Need Help Urgently!!!?

Question

i brought a tortoise which is i guess 1 or 2 year+.But i m having defficulty knwoing them.sometime they sleep till 2+pm.and smtime they just hasitate to sleep.I give them food regulerly but i dnt knw whether they r really eating or not.They r still young and i m worried tht i might not kep them wel.i m also wory abt their habitate.i dnt knw whether they live in water or dry place or in submerge water.So pls help me i m in gr88 tension.need help...those who knws abt all this pls help me....i dnt want to loose them.they r really cute....
by they way i hv two,1 is male and the other is female.Both same age....
sm detail abt them...they hav greenish skin n the shell n its kinda soft but nt so much...they hc small litle tail....

Answer 1

They sound like aquatic turtles. Look up a picture of a red eared slider, that is probably what they are. They need water and will eventually need a much larger tank, possibly 100 gallons or more. The soft shell may be because they are young, or may be because they are not getting calcium supplements. Are you feeding them supplements? They also need a UV lamp and a heat lamp and a basking area to get out of the water and the water temperature should not be too cold. Sounds like you don't know much about your pets and maybe need to take them to a vet. They are probably sick and suffering and it is not fair to treat any animal that way. Next time, research before you get any animal.

By the way, that long answer up there by alex or whatever is ONLY if you have a lan tortoise, the care is much different if you have a water turtle! if yours is green, it is most likely a red eared slider and needs a tank full of water with a land area ASAP!

Answer 2

Where did you buy them from? A pet store? I sure hope so... anyway, I have a little bit of advice for you. If it is a pet store... go there and ask all about their care, feeding and habitat requirements. Pet store people know a lot about the care of the pets they sell. They will be able to point you in the right direction for all the help you need. I also would suggest for the future that you do research via the internet or books in the library about any pet you hope to have BEFORE you buy the pet. That way you will know if you will be able to give it the correct care. It is still not too late to use the internet to research the care of the tortoises. Use your favourite search engine and put in key words like Tortoise Pet Care or something like that. You should be able to get enough basic information to help you to understand your new buddies. I wish you and your new pets well. Hope you have a wonderful time with your new "babies".

Best wishes,

Lisa

Answer 3

First off, you need to know whether you have a turtle or a tortoise. Contact your local reptile association. They would be the best ones to answer your questions concerning care, feeding, and what type of environment to keep your pets in. You can also contact your local humane society/spca and they can help answer your questions as well.
Next time... BEFORE you get a new pet, do your research!! Find out what before you bring home your new pet about the care, diet, housing, sex, ect. Set up the cage BEFORE you buy your pet so it won't be sitting in a box while you are fussing with it's new home.

Answer 4

A tortoise is a land based reptile. You will need to provide it with some terrain. Go to the pet store in the reptile section, you will find reptile bedding. Are you keeping them in a tank or what. I keep mine in an extra large rubber maid container. In the summer months, they live on my front porch in a plastic baby pool. Also you will need to get a warming lamp otherwise they will get too cold and then will not want to eat. Remember that this time of year they will be hibernating. You will want to make sure to feed them plenty of fruit and veggies. Also be sure to provide them with at least two sources of water. They really mess it up!
There are some really good web sites that you can access for more info on care for tortoises.

A couple of good one that I have used are...
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/care.html
http://www.chelonia.org/care.htm
http://www.tortoisegroup.org/


Good Luck with your Tortoises.

Answer 5

Take a picture of the tortoise and post it in a forum that discusses tortoises and turtles. They will be able to tell you what kind they are and how to take care of them.Tortoises need special lighting and food to survive as well as decent size tank.

I have a russian tortoise. He is a land tortoise and he eats dark leafy greens. he requires UV lighting and a heat light and he is in a 55 gallon enclosure.

Answer 6

My recommendation is to read up on all information you can BEFORE purchasing a new pet, these are questions you ask prior to the purchase. There is a plethora of information on the living conditions for your pet, so get busy.

Answer 7

You should never ever ever buy a pet, especally an exotic pet like a tortoise without doing the proper research. I hope you know what you got yourself into as they live along time and require a lot of work. If you can't handle it, please give them to somebody who can.

