tortoiseHelp1234

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Hello everyone, I've had a Tortoise for about two and a half years now, and untill now been going pretty well for my tortoise. However my tortoise has before had an outbreak of something that seems like complete panic, and is now doing it again. My tortoise keeps going into corners and keeps knocking into it and can do it for hourse on end in the same corner, and nothing is helping to stop this, he does it from day to night. We have tried everything, moisturizing, bathing, different heat and UVB bulbs, different food, different vitamins/minerals. Nothing is helping to stop him from doing this, and he has a pretty big place to live. I just have no clue what it is he wants.
Does anyone have some tips or knowledge to help me? I am desperate to make him feel better but I have no idea how to do so.
He can't be outside as I live in an apartment, is he just not meant to be inside in an enclosure, is that all?
 

Tom

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Hello and welcome.

We'll need some more info to help figure out your issue.

What species?
What size and age?
What size is the enclosure?
What are your four temperatures? Warm side, cool side, basking area and overnight low?
What heating and lighting equipment are you using to achieve and maintain these temps?
What type of UV bulb are you using?
What substrate are you using?
Any other pets like a dog or cat?

Pics of the tortoise and enclosure might offer clues.
 

Yvonne G

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Well, he's obviously trying to get out of the enclosure. You need to be the detective and try to figure out what's unpleasant in there for him (too small? too hot? too cold? etc.) A picture of him in his enclosure would go a long way towards us giving you a good answer to your problem.
 

tortoiseHelp1234

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Iowa
Hey everyone, here is a link to some pictures of him and the enclosure:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GMqJenrktzjdo5Du8

I am aware that the current light bulb is not that great. I recently tried a different light bulb to see if that would fix his issues, which were seperate warm bulb and UVB bulb, but this had no effect on him, so i returned them and is now stuck with the combined light bulb that I've taken a picture of here. I am currently waiting for a fluroscent UVB lamp with 5.0 UVB and 18 watts, and also a warming light bulb with an effect of 40 watts. I don't know the temperatures in his enclosure, but whenever the lightbulb is turned off his energy drops fades and he stops panicking, but it doesn't seem to have any effect what kind of light that's on.

The enclosure is 22 inches (56cm) width, and 31,5 inches (80cm) in length.
He is a hermann tortoise, and his size is around 7cm in diameter.
No other pets in the household :)

Thank you so much for answering guys, I hope you can help me figure this out, I've tried playing the detective but I can't seem to figure it out, other than that whenever the light is off he is calm and also after a meal, which by the way is this food he is getting: https://zoomed.com/natural-grassland-tortoise-food/
 

dmmj

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Sounds like the enclosure is to small. You measure a tortoise nose to tail.
 

drew54

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My tort used to do this all the time. When I adjusted the temps and began keeping food in his dish he stopped. But like dmmj said the enclosure looks very small and I don't think your temps are good in the open top table.
 

tortoiseHelp1234

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Iowa
My tort used to do this all the time. When I adjusted the temps and began keeping food in his dish he stopped. But like dmmj said the enclosure looks very small and I don't think your temps are good in the open top table.
How big should the enclosure be? And what should the temperatures be?
 

Cheryl Hills

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You should have at least an 8 foot by 4 foot enclosure. Also, are you feeding anything other then the pellets? He should have greens as in weeds and such. A varied diet. I would suggest you go to the Herman’s tort section and read the care sheets. From what I seen in the pictures, you have several things that need changed. Now, I don’t raise Herman’s but I do know the person that wrote the care sheet specializes in them. Mack needed changes and then come back with any questions. After you make the changes, you should see a difference, hopefully!
 

Yvonne G

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Hey everyone, here is a link to some pictures of him and the enclosure:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GMqJenrktzjdo5Du8

I am aware that the current light bulb is not that great. I recently tried a different light bulb to see if that would fix his issues, which were seperate warm bulb and UVB bulb, but this had no effect on him, so i returned them and is now stuck with the combined light bulb that I've taken a picture of here. I am currently waiting for a fluroscent UVB lamp with 5.0 UVB and 18 watts, and also a warming light bulb with an effect of 40 watts. I don't know the temperatures in his enclosure, but whenever the lightbulb is turned off his energy drops fades and he stops panicking, but it doesn't seem to have any effect what kind of light that's on.

