- Joined
- Jul 16, 2014
- Messages
- 29,120
- Location (City and/or State)
- South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
This has not been what I've observed. I agree that this is very harmful.I kinda think you are over reacting. We mostly thought you were moving to Indiana, too cold for most Redfoots. Some of the keepers thought it might be better to leave him in a warmer climate. That what 'fostering' is, one person takes care of the tortoise temporarily, then when you are ready you take him back. I have done that a number of times, it's no big thing. Remember, we cannot 'make' you leave him behind.
Now I am gonna give MY opinion as far as the tortoise is concerned, it sounds to me like he might have an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, or a dry leaf up his nose.
There are several members here who have decided that a tortoise gets stressed if we change their routine much, or travel with them or let them out in the snow. One of our most revered chelonian experts decided that tortoises get stressed by too much moving, and his minions simply mouth his words and make it fact. No one has proven that to me however. I have traveled a lot with tortoises, I didn't see any popping anxiety pills, or crying into a pillow. I take my cat when I go, he's on a harness and leash. I raised a few tortoises and turtles in big glass aquariums, they didn't seem troubled by it, but the experts say they bang their heads and keep trying to escape, but that is NOT my experience
So I still disagree, I put any chelonian in a dark lidded box with a latching lid and my traveling tortoises sleep the whole time.
So I'm sorry you experts, you still haven't showed me that they actually do get stressed at moving. My tortoises don't get sick from traveling with me, they adapt well to a new temporary enclosure, with heat light etc. They don't ever stop eating.
So now you have seen more ways to go. Good luck
Just a 20 minute trip to the vet has any of my Redfoot panicked and pooping all over themselves.
A stressed tortoise is soon a sick tortoise.
Any big change is traumatic for them
I do agree that you should try to provide a box that the tort feels familiar with.
It should help a lot.
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