Tortoise behaving oddly

by Denise
(Cyprus)

I live in Cyprus and my spur thighed tortoise (he's about 6, we have only had him 6 months) has stopped eating and is acting very oddly. He has the run of the whole garden (walled) and lots of cool shady spots, access to fresh water and different terrains. He is constantly moving round the walls as though trying to escape and seems very unhappy. It is very hot here at the moment, we have loosened some soil incase he wants to dig in, also built a nesting box full of straw which he now sleeps in (he also has a man made cave). It is very distressing to see him constantly searching for something and we dont know what... please can you help?

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Aug 27, 2010
 Thank you Susan
by: Denise

The care sheet was quite helpful but is mainly for tortoises kept indoors, thanks anyway
Aug 27, 2010
 Thanks for that..
by: Anonymous

I really appreciate your comments, the thing is he has been fine up till now, we have had him for 6 months and he was completely settled and had a good appetite and a regular routine. Its just in the past 2 weeks he has started this frantic searching and more or less stopped eating, although I have seen him drink. I wonder if he is trying to summer hibernate? It is so sad, he was such a happy chap and would come when I called him and was really greedy for for food, I have given him shallow baths incase he is constipated and I dont think he is.. they are such strange little things and I hate to think hes unhappy, we rescued him from a box of half dead ones in a market and he has been bright eyed and healthy ever since...
Aug 27, 2010
 Tortoise
by: Anonymous

Hi, I have many different types of Tortoises, and what your describing is something all of my Tortoises have done at one time or another. My Tortoises after they first came home with me would wander back in forth because they were not familur with their new home. Also if they could see over their enclosure they always wanted to climb out to the other side. I have made sure that mine have lots of places to hide and also places to keep cool. We have been having a heat wave as well, and i have more then one place for them to climb into shallow water to drink or cool off as well. Good luck! once mine got used to me and their new enclosure they calmed down and made a new home for themselves. P.S. be sure they are protected from other animals as well.
Aug 26, 2010
 Tortoise behaving oddly
by: Susan

hi, not that familiar with this breed, but I did find a really good care sheet that I think will help. I am getting more knowledge the more I read, and I have personally a Map Turtle.... Ok, I hope this helps:

http://www.petco.com/caresheets/turtles/Tortoise_AfricanSpurThighed.pdf

(no spaces between Turtles/Tortoise)

I liked this, and makes good sense to me...

Good luck! sincerely, Susan....

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