Why could this be?

[mrscross78]

Hi, One of my tortoises is up all day (near enough) and eats OK but my other one eats well (he's a little greedy) but he sleeps a lot during the day too... I sometimes wake him up when he does this... Is this the right thing to do?
Why is one of my tortoises active and the other not so? Basking temp is around 32-34 on average and the cool end seems to vary between 18c at night and 20-21c during the day.
Thank you

[JoesMum]

Tortoises are like people, different characters, temperament and levels of activity.

If they've always been like this, I wouldn't worry. if you're noticing changes to feeding, sleeping and/or toileting habits, a quick trip to the vet for a blood test will give you the answers you need.

[16 shells]

Originally Posted by mrscross78

Hi, One of my tortoises is up all day (near enough) and eats OK but my other one eats well (he's a little greedy) but he sleeps a lot during the day too... I sometimes wake him up when he does this... Is this the right thing to do?
Why is one of my tortoises active and the other not so? Basking temp is around 32-34 on average and the cool end seems to vary between 18c at night and 20-21c during the day.
Thank you

Not realy best to interfere with what a Tortoise want's to do too much, unless you think there is a health problem, then it would be in a hospital viv/table anyway. They do seem to have different spell's of activity, which can change from time to time.

[Alan1]

Originally Posted by mrscross78

Hi, One of my tortoises is up all day (near enough) and eats OK but my other one eats well (he's a little greedy) but he sleeps a lot during the day too... I sometimes wake him up when he does this... Is this the right thing to do?
Why is one of my tortoises active and the other not so? Basking temp is around 32-34 on average and the cool end seems to vary between 18c at night and 20-21c during the day.
Thank you

Do you hibernate them? I don't hibernate mine and I find that they are active and less active at various times throughout the year. Last year one of mine was active all winter then in April it became less active for a couple of months while the other one did exactly the opposite. I posted about it once with the suggestion that perhaps they regulate their UVB intake but no one had an opinion either way though Ed did say it was something to think about.

I do think it's a possibility. One tort at the moment sits in the pot a lot of the time but it does look out the hole in the other end and it isn't asleep, just sitting in there.

Even during the summer I find that they are not both as active as each other at the same times

[16 shells]

Dito above, hate to compare with captive tort's and real wild one's , but is'nt there sometimes a time spent of estivation(inactivity) in warmth and cold among most breed's.

[mrscross78]

They are only 15 months old and I no am not hibernating them (I am unsure if I will in the future). It is an interesting theory regarding the regulation of UVB intake and one I will consider.

He has always been less active than his brother but recently he has hidden away more.

I shall not disturb him again when he naps during the day. To be honest because he hides away I don't know for sure that he is asleep I just assumed.

Thanks for all your replies.

[Blueginger1984]

My two tortoises are exactly the same. Dory is up straight away in the morning, spends all day eating And wondering round the enclosure. Darla however never gets up in the morning on her own won't eat alot (I end up hand feedin her just to get something in her) and when I drag her out of bed in the morning she stays up for maybe an hour just sitting there then wonders back to bed!!. But I think that is just her personality she is alot more laid back than dory. i think each tort is different.

[gwenq]

Your tort not getting up or eating reminds me of when I first got my tort. I took him to the vet and he was loaded with worms. Have you had your torts long? could it be worms?

Gwen