I bought an adult male Russian tortoise yesterday from a reliable pet shop that specializes in reptiles. The tortoise had just come in from one of the shop's customers that had it for two years in an indoor enclosure. I placed it in a 10'x10' outdoor enclosure with sunken water dish, dandelion weeds, plantain and grasses, two hides and adequate shade as well as sun. He did not eat any grasses yesterday. Briefly "worked" the parameter of the enclosure then went into one of the hides where he remained until I moved him into a sleeping box. I livc in south-central Kansas and the temps yesterday were 91 degrees with night time at 67 (but he was moved into a sleeping box in the garage at night - so probably in the 70's). This morning I brought him out to his enclosure and placed him into the hide he had used the previous day - because it was quite early and temps were only in the mid-70's. He was lethargic, but I expected that due to the temps. I was pleased that by the time the temps got into the 80's, he came out and ate a mixed green salad with shredded carrots. On his first day too!! I was prepared for him to 'work' the parameters of the enclosure for the first week and maybe not eat at all. He seemed quite content though (or maybe he wasn't really feeling well and I misread it as "contented".) But he probably wouldn't have eaten if he wasn't feeling well...right??
Two hours later when I checked on him he was behind a shrub in the shade. I picked him up -- and his head and limbs just dangled limply as though he was dead!! He wasn't hot; his shell felt cool; so he wasn't over-heated. However, I couldn't get him to respond at all! When I tipped him one way, his limbs and head would loll that way limply; so I started pumping his front legs in and out like artificial respiration. (I didn't notice breathing motions around the neck - but I'm not sure how often they take breathes) After about a minute I noticed a tiny resistance in one hind leg when I pushed it in and out. In another minute he barely lifted his head up and opened his mouth just a little. Then he opened his eyes -- so I put him back in the hide. At that point the temps were about 88 degree - humidity was relatively high (around 67).
What is going on? Do Russians do this??? Was he in a very deep sleep or what???!!! He seemed fine the rest of the day. It started raining later this afternoon so I put him back in his sleeping box. I have box turtles and I've never experienced anything like that with them -- even when they are preparing for hibernation, they will respond when disturbed or moved. I had a SA Redfoot years ago and he would get lethargic when he was too cool, but he always responded to touch.
I got a Russian because Russians are commonly kept outdoors here all year round and even hibernate outdoors (although this one supposedly came from 2 years of what I assume was a controlled indoor habitat).
I don't want to take him back to the pet shop and sound like an idiot if this is just typical lethargic behavior. He looks perfectly healthy -- no discharges, ok weight.
Any thoughts???
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to give you as much info as possible.
Please let me know if this is normal behavior or if I need to do something differently.
Thanks so much
Two hours later when I checked on him he was behind a shrub in the shade. I picked him up -- and his head and limbs just dangled limply as though he was dead!! He wasn't hot; his shell felt cool; so he wasn't over-heated. However, I couldn't get him to respond at all! When I tipped him one way, his limbs and head would loll that way limply; so I started pumping his front legs in and out like artificial respiration. (I didn't notice breathing motions around the neck - but I'm not sure how often they take breathes) After about a minute I noticed a tiny resistance in one hind leg when I pushed it in and out. In another minute he barely lifted his head up and opened his mouth just a little. Then he opened his eyes -- so I put him back in the hide. At that point the temps were about 88 degree - humidity was relatively high (around 67).
What is going on? Do Russians do this??? Was he in a very deep sleep or what???!!! He seemed fine the rest of the day. It started raining later this afternoon so I put him back in his sleeping box. I have box turtles and I've never experienced anything like that with them -- even when they are preparing for hibernation, they will respond when disturbed or moved. I had a SA Redfoot years ago and he would get lethargic when he was too cool, but he always responded to touch.
I got a Russian because Russians are commonly kept outdoors here all year round and even hibernate outdoors (although this one supposedly came from 2 years of what I assume was a controlled indoor habitat).
I don't want to take him back to the pet shop and sound like an idiot if this is just typical lethargic behavior. He looks perfectly healthy -- no discharges, ok weight.
Any thoughts???
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to give you as much info as possible.
Please let me know if this is normal behavior or if I need to do something differently.
Thanks so much
