstacles.

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm curious...why are you building it on the ceiling? (I know I've pulled this one before, but I just couldn't resist, sorry)

 

[Wherethetortiroam]

So I got some of that mos stuff and gave him new bedding and a second story.


He goes up and down all day he loves it!

 

[luvpetz27]

I love his enclosure!! The second floor is awesome!!
Great job!!!