MoreCowbellAz
Member
Hello - I apologize in advance, I'm a bit frantic tying to pull the "new dad" thing together on the fly, and I'm looking for any help and advice I can get. I'm in Phoenix, and 4 days ago I unexpectedly found a very young (shell size of about 1.5 in) desert tort wandering around a small retention area in our subdivision. I didn't have the heart to walk away because no way would he survive there. Anyway, I took him home to keep him safe while I began my mad scramble to make sure first and foremost he was hydrated and fed, and second figure out what to do next in terms of homing him. I'm a huge animal lover and want to make sure he's ok, whatever I do.
He seems healthy and active. I've been researching and reading like mad to educate myself how best to care for him, even if were to be temporary.
Ok, scrambling I made a nice little temp indoor home for him with natural desert substrate including places to hide, using a 2'x3' container indoors. Gets plenty of sun yet also had shady spots if he gets hot. He likes to sleep under a little roof I made him. He's been drinking and I also soaked him. For food, I'm still figuring out what he likes to eat, but spur of the moment I gave him some romaine lettuce which loves but I understand now that's not the best, so now I'm giving him an assortment of hibiscus leaves and flowers, rose petals, and some grasses I had in the yard (no pesticides). I'll be getting some dandelions and alfalfa in the mix tonight. So while I'm still learning and experimenting with his diet, I think his emergency needs are covered. He seems active and alert and not at all shy.
Now I'm thinking about hibernation, and I've read some of the posts on this site that were very helpful. But it's Sept 19 and I'm scrambling trying to figure out if/when/how I do this specifically for my location . I'm already attached to the little guy and even so I don't want to re-home him right on the cusp of hibernation, I'm still trying to get him "stabilized" from the trauma of his new home as it is. Sending him to another new home or into the wild right on the cusp of hibernation, not knowing what he's been trough already, just seems wrong to me. So I'm thinking the best course is indoor hibernating, getting a small fridge, etc. Been reading up on that and I'm not worried about the investment. But it means I'll be keeping him for awhile BTW outdoor hibernating in not an option right now, I may be moving mid-stream.
I have to say the whole hibernation fridge thing freaks me out, I'm scared for him, and all the more scared because as I said I'm trying to educate myself on all his QUICKLY before I run out of time and mess something up. Not exactly sure when and how to get him ready, especially since I'm just now making sure he's well fed and hydrated and healthy to start with.
Advice is welcome, and here's what I'm thinking so far: small fridge and thermometer, 12x12 inch ventilated box with a couple inches of substrate, open fridge door every couple days for air. Set temp to 50-55 degrees, check on him weekly, hibernate for 6-8 weeks. Does that sound about right?
I'm most unsure what to do to get him ready and exactly when does he transition from his regular "home" into the fridge? It's still very warm here, high '90's day and around 70 at night. And how do I know when to bring him out? I'm trying to get my head around putting the little guy in a fridge to begin with, and I shudder to think what if he's not ready, or at the end if he's ready to come out and he's stuck in there trapped. Freaks me out! I've read 8 weeks on some websites, and 12 on others. That's a big difference.
I'm hoping I have at least a couple weeks before I need to do anything other than get him acclimated/nourished, that way I can educate myself and prepare in advance in the meantime.
Sorry for the long post, I welcome your (friendly) advice. Like I said I'm scrambling. I'll keep researching in the meantime.
He seems healthy and active. I've been researching and reading like mad to educate myself how best to care for him, even if were to be temporary.
Ok, scrambling I made a nice little temp indoor home for him with natural desert substrate including places to hide, using a 2'x3' container indoors. Gets plenty of sun yet also had shady spots if he gets hot. He likes to sleep under a little roof I made him. He's been drinking and I also soaked him. For food, I'm still figuring out what he likes to eat, but spur of the moment I gave him some romaine lettuce which loves but I understand now that's not the best, so now I'm giving him an assortment of hibiscus leaves and flowers, rose petals, and some grasses I had in the yard (no pesticides). I'll be getting some dandelions and alfalfa in the mix tonight. So while I'm still learning and experimenting with his diet, I think his emergency needs are covered. He seems active and alert and not at all shy.
Now I'm thinking about hibernation, and I've read some of the posts on this site that were very helpful. But it's Sept 19 and I'm scrambling trying to figure out if/when/how I do this specifically for my location . I'm already attached to the little guy and even so I don't want to re-home him right on the cusp of hibernation, I'm still trying to get him "stabilized" from the trauma of his new home as it is. Sending him to another new home or into the wild right on the cusp of hibernation, not knowing what he's been trough already, just seems wrong to me. So I'm thinking the best course is indoor hibernating, getting a small fridge, etc. Been reading up on that and I'm not worried about the investment. But it means I'll be keeping him for awhile BTW outdoor hibernating in not an option right now, I may be moving mid-stream.
I have to say the whole hibernation fridge thing freaks me out, I'm scared for him, and all the more scared because as I said I'm trying to educate myself on all his QUICKLY before I run out of time and mess something up. Not exactly sure when and how to get him ready, especially since I'm just now making sure he's well fed and hydrated and healthy to start with.
Advice is welcome, and here's what I'm thinking so far: small fridge and thermometer, 12x12 inch ventilated box with a couple inches of substrate, open fridge door every couple days for air. Set temp to 50-55 degrees, check on him weekly, hibernate for 6-8 weeks. Does that sound about right?
I'm most unsure what to do to get him ready and exactly when does he transition from his regular "home" into the fridge? It's still very warm here, high '90's day and around 70 at night. And how do I know when to bring him out? I'm trying to get my head around putting the little guy in a fridge to begin with, and I shudder to think what if he's not ready, or at the end if he's ready to come out and he's stuck in there trapped. Freaks me out! I've read 8 weeks on some websites, and 12 on others. That's a big difference.
I'm hoping I have at least a couple weeks before I need to do anything other than get him acclimated/nourished, that way I can educate myself and prepare in advance in the meantime.
Sorry for the long post, I welcome your (friendly) advice. Like I said I'm scrambling. I'll keep researching in the meantime.