too energetic!!!!

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Hi tortforumers and forumets! I have a couple of simple question, can a tort be injured if he keeps banging his plastron on the floor? The thing is this, he keeps trying to climb the walls of his enclosure, and ofcourse he keeps failing as well, because he cant climb up, he ends up slipping and slamming his plastron on the plastic floor, not that high tho, only about 2 inches, but i still worry

Question number 2, can a torts growth be hindered by the size of his house? I noticed that his growth suddenly slowed down. So i changed the ice cream tub i use as his little cave into a bigger one, and he started growing again, i mean iall that just in my head? Or am i on to something here?
 

Clamhandsmcgee

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Just wondering why you don't have substrate. Coco coir, Cypress mulch, orchid bark, and organic soil works good.

If he's trying to get out maybe the size/ conditions of your enclosure might not be correct.

If you post a picture of your setup I'm sure someone here could help you make some changes, if it needs any. What type of tortoise is it?
 
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teresaf

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Your temps could be wrong too. 80f is lowest temp he should be exposed to and his basking spot should be the highest at 100(shell hight). If too hot they'll try to escape. If dehydrated they'll go search for water. Do you soak him daily? Place him in container of 95-100 degree(human baby water) water up to the seam of where his top and bottom shell meet for 30 minutes daily.
 

teresaf

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Also, don't rely on the 'button type dial stick on' or the 'stick on strip' thermometer/hygrometers. They are not accurate. I use a couple of these.
 

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Tom

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Hi tortforumers and forumets! I have a couple of simple question, can a tort be injured if he keeps banging his plastron on the floor? The thing is this, he keeps trying to climb the walls of his enclosure, and ofcourse he keeps failing as well, because he cant climb up, he ends up slipping and slamming his plastron on the plastic floor, not that high tho, only about 2 inches, but i still worry

Question number 2, can a torts growth be hindered by the size of his house? I noticed that his growth suddenly slowed down. So i changed the ice cream tub i use as his little cave into a bigger one, and he started growing again, i mean iall that just in my head? Or am i on to something here?

Question one: There are at least two things wrong with your enclosure. Not having substrate is one. Don't know what the second one is, but there is a reason your tortoise is trying to climb the sides.

Question two: They have growth spurts, and slower growth periods. The size of the hide has nothing to do with their growth. Just coincidence.
 

Yvonne G

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The sliding-down-the-wall thing can sometimes cause an injury to the skin on the back of the neck, where the shell rubs the neck.

Tortoises placed in a new enclosure want to escape and get back "home". Providing the new enclosure is safe, secure and provides what the tortoise needs, he will settle down in a couple weeks.
 

tortdad

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Also is it climbing the sides or in a corner? If it's the sides then your sides aren't tall enough as he should not be able to get his club feet to the top lip of the wall where he's trying to pull himself up. If it's the corners that he's climbing a simple fix is to put a wedge in the corner so it's now a 45 degree corner, not a typical 90 degree.

Typical reasons why they try to climb out:

It's a new enclosure and they don't recognize this as "home" so they're trying to escape back to "home"

You have something in your enclosure wrong... too hot, too cold, too bright, too small...

Or it can see out of a crack or through/over the sides. If it can see out it will try constantly to get out. Torts need a solid visual barrier as they are hard wired to roam several miles a day to try and find food.
 
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Just wondering why you don't have substrate. Coco coir, Cypress mulch, orchid bark, and organic soil works good.

If he's trying to get out maybe the size/ conditions of your enclosure might not be correct.

If you post a picture of your setup I'm sure someone here could help you make some changes, if it needs any. What type of tortoise is it?


He's a sulcata, i originally used wood shavings for him along with some hay, and your right he definitely did not act this way before when he had the said substrate, i removed them because i was actually planning on switching with garden soil, but have not had the time recently to buy some but i would definitely be buying asap.

His enclosure is a
 

Clamhandsmcgee

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I use Cypress mulch in part of my enclosure, Coco coir in part, and soil from my backyard in part of it. That way he can have different "climates.". I keep the Coco coir pretty wet, the mulch not as wet, and the soil even less wet. I have a small humidifier in the enclosure and keep two Terra Cotta saucers in it. In the soil I grow grass, a hosta, and plantain.

