Baby tortoises?

Question

We have just bought two baby tortoises ( 10 months old) and are worried that they are not setling in very well. We were advised take two as they would be company for one another. We chose them from a group of 8 - 10 tortoises and they all seemed lively and were moving about and eating. However since we brought them home they seem very unintersted in one another and have hardly eaten. They havnt moved much and sit at opposite ends of the tray. We were advised to keep them indoors initially and we have a lamp shining on the tray daily. (only one of the tortoises sits near it) the other prefers to hide away under a box. Its almost as if they seem depressed. We have put them outdoors daily and yet they dont seem to be responding to their new environment. Is this normal?

spur thighed tortoise

Answer 1

It just takes a while for the torts to adjust to their new environment. Just make sure that you continue to follow you routine with them - feed them around the same time everyday, take them outside when you can, make sure they have fresh water and vitamins (powered ones that you can sprinkle on their food). You didn't specify which species of tortoise they are, but they should get a nice lukewarm soak at least once a week (if they are a tropical species, then more often than that).

They will begin to adjust to their new environment and you should see a change soon! Good luck - I have been through this with our four tortoises!

Answer 2

This sounds as if it could be an environmental problem and it is possible that your tortoises are too hot. I don't know what you mean by keeping them on a tray, but they should be in an open top type arrangement that they can't see out of (tortoises don't understand the concept of glass) and they need the air to circulate around them. The temperature under the lamp at floor level should be 85°F and they should be able to walk out from under the heat lamp to somewhere a little cooler. I don't know the species of tortoise you have bought but different species have different needs.

Answer 3

i've had a tortoise since i was 6 years old (in late 20's now), and from what i can remember, it really was just a matter of time before my tortoise got used to it's environment. tortoises are not huge eaters by the way - especially when they are unsettled or not warm enough.... try tempting them with different things.... my tortoise likes strawberries, cucumber, peas and even a bit of dog food ! (the ground-up meat type - not the ones with big lumps of meat). i don't think that tortoises are particularly sociable creatures, so don't worry that they're not that interested in each other.... i think they're pretty solitary creatures in the wild.... give them time to adapt.... they will have seemed more lively and sociable when u were choosing them as they were in the environment that they'd been used to since birth... give it another week - if they haven't made any attempt to feed, and they are still uninterested in their surroundings, then either call the person u bought them off, and ask for their advice, or take them to a vets.

Answer 4

Your adult tortoise's may get used to the little one In time but until then, as suggested before build a smaller pen in your yard so they can see each other but the larger one cannot get to the smaller one. As far as the injuries go, if you keep them clean and put triple anti-biotic ointment on it at least twice a day ( keep it on newspaper til it heals to keep the dirt out of its injuries, and be sure the paper stays clean of urine and poops, this could cause infection if the tortoise is allowed to get it in its cuts. They are very resilient creatures and with a little care it should survive no problem. If you can take it to the vet as soon as possible. If there is damage to the shell it could take years before it starts to look normal again, sorry.

Answer 5

I'm not sure where you are located, and I have no idea what breed of tortoise you purchased...the lamp should have ultaviolet rays for sun...also unless your are somewhere very hot this may not be the right time of year to have them outside...if they are dessert tortoise from the US then the cooler climate you exposed them to outside told them to hibernate...if they are Russian tortoises then them do prefer colder wheather...perhaps if you told me a little about what they look like I could answer you better...as for them being together thats fine and you should not expect them to play ball or hang out...they are not like cats, dogs or other animal that plays well together. Feel free to contact me and I will try to help you. It is imperative that you do the right thing or they will die. I am in California where are you?

Answer 6

It would be helpful to know the species.

Obviously, they are unhappy with their home, and I suspect that the diet is not good either. Of course, some species are just tough to begin with- and cheap tortoises are sometimes the hardest to care for.

The best site I can point you at for tortoises in general is http://www.tortoisetrust.com.uk

Answer 7

id say hold out a few days and if they dont start eating then ask the place you bought them from.

P.S try buying some background, you can get it at sheets in most pet shops, (or you can print some out or make it yourself) to make it look mroe like a natural envirnonment.

Answer 8

i agree with the last answer. i had a tortoise for 34 years and he loved bones, meat and dock leaves. (especially bones)

Answer 9

they might need to settle in and get used to it.....my nana used to have a tortoise and i used to love going to hers and playing with it when i was a kid, but it passed away a few years ago :(

Answer 10

Baby tortoises need more calcium, vitaminA, SUN( very important to them!! ...
.... without all these, it is imposible they were ok!!
Good luck !