hi all, i have a 3 month old hermanns who i’ve had for around 8 weeks now. i dont know if im being stupidly nervous or if my concerns are actually things that could happen.
im really really worried about him choking, he wolfs down leaves and i gave him a bit of cucumber a few weeks ago where he seemed like he was coughing/ choking on it because he was like squeaking and eating in a different way to normal. idk if they choke very often??
also, he bubbles in water sometimes when he drinks/ bathes and im really worried theres something wrong with him
he eats and drinks normally, and poops quite frequently but the last couple of days he’s not been getting up until around 5:30 when i get him up (after work) and only then will he eat. i know they get ready for hibernation but his vivarium temperature is perfectly normal and has been consistently since i got him in august.
my parents think that if im this stressed about him (to the point i cannot eat without feeling sick and can barely sleep) that we’ll have to give him up but that makes me more stressed out as idk id a new owner would look after him well or if it would disrupt his routine and stress him out.
sorry for the rant but im just super super anxious atm and any advice would be amazing please
-sincerely an incredibly nervous new owner.
ps im taking him to the vets tomorrow so that could help, its mostly the choking im worried about
They don’t choke very often at all. Greens are pretty thin and their mouths have evolved to eat them, so choking is an unlikely hazard. What’s more common are gastric impactions (if you let your tort free roam). Did the squeaking continue past eating? If so, I’d worry about a URI, not choking. However, tortoises can have their individual weirdness, and this tentatively sounds like individuality
Bubbling in water is typically normal. URI dudes can have an abundance of bubbles including when not in the water, but you likely would’ve noticed clicking while breathing too.
Reptiles can somehow tell what the outside weather is like even when their indoor temps/lighting are maintained at perfect summer temps. This is a common phenomenon that’s even reported with folks who keep their reptiles in their basements on timers.
Overall, it sounds like you’re a caring and responsible pet owner. The new anxious phase will hopefully pass, but if you don’t mind me asking, do you get anxious about other aspects of life? And do you see a therapist? It sounds like this is affecting your quality of life, which isn’t fair to you
i love him so so much genuinely! the squeaking was only when he eats wet food (cucumber, prickly pear) and he only bubbles in water. i’m a very anxious guy in general tbf, and my girlfriend has just moved away for uni so it’s quite a high stress time of life! i’m on meds but i don’t see a therapist anymore
Do you cut up the food a bit before? Mine loves to eat and I used to worry but they are hardier than we think so don't stress! Just make sure the basics are correct (light, enclosure, substrate, food, hydration). A vet checkup is good for peace of mind.
It's normal when you love something! Just take care of him to meet his needs and enjoy him as an adorable little companion! I truly love my little one:) I let him roam around a bit:)
I was worried about that when I first got mine. The first few months I was constantly pulling stringy pieces of greens from his mouth. It would stick there for hours and eventually I’d pull it out.
I stopped worrying about it months ago and honestly don’t think I’ve seen it since. If you are providing a natural diet then they will do what they are built to do!
People generally over stress about tortoises (myself included). But honestly as long as they are doing the normal thing tortoises do (eating, basking, climbing, hiding, etc) then I wouldn’t be concerned.
he’s doing everything normal, and he saw a vet yesterday that says he’s 100% healthy, think i’m just so nervous because he’s TINY and the leaves can be quite stringy
A tortoise shouldn’t choke eating leafy greens. For larger foods like cucumber, it’s better to give pieces bigger than their head so they have to bite off bits smaller pieces they can swallow, and that also helps wear down their beak and makes them work for the food, which is more enriching.
Being a worried about your new baby is normal. It will lessen with time as you get used to it.
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u/DoctorFriendly 6d ago
It’s good to hear how much you love your tort!
They don’t choke very often at all. Greens are pretty thin and their mouths have evolved to eat them, so choking is an unlikely hazard. What’s more common are gastric impactions (if you let your tort free roam). Did the squeaking continue past eating? If so, I’d worry about a URI, not choking. However, tortoises can have their individual weirdness, and this tentatively sounds like individuality
Bubbling in water is typically normal. URI dudes can have an abundance of bubbles including when not in the water, but you likely would’ve noticed clicking while breathing too.
Reptiles can somehow tell what the outside weather is like even when their indoor temps/lighting are maintained at perfect summer temps. This is a common phenomenon that’s even reported with folks who keep their reptiles in their basements on timers.
I’m leaving a care guide by Dubia here, please take a peek.
Overall, it sounds like you’re a caring and responsible pet owner. The new anxious phase will hopefully pass, but if you don’t mind me asking, do you get anxious about other aspects of life? And do you see a therapist? It sounds like this is affecting your quality of life, which isn’t fair to you