The enclosure is 22 inches (56cm) width, and 31,5 inches (80cm) in length.
He is a hermann tortoise, and his size is around 7cm in diameter.
No other pets in the household :)

Thank you so much for answering guys, I hope you can help me figure this out, I've tried playing the detective but I can't seem to figure it out, other than that whenever the light is off he is calm and also after a meal, which by the way is this food he is getting: https://zoomed.com/natural-grassland-tortoise-food/
Oh my, what a pretty tortoise! Yup, your enclosure is too small. He needs more room to wander. Tortoises' gut function depends upon how much they walk. A lot of folks use that type of substrate, but I'm not a big fan of it. I prefer something I can moisten just a bit, to provide a tad of humidity in his living quarters. I'll shoot you some pictures of what I use:

ceramic base light fixture, but I hang it because the clamp feature is not safe
ceramic clamp light.jpg


Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) for night time heat without light
ceramic heat emitter.jpg

Light stand
light stand f.jpg

T-5 fluorescent UVB bulb
T-5 fluorescent bulb.jpg

You can either keep the CHE on during the day plus on at night, or you can use a regular 100 watt incandescent bulb to provide heat during the day.

Here's a picture of one of my indoor enclosures. It's 4' long:
christmas tree bin a.jpg Christmas tree bin aa.jpg

These are suggestions just to give you an idea of what we're talking about.
 

tortoiseHelp1234

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Location (City and/or State)
Iowa
Oh my, what a pretty tortoise! Yup, your enclosure is too small. He needs more room to wander. Tortoises' gut function depends upon how much they walk. A lot of folks use that type of substrate, but I'm not a big fan of it. I prefer something I can moisten just a bit, to provide a tad of humidity in his living quarters. I'll shoot you some pictures of what I use:

ceramic base light fixture, but I hang it because the clamp feature is not safe
View attachment 274862


Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) for night time heat without light
View attachment 274866

Light stand
View attachment 274867

T-5 fluorescent UVB bulb
View attachment 274868

You can either keep the CHE on during the day plus on at night, or you can use a regular 100 watt incandescent bulb to provide heat during the day.

Here's a picture of one of my indoor enclosures. It's 4' long:
View attachment 274870 View attachment 274871

These are suggestions just to give you an idea of what we're talking about.
Alright awesome! Thank you so much! That UVB is actually the exact one that I've ordered, so that calms me down! Thank you all for your input, keep em coming if other readers have more to add!
 

puffinboots

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Jun 4, 2015
Messages
80
I think if it was mine I would take him out like a dog to the nearest garden & if weather permits let him roam for a while. You might get odd looks but I think being cooped up can drive any creature mad.
 

gneesy

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Apr 30, 2019
Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
california
Oh my, what a pretty tortoise! Yup, your enclosure is too small. He needs more room to wander. Tortoises' gut function depends upon how much they walk. A lot of folks use that type of substrate, but I'm not a big fan of it. I prefer something I can moisten just a bit, to provide a tad of humidity in his living quarters. I'll shoot you some pictures of what I use:

ceramic base light fixture, but I hang it because the clamp feature is not safe
View attachment 274862


Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) for night time heat without light
View attachment 274866

Light stand
View attachment 274867

T-5 fluorescent UVB bulb
View attachment 274868

You can either keep the CHE on during the day plus on at night, or you can use a regular 100 watt incandescent bulb to provide heat during the day.

Here's a picture of one of my indoor enclosures. It's 4' long:
View attachment 274870 View attachment 274871

These are suggestions just to give you an idea of what we're talking about.
Hi Yvonne! Was wondering where you bought those christmas bins?
 

Toddrickfl1

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Toddrickfl1

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