About Toto

[Mari S]

hi, my desert tortoise lives outside in Arizona, . I have a pen for him with a burrow. He eats yard grass, Vitagrass from the pet store, prickly pear, aloe vera and kale. I put him on the lawn to graze and exercise. He isn't very active lately. Its amazing how attached you can get to a tortoise.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Mari

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Mari, and very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum to you and Toto.
How long have you had him ?
Is he inactive because of the heat, do you think ?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

Does he have a little puddle that he can climb in and out of? I use garbage can lids outside for my tortoises. I dig them down into the ground then fill with water. When you need to change the water, just dump it out. A paint roller tray works for smaller tortoises.

Try giving him a forced soak for a couple days and see if he perks up.

 

[Speedy-1]

Hi and welcome Mari and Toto !

 

[Mari S]

He was given to me in April this year. i put him in his little pool about every 2 weeks. Do you think he might be starting
to hibernate? its still pretty warm here.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

He was given to me in April this year. i put him in his little pool about every 2 weeks. Do you think he might be starting
to hibernate? its still pretty warm here.

Where in AZ do you live ? I'm in Phx and my desert torts will start to hibernate next month .

 

[Mari S]

we are in the middle of Tucson. Do your tortoises just go into their burrows and stay there until its warm again?

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

we are in the middle of Tucson. Do your tortoises just go into their burrows and stay there until its warm again?

Basically but I would never hibernate any tort the first year . So I can see how their health is how they have eaten !

 

[Mari S]

Basically but I would never hibernate any tort the first year . So I can see how their health is how they have eaten !

Its my first turtle year but he is about seven. Ill just keep watching him eat.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Its my first turtle year but he is about seven. Ill just keep watching him eat.

I didn't mean your tort is a baby ! Evan a adult shouldn't be hibernated the first 12 months . But
It's your tort you do what you think is best .

 

[Jacqui]

Hi and welcome! What made you decide to get a tortoise?

 

[Mari S]

I didn't mean your tort is a baby ! Evan a adult shouldn't be hibernated the first 12 months . But
It's your tort you do what you think is best .

can you keep him awake?

 

[Mari S]

Hi and welcome! What made you decide to get a tortoise?

a friend was helping a friend re-home this tortoise and after some days or a week of thinking about it, i was glad they hadn't found
him a home yet. i brought him home.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

can you keep him awake?

Yes put its light on a timer for 14 hour days and keep enclosure at 80 degrees . It will stay a wake all winter .