Day 2 at home, is she ok?

Jim · 14-08-2008, 10:15 AM

Hi everyone, this is day 2 with my first tortoise, she/he is a 3 and half month old herman, i think she is under the weather maybe from the move?, she sleeps alot in the day and digs under the topsoil for a sleep under the light, i have got her to eat some strawberry and a small bit of dandilion leaf, i did bath her this morning too before she ate, when i collected her she was full of life and for the first hour or so when she got to her new home, is this normal? any info would be great, Thanks, Jim.

sandy · 14-08-2008, 11:15 AM

Hi Jim

It can take up to a couple of weeks for a tortoise to get used to a new home. So dont worry to much.
Please dont feed strawberries, fruit can upset the gut flora of torts. I know your probably worried that your tort is not eating, that problem is yours<bg>. As tortoises can go months without eating. He/she will eat when she is confident to come out and explore. But bathing is a must, dehydration is a killer in young torts, so make sure you bather him/her once a day, ands soak any weeds/flowers fed in water.

Jim · 14-08-2008, 11:37 AM

Hi sandy, thank you for your help, i was worried about her not eating and thought something was better than nothing, i'll stick to weeds etc and let her settle, i have not been feeding in water too so i'll start doing that and keep bathing her, she looks and seems ok just lazy with not alot of energy lol, Thanks, Jim.

elbowjuice · 15-08-2008, 10:52 AM

Hi Jim,

I have a new Hermanns too, and have had him for a week now. He's a year old. For the first few days he was very shy, and VERY sleepy! Now he's getting used to his new home and starting to (pardon the pun) come out of his shell a bit!

As well as the baths being essential for rehydration, i think they have helped my tortoise become a little more used to being handled and a little less shy... bath time is bonding time!

David

sky · 15-08-2008, 02:45 PM

Hi Jim, warm welcome from me. Your little tort is shy, he/she will take may be a week or so to get used of new surrounding. No more fruit please.
Kayx

herbie's mum · 15-08-2008, 03:26 PM

hi jim, your tort is like any baby animal.. just needs time to settle in and get used to you and his new surroundings... try tempting him with some flowers as a treat instead of fruit.. as i have just said in another post mine love clover, bindweed and pansie flowers at the moment... just give him a week or two and im sure you will see a difference...mandy -x-

Jim · 17-08-2008, 11:15 AM

Hi, thank's for all your advice, settling in nicely now, still sleeps alot in the day but loving baths and eating something 2 or 3 times a day

herbie's mum · 18-08-2008, 03:26 PM

see.. just let him/her come along at his/her own pace... but even when he's well and truly setled in you will still be watching every move....you just cant help it!!?!?!? its a tort thing..lol...mandy -x-

Jim · 19-08-2008, 04:07 PM

LOL.... Your so right....., She/He is the best

, into everything, trying to climb everything, now i'm re arranging everything so She does not fall upside down, it's a full time hobby lol

14-08-2008, 10:15 AM	#1
Jim Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: West Sussex Posts: 89	Day 2 at home, is she ok? Hi everyone, this is day 2 with my first tortoise, she/he is a 3 and half month old herman, i think she is under the weather maybe from the move?, she sleeps alot in the day and digs under the topsoil for a sleep under the light, i have got her to eat some strawberry and a small bit of dandilion leaf, i did bath her this morning too before she ate, when i collected her she was full of life and for the first hour or so when she got to her new home, is this normal? any info would be great, Thanks, Jim.

14-08-2008, 11:15 AM	#2
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Hi Jim It can take up to a couple of weeks for a tortoise to get used to a new home. So dont worry to much. Please dont feed strawberries, fruit can upset the gut flora of torts. I know your probably worried that your tort is not eating, that problem is yours<bg>. As tortoises can go months without eating. He/she will eat when she is confident to come out and explore. But bathing is a must, dehydration is a killer in young torts, so make sure you bather him/her once a day, ands soak any weeds/flowers fed in water. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

14-08-2008, 11:37 AM	#3
Jim Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: West Sussex Posts: 89	Hi sandy, thank you for your help, i was worried about her not eating and thought something was better than nothing, i'll stick to weeds etc and let her settle, i have not been feeding in water too so i'll start doing that and keep bathing her, she looks and seems ok just lazy with not alot of energy lol, Thanks, Jim.

15-08-2008, 10:52 AM	#4
elbowjuice Junior Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 8	Hi Jim, I have a new Hermanns too, and have had him for a week now. He's a year old. For the first few days he was very shy, and VERY sleepy! Now he's getting used to his new home and starting to (pardon the pun) come out of his shell a bit! As well as the baths being essential for rehydration, i think they have helped my tortoise become a little more used to being handled and a little less shy... bath time is bonding time! David

15-08-2008, 02:45 PM	#5
sky Senior Member Adult Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Wales Posts: 2,901	Hi Jim, warm welcome from me. Your little tort is shy, he/she will take may be a week or so to get used of new surrounding. No more fruit please. Kayx

15-08-2008, 03:26 PM	#6
herbie's mum Member Incubating Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 219	hi jim, your tort is like any baby animal.. just needs time to settle in and get used to you and his new surroundings... try tempting him with some flowers as a treat instead of fruit.. as i have just said in another post mine love clover, bindweed and pansie flowers at the moment... just give him a week or two and im sure you will see a difference...mandy -x-

17-08-2008, 11:15 AM	#7
Jim Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: West Sussex Posts: 89	Hi, thank's for all your advice, settling in nicely now, still sleeps alot in the day but loving baths and eating something 2 or 3 times a day

18-08-2008, 03:26 PM	#8
herbie's mum Member Incubating Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 219	see.. just let him/her come along at his/her own pace... but even when he's well and truly setled in you will still be watching every move....you just cant help it!!?!?!? its a tort thing..lol...mandy -x-

19-08-2008, 04:07 PM	#9
Jim Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: West Sussex Posts: 89	LOL.... Your so right....., She/He is the best , into everything, trying to climb everything, now i'm re arranging everything so She does not fall upside down, it's a full time hobby lol

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