Tort sitting for in laws - NEED HELP

Lyn W

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View attachment 331414The little explorer is in his safe in his outside run and having a nice busy day and having a bit of sun (he has a house for shade) Thank you everyone for the advise! And reassurance! I had no idea tortoises we’re so niche and that the tort community was so helpful!
He's lovely, looks to be quite a character. If you have a shallow plant saucer of water, large enough for him to lie in he may self-soak.
If you pass on the caresheet that Tom linked for you, to your in laws they can double check they have all the correct information because there's a lot of old out of date advice still being given by pet shops, other owners on social media and even some vets who aren't specialists, but if they follow that up to date information he will not just survive but thrive.
Are you tempted to get your own tort now??
 

Badbabysitter

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Aug 21, 2021
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9
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Portsmouth
He's lovely, looks to be quite a character. If you have a shallow plant saucer of water, large enough for him to lie in he may self-soak.
If you pass on the caresheet that Tom linked for you, to your in laws they can double check they have all the correct information because there's a lot of old out of date advice still being given by pet shops, other owners on social media and even some vets who aren't specialists, but if they follow that up to date information he will not just survive but thrive.
Are you tempted to get your own tort now??
I am quite tempted by one but don’t have a grassy garden, they’re funny little things. Have emailed the sheet from Tom to my FIL to study.
 

Lyn W

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I am quite tempted by one but don’t have a grassy garden, they’re funny little things. Have emailed the sheet from Tom to my FIL to study.
They are funny and I dread to think how much time I've wasted over the last 7 years just watching mine doing nothing!!:)
They are more work and more expensive than you think - I was very surprised when my tort adopted me.
 

Bubblesmom

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Aug 2, 2021
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Winnfield, La. 71483
Oh man

so I don’t know what kind of tort He is but he’s a couple years old, super cute and a bit naughty.
Tort sitting and house and animal sitting and it is cold so we were told don’t let him out if it’s rainy cold etc

but he tried to escape yesterday and I was worried he’d fall of his table and hurt himself and has been a REALLY busy boy making lots of noise and moving about.

so thinking I was being nice I let him walk around the lounge - I since realise this was bad and I am an awful person - he ate a bit of cat litter - literally a singular piece the size of half a pine nut - I’ve put him back in his home and spiralled into an anxiety ridden pit now convinced he’ll impact and die - does anyone know if he’ll be ok given that it was one tiny bit? He looked like he really enjoyed it by the way and was clearly planning to find more and I believe he is actively trying to get me in trouble.

Can I do anything to help him? Feed him something to help it through his system? I really don’t want to hurt the little guy I just wanted him to have a walk about and enjoy some freedom whilst it’s cold.

concerned I just will have to wait for a month to find out if he’s ok or not and may have given myself and ulcer and break down by then.
I really don’t have any advice… but… I can do so so much relate to the ulcer and breakdown due to the worries over these guys!…. I’m just so glad to know that I’m not insane…! Or the only person who does this level of worry!.. so I sure hope your guy is ok.. and thanks for making me feel better about my sanity!! Lol
 

Obbie

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Joined
Apr 24, 2019
Messages
162
Location (City and/or State)
Minnesota
Oh man

so I don’t know what kind of tort He is but he’s a couple years old, super cute and a bit naughty.
Tort sitting and house and animal sitting and it is cold so we were told don’t let him out if it’s rainy cold etc

but he tried to escape yesterday and I was worried he’d fall of his table and hurt himself and has been a REALLY busy boy making lots of noise and moving about.

so thinking I was being nice I let him walk around the lounge - I since realise this was bad and I am an awful person - he ate a bit of cat litter - literally a singular piece the size of half a pine nut - I’ve put him back in his home and spiralled into an anxiety ridden pit now convinced he’ll impact and die - does anyone know if he’ll be ok given that it was one tiny bit? He looked like he really enjoyed it by the way and was clearly planning to find more and I believe he is actively trying to get me in trouble.

Can I do anything to help him? Feed him something to help it through his system? I really don’t want to hurt the little guy I just wanted him to have a walk about and enjoy some freedom whilst it’s cold.

concerned I just will have to wait for a month to find out if he’s ok or not and may have given myself and ulcer and break down by then.
They can be “naughty”
Oh man

so I don’t know what kind of tort He is but he’s a couple years old, super cute and a bit naughty.
Tort sitting and house and animal sitting and it is cold so we were told don’t let him out if it’s rainy cold etc

but he tried to escape yesterday and I was worried he’d fall of his table and hurt himself and has been a REALLY busy boy making lots of noise and moving about.

so thinking I was being nice I let him walk around the lounge - I since realise this was bad and I am an awful person - he ate a bit of cat litter - literally a singular piece the size of half a pine nut - I’ve put him back in his home and spiralled into an anxiety ridden pit now convinced he’ll impact and die - does anyone know if he’ll be ok given that it was one tiny bit? He looked like he really enjoyed it by the way and was clearly planning to find more and I believe he is actively trying to get me in trouble.

Can I do anything to help him? Feed him something to help it through his system? I really don’t want to hurt the little guy I just wanted him to have a walk about and enjoy some freedom whilst it’s cold.

concerned I just will have to wait for a month to find out if he’s ok or not and may have given myself and ulcer and break down by then.
Please don’t let him/her get cold. Also, just ask the in-laws what to do. If they are like me, I just want my girl happy and healthy. I know cooked carrots are good for getting the guts moving. My girl is a 50 pound rescue Sulcatta, so that might be not true for your in-laws tort.
 

Badbabysitter

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Joined
Aug 21, 2021
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9
Location (City and/or State)
Portsmouth
As you were all so helpful and I feel so indebted to you thought you might a naughty torty update!
Ptolemy is having a little soak in a shallow box with some warm water.
I have no idea if he likes it - but…he’s…being tortoisey and doing his normal busy moving about climbing stuff routine.
 

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wellington

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Chicago, Illinois, USA
As you were all so helpful and I feel so indebted to you thought you might a naughty torty update!
Ptolemy is having a little soak in a shallow box with some warm water.
I have no idea if he likes it - but…he’s…being tortoisey and doing his normal busy moving about climbing stuff routine.
This picture really shows a lot. Did they get him as a hatchling two years ago or they got him two years ago and he was already a good size?
He is badly pyramided for only 2 and looks to possibly have MBD. His care has been very poor.
Post another side pic of his whole body like the one of him in the soak but include the whole body so we can better confirm the MBD.
 

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