Franklin (my 3in/6month old cherry) seems to be extremely shy. I've only had him for a week but I figured this would be enough time for him to warm up to me a little. He seems to always either be eating or in his hides. Is this normal? I read a couple things on here that say if you turn off the light they'll come out more. I'm running a CHE, Zilla 10.0 18 inch UVB fluorescent, and a regular light bulb. I turned off the light bulb this morning and he seems to like it better, but he's still really shy when I pick him up or try to feed him... any ideas on how to make him not such a scardy tort??? lol

Seems normal. I have never tried to hand feed mine. They eat off of a paper plate or a flat paving stone. They don't like being touched, picked up or held. They like to hide and be left alone. When I had just one he hid all the time. Now that I have three they are more active and when one eats they all eat but these are older than yours.
Maybe Franklin needs some friends?

I wish I could get him some friends!! But unfortunately I live in an apartment (I'm a student at Washington State University) and just don't have the room to make something big enough for a couple of them.

Go Cougs! I graduated from WSU in 2011 At least you have Dr Finch at the teaching vet hospital as a reptile/exotic specialist vet.

I have a redfoot (non cherry head) and she's entirely happy on her own, as are lots of torts. But, my Rosie is anything but shy... When I open her tub she's right there. She lets me hold her and rub her head/neck. When I have her out she usually comes back to me.

Maybe your tort just needs some more time?

A week is not very long for a tort to get used to you. Give it several weeks and she will come around. Most do, some won't.

Your Cherry is acting perfect ....eating then finding a place to
" bunker down" Also I might add....a lot of folks think tortoises are like dogs and cats that tend to have play times, unfortunately this is not true , their routine is to eat, sleep and breed. Some other species will spend times " basking as well" Not so much in the Cherry Head department. Give it some time to acclimate to it's new surroundings and it will become more accustomed to its surroundings~1 week is not much time. Also as winter approaches things slow down in the Herp world even in artificial conditions. I might also add ...as your tortoise matures, they will have personalities and be able to follow you around the yard ..
( looking for food) but not much more. They are not dumb when they see you , they know its " Chow Time"


JD~

(10-17-2012 06:01 PM)RosieRedfoot Wrote:  Go Cougs! I graduated from WSU in 2011 At least you have Dr Finch at the teaching vet hospital as a reptile/exotic specialist vet.

I have a redfoot (non cherry head) and she's entirely happy on her own, as are lots of torts. But, my Rosie is anything but shy... When I open her tub she's right there. She lets me hold her and rub her head/neck. When I have her out she usually comes back to me.

Maybe your tort just needs some more time?

Haha GO COUGS! Nice to see someone else from around the Pullman area Did you have yours while you were in Pullman?

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Thanks for all of the input. Just want to make sure everythings going ok with him!

Nope, didn't get mine until I moved away.

I had friends who have tortoises and when I volunteered at the vet hospital I met Gamera (before the leg amputation). See Gamera here: http://cheezburger.com/4997943296 ... I think he still lives in the exotics ward and wheels around during the day.

Yes he is! I actually just got a tour from a friends dad who works at the vet hospital and I got to see him wheel around for a while! It was pretty cool!