Hi - I am new to this forum. "Santa" brought my daughter a rare Greek Mosaic Tortoise last Christmas that was rescued by a reptile rescue person here in Montana. His name is Steve, and we have had him for a year.
I am his main caregiver - he had a large glass home with alfalfa pellets, wooden "house," timothy hay and a couple of large rocks, and a warming light. I didn't know anything about tortoises when we got him, but I tried to learn everything I could, and talked to my "reptile lady" quite a bit the first few weeks.
I soaked Steve twice a week, and fed him fresh greens twice a week. He went outside in the summer, and liked to be held. He seemed very happy.
His house has always been in our living room on the floor by a french door, and he has been fine all year. The only thing that has changed is: A stray cat "adopted" our family and had a kitten, so we have two cats in the house, but they don't pay any attention to Steve, and their food and litter box are in the basement. The other thing was that we put up our Christmas tree over Steve's house, and I think some pine needles would fall in the screen, but not a lot.
Yesterday, I soaked Steve as usual. He seemed a bit lethargic, but he pooped and peed and had a good soak. I dried him off and put him under his light. I usually have his greens ready, but I was out, so was going to get them today. Last night he crawled onto his food tray and sat there, which usually means he wants he food.
However, today when I went to check on him and turn on his light, he was still sitting on his food try. I picked him up and he was dead. His head, legs and tail were out and his eyes were open. My five children are hysterical, and I feel TERRIBLE. What could have happened? I cleaned his cage over the break, and I hadn't changed his routine at all.
Does anyone have any ideas about why he would have just up and died? If he's cold he usually burrows and night, and he loved his heat lamp. Perhaps he had a disease we couldn't see. The sad thing is, there was no sign of distress that I could see, and Montana doesn't have any vet resources for an autopsy.
If we do get another tortoise, I'd like some input into what I might have done wrong. He certainly wasn't neglegted - we really loved him. Any input from some veteran tortoise people would be greatly appreciated!!!
Jennifer from Montana
I am his main caregiver - he had a large glass home with alfalfa pellets, wooden "house," timothy hay and a couple of large rocks, and a warming light. I didn't know anything about tortoises when we got him, but I tried to learn everything I could, and talked to my "reptile lady" quite a bit the first few weeks.
I soaked Steve twice a week, and fed him fresh greens twice a week. He went outside in the summer, and liked to be held. He seemed very happy.
His house has always been in our living room on the floor by a french door, and he has been fine all year. The only thing that has changed is: A stray cat "adopted" our family and had a kitten, so we have two cats in the house, but they don't pay any attention to Steve, and their food and litter box are in the basement. The other thing was that we put up our Christmas tree over Steve's house, and I think some pine needles would fall in the screen, but not a lot.
Yesterday, I soaked Steve as usual. He seemed a bit lethargic, but he pooped and peed and had a good soak. I dried him off and put him under his light. I usually have his greens ready, but I was out, so was going to get them today. Last night he crawled onto his food tray and sat there, which usually means he wants he food.
However, today when I went to check on him and turn on his light, he was still sitting on his food try. I picked him up and he was dead. His head, legs and tail were out and his eyes were open. My five children are hysterical, and I feel TERRIBLE. What could have happened? I cleaned his cage over the break, and I hadn't changed his routine at all.
Does anyone have any ideas about why he would have just up and died? If he's cold he usually burrows and night, and he loved his heat lamp. Perhaps he had a disease we couldn't see. The sad thing is, there was no sign of distress that I could see, and Montana doesn't have any vet resources for an autopsy.
If we do get another tortoise, I'd like some input into what I might have done wrong. He certainly wasn't neglegted - we really loved him. Any input from some veteran tortoise people would be greatly appreciated!!!
Jennifer from Montana