Pacing

[jlb1077]

We have a Zoomed tortoise house for Porky. Lately he has been pacing a lot. So we went and bought another Zoomed tortoise house & connected them. He has been pacing all day. Is this normal? Is it breeding season? Any suggestions on why he might be doing this

 

[wellington]

I am not sure. They can't see out if them correct? Do you have any plants in his enclosure? If not, maybe try adding some. Also, make sure there is enough substrate so he can dig in. Maybe a long to climb on or around, or some rocks. It could be the time of year and wanting to get out. My leopard for the last week has been more restless then before. Sleeping in places he has never slept before. A new place almost very night.

 

[GBtortoises]

How big is your tortoise (straight line carapace length)? What are the temperatures day and night in the enclosure?

 

[jlb1077]

This just started 2 weeks ago. His 1st hide has hay, 2nd is a log & 3rd is plain.He is in 4" of cypress mulch. His basking temp is @ 95 & others temps are 75-80. He has a daytime heat source & strip UVB light on for 13 hours a day.

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At night it gets down to 65-70. He is @ 5.5" in length.

 

[Tom]

He's just being a tortoise. Many of them do that. A larger enclosure with more furniture might help, but he might still do it if his enclosure was 100x100'.

And yes, breeding season is approaching, so that might also be a factor.

Have you got a large outdoor enclosure for him?

 

[jlb1077]

Yes we have a screened in porch I put him in when weather permits & I am home. What kind of plants can I put in with him?

 

[Moozillion]

I've read that typical window screen, such as the screen used for a screen porch, will BLOCK UV LIGHT. If this is true, be sure to add a good UV light in a sunny area he is likely to want to bask in. But let's see what more experienced keepers say.

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

I've read that typical window screen, such as the screen used for a screen porch, will BLOCK UV LIGHT. If this is true, be sure to add a good UV light in a sunny area he is likely to want to bask in. But let's see what more experienced keepers say.

You're correct, ma'am...Porky either needs some unfiltered sunlight, at least several hours per week (best idea) or a quality UV light (2nd best idea) several hours each day, just over a basking spot.

UV is very important for a tortoise's bones/shell to stay hard, along with adequate calcium in the diet.

If Porky, at 5.5", is, indeed, a male, then he's a young adult, and "them urges" are making him pace around looking for as much "reptile romance" as he can get, much like any teen-age boy!

 

[jlb1077]

He has a UVB strip light and a basking light in his house. He hasn't been pacing as much lately. He is still a little fresh though. It's pretty funny