Desert tortoises are known to live as long as 60-80 years, and probably may live even longer. Because growth varies with food availability and other conditions and tortoises grow faster in captivity it is impossible to determine the exact age of an adult tortoise.


HOUSING
In order to thrive, adult desert tortoises must be kept outdoors in a large area. They should be provided with shelter from the sun and cold, and a place to retire at night. They need plenty of room to exercise and browse. If possible, give them the run of your entire yard. Make sure that the yard is escape-proof and that pools are fenced off. Eliminate any poisonous plants, and do not use chemical pesticides or fertilizers in the area. It is cruel and inhumane to tether a tortoise by the legs or by holes drilled in the shell.


FEEDING

Healthy tortoises have enormous appetites! Growing grass, weeds, dandelions, alfalfa, nopales (Opuntia cactus), and rose and hibiscus flowers are excellent food sources. Supplement this diet with vegetables such as endive, escarole, broccoli, squashes such as zucchini, chopped carrots, mixed vegetables, small amounts of kale, romaine and other dark-green leafy vegetables. Sprinkling the food with ground-up rabbit or guinea pig pellets is a good way to add extra fiber to the diet. Tortoises have a high calcium requirement: occasionally sprinkle the food with calcium carbonate or offer a calcium-rich source such as boiled chicken eggshells or cuttlefish bone for them to eat. Occasionally sprinkle the food with a suitable vitamin preparation. Provide a shallow dish of water for drinking and soaking.

HEALTH
It is important that the keeper gets to know the normal behavior of his/her tortoise because behavioral changes are often the first sign of illness. Tortoises are susceptible to respiratory ailments, such as the Upper Respiratory Tract Disease that has decimated the wild population in California and Nevada. Warning signs are a runny or bubbly nose, loss of appetite, and gasping. Respiratory disease can often be cured if treatment is begun immediately. For swollen eyes, wounds or injuries contact a veterinarian immediately. Sick or wounded tortoises must be moved inside away from flies. Worms and other parasites are sometimes a problem in desert tortoises. Symptoms such as loss of weight, and lack of energy for no apparent reason are an indication.

HIBERNATION
Usually by late October as the days become cooler, the tortoise will eat less, bask less, and appear sluggish. A suitable hibernation place may have to be provided. Some tortoise owners use a dog house insulated with a thick layer of dry soil, leaves, or shredded newspaper. The entrance should be covered with a tarp to protect it from flood or rain.

Many keepers prefer to "store" their pets in the garage. The tortoise is placed in a stout cardboard box, that is deep enough that it cannot climb out, and is covered with insulating layers of newspaper. The box is placed up off the cement floor in an area free from drafts or rats. If the box is placed in your garage, remember not to run automobile engines because of the risk of poisoning from the fumes. A cool closet is also a safe place for hibernation.

Some tortoises will build a burrow, and in some areas may successfully hibernate themselves. However, before allowing this, consider the location of the burrow. If there is a significant risk of flooding from heavy rainfall do not allow your pet to hibernate there.

A hibernating tortoise should be checked periodically. A sleeping tortoise will usually respond if its foot is touched. If the tortoise should waken, encourage it to return to sleep. When the days begin to warm, around March or April, the tortoise will become active in its storage box. At this time, a warm bath should be given, and the tortoise will often take a long steady drink. Within a week or two it should resume its normal activity of eating, exercising and sunbathing.

It is important that a tortoise be plump and in good health before hibernating; otherwise, it may not survive the winter. By the end of the summer, a well fed tortoise will form fat reserves around its shoulders and legs.

DO NOT HIBERNATE A SICK OR INJURED TORTOISE!

If for some reason you do not wish your tortoise to hibernate, it must be brought indoors and kept at a warm temperature (75-85° F) for it to remain active. It will require room for exercising and regular feedings.

Answer 8

properly i think of you may think of of a recognition by using her character. is she speedy like a typhoon or flash ? or is she calm like a lily or according to risk black attractiveness simply by fact shes black or something like that. wish you have some success choosing a recognition on your horse. :)

Answer 9

If you give them turtle food from the pet store, then yes, they are eating.

Answer 10

well why dont you ask the person where you bought it from,he should know,or just look it up on the internet,that should help you out some