VERY lazy hermann tortoise?

GraceBrenton2002 · 14-08-2017, 09:03 PM

Hi, when I let my 1 year old Hermann tortoise Alfie go outdoors in his enclosure he always stays in the same corner and goes to sleep. Whenever I go and check on him, he is always asleep in this corner and seems to be very inactive rather than out enjoying the sunshine on a warm day. Do you think there is a reason behind this, maybe he has some sort of health problem or is he just lazy?

Thank you, Grace

JerryMaffz · 15-08-2017, 12:22 AM

This is normal behaviour for a tortoise of this age. It will feel quite vulnerable in an environment that it isn't used to and hide away.
My tortoise is usually very active for short periods of the day, hiding away for the middle part of the day. Perfectly natural behaviour.
Make sure your outdoor enclosure has plenty of plant cover this will help him feel more secure.
Also, the addition of a small coldframe will help with temperatures and promote greater activity

Suze65 · 15-08-2017, 07:04 AM

I agree with Keith, your tort is very young, and by nature young torts in the wild spend much of the day hidden away, or they would be predated on, and his instincts will make him quite aware of prediters. So as Keith has said , give him plenty of hiding places, and a cold frame to warm up, he will be more active if he has a warming place, and just give him time to get used to the outside world.
At the moment all of mine are being very lazy, they think it's September !

Jan W · 18-08-2017, 09:54 PM

Beatrice is 9 and she still spends more of the day tucked under the plants. She doesn't like it too hot and doesn't like it too cold! Drop in temperature and she is off to bed.

CherryBrandy · 19-08-2017, 09:11 AM

yes as long as you feel you have the right husbandry then this is completely natural. The only extra I would suggest is if he falls asleep in the cold part he will have a little trouble getting going back to the warmer areas so you could intervene and make sure his shell isn't cold all day - depending on size the little ones warm up quick and cool down quick - so make sure don't over heat him either. If you touched the shell of a older larger tortoise even when the sun is down they are like little radiators - nature is quite remarkably. If you have ever touched a brick wall at night when its been sat in the sun all day its the same ...lovely warm surface area which retains some heat - so learn by touching the shell and watching behaviour and you will tell if too cold, and sometimes too hot....CB

14-08-2017, 09:03 PM	#1
GraceBrenton2002 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 1	VERY lazy hermann tortoise? Hi, when I let my 1 year old Hermann tortoise Alfie go outdoors in his enclosure he always stays in the same corner and goes to sleep. Whenever I go and check on him, he is always asleep in this corner and seems to be very inactive rather than out enjoying the sunshine on a warm day. Do you think there is a reason behind this, maybe he has some sort of health problem or is he just lazy? Thank you, Grace

15-08-2017, 12:22 AM	#2
JerryMaffz Member Incubating Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 194	This is normal behaviour for a tortoise of this age. It will feel quite vulnerable in an environment that it isn't used to and hide away. My tortoise is usually very active for short periods of the day, hiding away for the middle part of the day. Perfectly natural behaviour. Make sure your outdoor enclosure has plenty of plant cover this will help him feel more secure. Also, the addition of a small coldframe will help with temperatures and promote greater activity __________________ Keith Testudo hermanni boettgeri 1:0:0 Jerry Maffz Last edited by JerryMaffz; 15-08-2017 at 12:24 AM.

15-08-2017, 07:04 AM	#3
Suze65 Senior Member Adult Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 6,769	I agree with Keith, your tort is very young, and by nature young torts in the wild spend much of the day hidden away, or they would be predated on, and his instincts will make him quite aware of prediters. So as Keith has said , give him plenty of hiding places, and a cold frame to warm up, he will be more active if he has a warming place, and just give him time to get used to the outside world. At the moment all of mine are being very lazy, they think it's September ! __________________ Suze. 3 THB, Sammy, Jemima, & Phoebe 7 Marginated, Tabitha, Ptolome, Tatiana, Noah,Lottey, Lulu & Poppy 1 TGG (Emma) RIP Feb 2012

18-08-2017, 09:54 PM	#4
Jan W Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Hampshire Posts: 1,400	Beatrice is 9 and she still spends more of the day tucked under the plants. She doesn't like it too hot and doesn't like it too cold! Drop in temperature and she is off to bed. __________________ Jan Horsfields - Bertie & Beatrice

19-08-2017, 09:11 AM	#5
CherryBrandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SE England Posts: 4,262	yes as long as you feel you have the right husbandry then this is completely natural. The only extra I would suggest is if he falls asleep in the cold part he will have a little trouble getting going back to the warmer areas so you could intervene and make sure his shell isn't cold all day - depending on size the little ones warm up quick and cool down quick - so make sure don't over heat him either. If you touched the shell of a older larger tortoise even when the sun is down they are like little radiators - nature is quite remarkably. If you have ever touched a brick wall at night when its been sat in the sun all day its the same ...lovely warm surface area which retains some heat - so learn by touching the shell and watching behaviour and you will tell if too cold, and sometimes too hot....CB __________________ Horsfields, Spur Thighed, & Marginata

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