This is just my setup. I'm not sure if it's the best, but my sulcata is growing with a smooth shell. I'm also sure that I'll change my setup at some point in time.
 
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After reviewing your thoughts i have concluded a couple of things.

1. Its a directional thing. Because he was able to see thru the container as it was transparent,(fixed)

2. Lighting and temperatures are covered as temperatures here reach about 95`f on a daily basis and lowers at about 80 at night(fixed)

3. Definitely, substrate issue. As, as of the moment, the container has none, but i would surely be providing asap(not fixed)

4. Finally his hydration levels are somewhat low, recently, because of the heat wave were experiencing lately.(fixed)

Other than that, he seems fine, but most often i can see him looking at me, as if begging me to take him out on a walk, he also seems to go in the the direction where im at, with constant eye contact.

Ps. I gave him some fruit, a small slice of watermellon and a chunck of banana, and his urates were hard and huge, he did however expelled it, thank god. And i did it only recently and that one time only. So i highly recommend that you DO NOT! Feed them fruits unless needed. Another thing, cucumber is a great way to rehydrate your little tort, with urates instantly turning to its messy jelatinous form. All of which are upon my own observation and should be practiced with proper attention.

Thanks as always friends! :)
 
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QUOTE="Clamhandsmcgee, post: 1501074, member: 40265"]I use Cypress mulch in part of my enclosure, Coco coir in part, and soil from my backyard in part of it. That way he can have different "climates.". I keep the Coco coir pretty wet, the mulch not as wet, and the soil even less wet. I have a small humidifier in the enclosure and keep two Terra Cotta saucers in it. In the soil I grow grass, a hosta, and plantain.

This is just my setup. I'm not sure if it's the best, but my sulcata is growing with a smooth shell. I'm also sure that I'll change my setup at some point in time.[/QUOTE]


Thank you so much i will be taking everything into mind, but im having a hard time finding a clay pot small enough to fit his tank, but never say never. Heating, moisture and etc. Is really not an issue in my region, im hardly providing lighting at all and his shell seems to be growing smoothly aswell, its just i worry too much when he acts different at time.
 

Clamhandsmcgee

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It seems like you are fixing much of your enclosure. No offense, but if a Terra Cotta saucer won't fit, I think your enclosure is too small. Check out the enclosures here on this forum, and copy or modify what other members have made. I made mine from stuff I had laying around the shed.
 

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Joined
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It seems like you are fixing much of your enclosure. No offense, but if a Terra Cotta saucer won't fit, I think your enclosure is too small. Check out the enclosures here on this forum, and copy or modify what other members have made. I made mine from stuff I had laying around the shed.


Wow that is a lovely home for your little ones, but i must say mine is somewhat the same in size, but again i must say my champi looks cramped in his crib considering his size, he is about a year and 4 months now.
 

Cowboy_Ken

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The water dish doesn't need to be a "Terra-cotta" type. Those are just easy to find here in the States. I use a plastic planter water catch basin(the dish under a planter) because as stated by "Clamhandsmcgee" it was something I had laying around in the garden shed.
These water dishes are important to have in your tortoise enclosure at all times so that he/she always has access to water. It's important that the sides aren't too tall making it too deep and difficult for your tortoise to get out of because of the risk of possible drowning. I hope all of this helps you. Keep asking and we'll keep answering you and soon you'll be answering other keepers questions yourself.
 
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The water dish doesn't need to be a "Terra-cotta" type. Those are just easy to find here in the States. I use a plastic planter water catch basin(the dish under a planter) because as stated by "Clamhandsmcgee" it was something I had laying around in the garden shed.
These water dishes are important to have in your tortoise enclosure at all times so that he/she always has access to water. It's important that the sides aren't too tall making it too deep and difficult for your tortoise to get out of because of the risk of possible drowning. I hope all of this helps you. Keep asking and we'll keep answering you and soon you'll be answering other keepers questions yourself.

Will do thankyou :)
 
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