Baby tortoise always sleeping!!

LSpearman · 16-07-2012, 04:06 PM

Hi there, hoping anyone can help me on a matter.

I am quite a new tortoise owner, I have two young Mediterranean spur thighed tortoises (around 18 months - 2 years) which I bought off some people who couldn't keep them anymore due to moving abroad a couple of months ago.

The last couple of days, I have noticed one of them has been sleeping, or trying to sleep, almost the whole time and I am quite worried about it. I gave them a bath a few days ago, and they both hate baths, and normally retreat to their little house for a day to sleep/sulk afterwards. But two days later they were both still in there and I was worried they weren't eating/getting their light/heat to took them out and put them under their light. One of them (the bigger one) is happy to stay out the house and rests under the light all day, but isn't moving much at all. But the other (quite a lot smaller) one stays down for a few minute then goes straight back up to the hut, away from the light to sleep again.

Surely, not being in the light/heat isn't good for it. And should I be worried that they are both so lethargic/one of them seems to be sleeping the WHOLE time?

Please let me know if this sounds serious! I am very new to this and very worried.

Many thanks,
Louise.

**Bindi** · 16-07-2012, 07:25 PM

It could well be as simple as temperature problem, but a few details on how you are keeping them will help to see what could be wrong

What are your temperatures
a, under the basking light
b, at the cool end
c, the ambient room temperature
d, the overnight room temps

If the temps are too cool, the may well sit under the basking lamp all day, similarly the may well not get up at all. If they are too warm they may hide away from the lamp.

What lighting and heating are you using?
Is the table well lit?
What substrate are you using?

Are you bthing regularly in warm water ( I know you said they ahte it but it's imortant for them to be well hydrated)

What sort of foods are you feeding them on and how often?

I'm sure we'll be able to get to the bottom of this

LSpearman · 01-08-2012, 05:05 PM

I only have one thermometer in their enclosure and it says it's at around 27/28 degrees Celcius. I use the exo terra solar glo 125w for lighting and heating. Is this enough? Their overnight room (which one of them tends to be in ALL the time) doesn't have any heating or lighting in. Do you know how to attach pictures to this? If so, I'll try to send a picture of their enclosure.

I give them a layer of soil then a layer of wood chippings on top. They have tortoise pellets and I give them calcium sprinkles on it every few days. I try to give them fresh things every day (such as dandylions or other fruits/veg though I find it hard to know exactly which as every different website about tortoises lists different things as safe as unsafe. What some say are good for tortoises, others say are bad).

The smaller one is still sleeping all the time and I think I might take them to the vet soon, seeing as I'm not very experienced.

LSpearman · 01-08-2012, 05:39 PM

If it helps, I just weighed them....

The big one, the one i'm less worried about weighs 220g.

The little one weighs 150g.

They are about 18 months - 2 years old

**Bindi** · 03-08-2012, 09:17 PM

The first thing that really needs checking is the temperatures when torts are inactive. It's a good idea to get a digital thermometer for an accurate reading. They usually have a probe on a wire, so you can read the temps in two different places -

It sounds like your enclosure may be too cool. You really need it to be approx 32-34 degrees directly under the basking spot. As I said earlier, if a tort can't warm up enough then he won't be active or eat etc.

Here is a link on how to upload phots, you'll need a photobucket acount or similar to be able to do this

http://shelledwarriors.co.uk/forum/s...ad.php?t=29355

This is a link to a lovely little printable booklet with lots of edible weeds, produced by on of our members
http://issuu.com/StarSW/docs/edible_...owFlipBtn=true

It does take a while sometimes to tweak your enclosure and get it just right for your torts, just keep coming back with questions, there is always someone here to help

16-07-2012, 04:06 PM	#1
LSpearman Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 3	Baby tortoise always sleeping!! Hi there, hoping anyone can help me on a matter. I am quite a new tortoise owner, I have two young Mediterranean spur thighed tortoises (around 18 months - 2 years) which I bought off some people who couldn't keep them anymore due to moving abroad a couple of months ago. The last couple of days, I have noticed one of them has been sleeping, or trying to sleep, almost the whole time and I am quite worried about it. I gave them a bath a few days ago, and they both hate baths, and normally retreat to their little house for a day to sleep/sulk afterwards. But two days later they were both still in there and I was worried they weren't eating/getting their light/heat to took them out and put them under their light. One of them (the bigger one) is happy to stay out the house and rests under the light all day, but isn't moving much at all. But the other (quite a lot smaller) one stays down for a few minute then goes straight back up to the hut, away from the light to sleep again. Surely, not being in the light/heat isn't good for it. And should I be worried that they are both so lethargic/one of them seems to be sleeping the WHOLE time? Please let me know if this sounds serious! I am very new to this and very worried. Many thanks, Louise.

16-07-2012, 07:25 PM	#2
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	It could well be as simple as temperature problem, but a few details on how you are keeping them will help to see what could be wrong What are your temperatures a, under the basking light b, at the cool end c, the ambient room temperature d, the overnight room temps If the temps are too cool, the may well sit under the basking lamp all day, similarly the may well not get up at all. If they are too warm they may hide away from the lamp. What lighting and heating are you using? Is the table well lit? What substrate are you using? Are you bthing regularly in warm water ( I know you said they ahte it but it's imortant for them to be well hydrated) What sort of foods are you feeding them on and how often? I'm sure we'll be able to get to the bottom of this __________________

03-08-2012, 09:17 PM	#5
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	The first thing that really needs checking is the temperatures when torts are inactive. It's a good idea to get a digital thermometer for an accurate reading. They usually have a probe on a wire, so you can read the temps in two different places - It sounds like your enclosure may be too cool. You really need it to be approx 32-34 degrees directly under the basking spot. As I said earlier, if a tort can't warm up enough then he won't be active or eat etc. Here is a link on how to upload phots, you'll need a photobucket acount or similar to be able to do this http://shelledwarriors.co.uk/forum/s...ad.php?t=29355 This is a link to a lovely little printable booklet with lots of edible weeds, produced by on of our members http://issuu.com/StarSW/docs/edible_...owFlipBtn=true It does take a while sometimes to tweak your enclosure and get it just right for your torts, just keep coming back with questions, there is always someone here to help __________________

01-08-2012, 05:05 PM	#3
LSpearman Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 3	I only have one thermometer in their enclosure and it says it's at around 27/28 degrees Celcius. I use the exo terra solar glo 125w for lighting and heating. Is this enough? Their overnight room (which one of them tends to be in ALL the time) doesn't have any heating or lighting in. Do you know how to attach pictures to this? If so, I'll try to send a picture of their enclosure. I give them a layer of soil then a layer of wood chippings on top. They have tortoise pellets and I give them calcium sprinkles on it every few days. I try to give them fresh things every day (such as dandylions or other fruits/veg though I find it hard to know exactly which as every different website about tortoises lists different things as safe as unsafe. What some say are good for tortoises, others say are bad). The smaller one is still sleeping all the time and I think I might take them to the vet soon, seeing as I'm not very experienced.

01-08-2012, 05:39 PM	#4
LSpearman Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 3	If it helps, I just weighed them.... The big one, the one i'm less worried about weighs 220g. The little one weighs 150g. They are about 18 months - 2 years old

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