Can anyone please help me. my 5 year old tortoise is constantly turning over on his back. This is whether in the vivarium or loose in the house. He climbs on anything to turn over and then cant get back and I am scared I am going to miss him as I cant watch him 24 hours a day.

Hi,

It sounds like your tortoise is continuously trying to escape his environment and this is mainly down to the vivarium. Tortoises kept in this type of set up tend to overheat and therefore will climb the corners to try and escape, also they can see a way out through the glass so will keep trying. You need to get your tortoise in a "table top" set up, a bottom draw from an old chest of draws is a good example, this creates good airflow and will destress your tortoise. Have a good substrate of playpit sand/soil and some stones, small rocks in the corners and scattered about randomly to help your tortoise upright itself. Do you put your tortoise outside at all?

Please take time to browse through our site, you can find our care sheets by clicking on "The Tortoise" in the lefthand column.

Ali

Hi

that was helpful thank you. But do you mean a set up with a heat lamp or literally just the drawer? At what age does he need to hibernate and come out of the vivarium? Still concerned as he still turns over when out in a large kitchen and not restricted.

P

Hi,

Please remind me what species your tortoise is?  You need to take him out of the vivarium ASAP and you need a UV lamp. Letting a tortoise loose around the house is not an ideal environment for him. Please read our care sheets as this explains all you need to know regarding lighting, substrate and diet. Once you click on "care sheets" you will see a list of different species, if you are not sure what species you have then please send us a picture so we can help identify it. There is also a section on hibernation and the different methods, this is easy reading and will help you decide what is best.

Ali

Hi

it is a Hermanns tortoise hatched in 2006.  He is no problem in the winter stays in his vivarium and sometimes comes out for a walk round. but now in the summer is not happy in there. I had reduced the amount of time the 2 lamps were on as recommended by a pet shop but just wants to be out of vivarium. I have made a temporary hide in kitchen but not put lamp on it. He also not eating any food but wants to eat stones outside.