Hello,
I have just recently purchased a Sulcata tortoise (1 week). I did some reading into the subject prior to purchase but owning a tortoise and seeing what behaviors it has is a different experience, meaning I have some questions that I hope the forum here can answer or make particle suggestions.
1. The first concerns the enclosure. I have covered the outside of the tank with about 6inchs of paper so the tortoise does not see outside the tank. It has stopped trying to climb. However, he/she, Piggy-wiggles, continues to borrow in the tank. I read that if hiding spot are provided this would help to eliminate that, I have used a shoe box to provide a hiding spot for the tortoise for the past week. The store owner does not have anything till later this week so I felt the shoe box would serve as a make shift hiding spot till then. Piggy-wiggles hide in there, yet, Piggy-wiggles is continually digging at the bottom of the tank even when it is hiding in the box. I don’t know if this is something that occurs normally or is a problem that I should be concerned about? I read they can hurt themselves if they continue to burrow in the tank, I do not want that to happen. Perhaps there is something else that I can do to provide a sense of safety for Piggy-wiggles that I am not yet doing for him/her when in the enclosure.
2. My children and wife are accustomed the activity and affections of a dog and cat. We no longer have a dog and are allergic to cats. We decided on a tortoise as a pet. I am concerned for the longevity of interest that my family will have in the tortoise. I have not been able to find info on what to expect as far as interaction behaviors with tortoise, meaning what sort of affections a Sulcata may or may not have. This would seem to be a question I should have considered prior to purchase. It was as I owned Ball Pythons in the past and they had little interest in me despite my interest in them, this experience is the reason that I said “no†to my family having a tortoise as a pet for some time. I lost, gave in, or just liked the tortoise in the end and we have the tortoise. Yet, I still not know what to expect for interaction with the tortoise?
My reason for asking this is two fold:
A. As my children are still very young affection showing animals are easy for them to bond with. I feel the tortoise is very shy and the interest of my children is waning as Piggy-wiggle’s withdraws to its shell every time they are near. As I do not know what to expect or what is possible to nurture is difficult to encourage appropriate expectation for my children or guidance on how they can interact to encourage a sense of comfort and trust for the tortoise in my children. This perhaps seems like a silly question but it is a concern for me as a parent. I am also concerned as it seems, if not wishful thinking, that he tortoise is bonding with me, it doesn’t emerge for it hiding till I arrive downstairs in the morning or when I come home when I am out and the tortoise is with my family. So I am a bit concerned as I would want the tortoise to feel comfortable with all of us.
B. My wife and I are capable of caring for Piggy-wiggles, I find that I am rather attached to it only have a week, yet Sulcata live such a long time I am still worried concerning what will happen when my wife and I are no longer able to care for it due to age or death, leaving care in the hands of my children. I would certainly hope that my children will have the same level of care and responsibility that my wife and I have, yet I worry about this and feel that I should have a plan B for the tortoise if the tragic happens or my children are not able to care for Piggy-wiggles for whatever reason. Any suggestion for this would be helpful in relieving some of my anxiety for care beyond my existence.
3. I have a kitty pool filled with sand for Piggy-wiggles to play about during the day when I am about the house and can monitor him/her and my children. I am concerned that I may confuse Piggy-wiggles by having so many places for it to be. I do allow Piggy-wiggles to roam freely when I am in the room, yet when I can not devote my entire attention to this I place it in the kitty pool or in the enclosure. I don’t want to confuse or stress the new member of our family, is this practice a good or bad idea? What methods are best as I live in a cold climate during the winter and Piggy-wiggles’ will have to be kept inside?
Sorry for such a long post but I am an anxious new care provider for Piggy-wiggles.
Thanks in advance,
Jonathan
picture to provide size of Piggy-wiggle as I have need been to the vet yet.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb41/hlis93/pigglewiggle.jpg
I have just recently purchased a Sulcata tortoise (1 week). I did some reading into the subject prior to purchase but owning a tortoise and seeing what behaviors it has is a different experience, meaning I have some questions that I hope the forum here can answer or make particle suggestions.
1. The first concerns the enclosure. I have covered the outside of the tank with about 6inchs of paper so the tortoise does not see outside the tank. It has stopped trying to climb. However, he/she, Piggy-wiggles, continues to borrow in the tank. I read that if hiding spot are provided this would help to eliminate that, I have used a shoe box to provide a hiding spot for the tortoise for the past week. The store owner does not have anything till later this week so I felt the shoe box would serve as a make shift hiding spot till then. Piggy-wiggles hide in there, yet, Piggy-wiggles is continually digging at the bottom of the tank even when it is hiding in the box. I don’t know if this is something that occurs normally or is a problem that I should be concerned about? I read they can hurt themselves if they continue to burrow in the tank, I do not want that to happen. Perhaps there is something else that I can do to provide a sense of safety for Piggy-wiggles that I am not yet doing for him/her when in the enclosure.
2. My children and wife are accustomed the activity and affections of a dog and cat. We no longer have a dog and are allergic to cats. We decided on a tortoise as a pet. I am concerned for the longevity of interest that my family will have in the tortoise. I have not been able to find info on what to expect as far as interaction behaviors with tortoise, meaning what sort of affections a Sulcata may or may not have. This would seem to be a question I should have considered prior to purchase. It was as I owned Ball Pythons in the past and they had little interest in me despite my interest in them, this experience is the reason that I said “no†to my family having a tortoise as a pet for some time. I lost, gave in, or just liked the tortoise in the end and we have the tortoise. Yet, I still not know what to expect for interaction with the tortoise?
My reason for asking this is two fold:
A. As my children are still very young affection showing animals are easy for them to bond with. I feel the tortoise is very shy and the interest of my children is waning as Piggy-wiggle’s withdraws to its shell every time they are near. As I do not know what to expect or what is possible to nurture is difficult to encourage appropriate expectation for my children or guidance on how they can interact to encourage a sense of comfort and trust for the tortoise in my children. This perhaps seems like a silly question but it is a concern for me as a parent. I am also concerned as it seems, if not wishful thinking, that he tortoise is bonding with me, it doesn’t emerge for it hiding till I arrive downstairs in the morning or when I come home when I am out and the tortoise is with my family. So I am a bit concerned as I would want the tortoise to feel comfortable with all of us.
B. My wife and I are capable of caring for Piggy-wiggles, I find that I am rather attached to it only have a week, yet Sulcata live such a long time I am still worried concerning what will happen when my wife and I are no longer able to care for it due to age or death, leaving care in the hands of my children. I would certainly hope that my children will have the same level of care and responsibility that my wife and I have, yet I worry about this and feel that I should have a plan B for the tortoise if the tragic happens or my children are not able to care for Piggy-wiggles for whatever reason. Any suggestion for this would be helpful in relieving some of my anxiety for care beyond my existence.
3. I have a kitty pool filled with sand for Piggy-wiggles to play about during the day when I am about the house and can monitor him/her and my children. I am concerned that I may confuse Piggy-wiggles by having so many places for it to be. I do allow Piggy-wiggles to roam freely when I am in the room, yet when I can not devote my entire attention to this I place it in the kitty pool or in the enclosure. I don’t want to confuse or stress the new member of our family, is this practice a good or bad idea? What methods are best as I live in a cold climate during the winter and Piggy-wiggles’ will have to be kept inside?
Sorry for such a long post but I am an anxious new care provider for Piggy-wiggles.
Thanks in advance,
Jonathan
picture to provide size of Piggy-wiggle as I have need been to the vet yet.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb41/hlis93/pigglewiggle.jpg