Tort transportation

[Paige Lewis]

I am moving to the uk mid september and i was just after some advice on transporting my year old hermanns. We will be taking the day ferry which will take 1 hour 30 mins, the whole journey will take about 8 hours to get from my house here in Germany to Cardiff in the UK, i was just wondering the best way to do it. Should i get him up as usual and let him eat before leaving? And also i was going to fill a small container with some slightly moist substrate, is this the way i should do it? And also because of the stress of travelling would you suggest a vet visit when i get to the uk?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Yourlocalpoet]

I am moving to the uk mid september and i was just after some advice on transporting my year old hermanns. We will be taking the day ferry which will take 1 hour 30 mins, the whole journey will take about 8 hours to get from my house here in Germany to Cardiff in the UK, i was just wondering the best way to do it. Should i get him up as usual and let him eat before leaving? And also i was going to fill a small container with some slightly moist substrate, is this the way i should do it? And also because of the stress of travelling would you suggest a vet visit when i get to the uk?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Where are you moving to?
If you use a strong plastic container, I'd make sure your tortoise can't see through it, and I'd have deep substrate, not only will your tortoise feel safer (if it's a burrower) but I'd think the substrate would act as a shock absorber? Feel free to jump in anyone if I'm talking rubbish...
I think I'd be tempted to keep it dark so the tortoise would go to sleep, therefore reducing stress levels but I honestly don't know about that.
Do tortoises have sea legs?
-Sorry if that wasn't any help.

 

[Paige Lewis]

Thanks so much for the reply it is much appreciated, i am moving to Cardiff, what i have got is a sort of polystyrene container, it is opaque, i will put some air holes in it and give him a deep substrate of topsoil, i just wanna make sure i give him the least stressful journey as possible as the journey will be about 8 hours may be a little more depending on traffic.

 

[Missy]

I have taken my smaller sulcata to trips back home 4 hour drive and he does fine. I cover the transport tote with a towel and soak him when I get there. He's to big to take now,LOL.

 

[Yvonne G]

Are you sure that your tortoise is ok to bring into the country?

 

[Paige Lewis]

I have checked and it is totally legal as long as he has the paper work which he does and as long as 24 hours beforehand he has a vet visit which produces a letter proving him fit to travel (which i will get from the tort specialist i see). Again thanks for the replies.

 

[Chelsea]

I don't have any advice as far as transportation goes, I just wanted to say that I hope the move goes well and you like Wales when you get here! I live just down the road from Cardiff, in Newport I'm currently looking for a local vet to take my torts to, if I find a good one, I'll let you know!

 

[Yvonne G]

My sister used to bring Bob with her when she came here to Calif. from Oregon to visit. She had a nice, big wooden box with a hinged lid and air holes in each side. With the lid closed it was dark in the box and Bob usually slept the whole trip (about 12 hours, if I'm remembering correctly).

 

[elegans]

Tortoises if they are healthy travel quite ell. I have shipped many all over the world with no problems. Best wishes as always. Douglas