Please help put my mind at rest.

I have a 9 year old Horsefield tortoise who lives in the garden in the summer and in the house in the winter. For Christmas I was bought 2 baby horsefield tortoise who are around 2 and a half years old. I put the babies in the garden when warm and return to their open top box in the afternoon. On Saturday they were both outside exploring having a good time, I saw them both at 3pm but at 3.30pm when I went to get them in I could only find one????? The whole family have searched and I have taken days off work to search and check and double check the garden. My garden is completely enclosed with no available escape route but search as we have we are not able to find her. I do have an old garden shed, which is where she was close too when I last saw her so not sure if she's gone underneath? I would like to know if she will survive outside if she has gone under the shed or could she have buried herself? If this is possible when will she be likely to show herself again? I'm very worried and filled with guilt and don't know what to do for the best, any advice given will be much appreciated.

Many thanks, kind regards.

Hello, sorry to hear what's happened. First the remaining small one - a 3x2ft wooden sided pen 6 ins high will be ok for this year. Nail chicken wire on the bottom, - yes Horsfields burrow. Some wire is needed over the top, removable. As your garden is completely enclosed, the other one should turn up. If it has 'dug in', it will appear, midday is a good time to look. Below the soil the cold nights are no problem. Mind where you walk!! & good luck.
Regards
Tom

Hello Tom,

Sorry to bother you.

Just wondering how long my tortoise can survive if it has buried its self?
When she does show her self what should I do? I usually put my older tortoise in a nice warm bath.
It's been a whole week now with no sign of the baby tortoise :-( :-(. I'm so worried.

Regards
Jayne

Hello, glad you've replied. If it is buried, don't worry it will surface on a warm day. At 2 1/2 it's way past the baby stage. If It's in shade all day it will take longer. The soil temp. is low so it wo'nt use any food stores.
Sure it can't have got out of the garden? or been stolen?
Let us know,
Best wishes
Tom

Hello Tom,

Thank you so much for your reply.

The tortoise is not able to get out, (Idont think anyway?) My garden is totally enclosed with 6 feet fence with gravel boards and posts. Is it possible for her to dig down and travel along under ground? only asking as if this is possible, then its possible that she has left the garden under the gravel boards.

She will not have been stollen as I was at home and saw her around 3pm but she was not where she had been around 40 minutes later, she was near to the old garden shed and this is where I believe she could be buried or simply hiding right at the back.

My older tortoise spends every night under the shed and then appears in the morning but the little one is yet to appear?

Interesting my other baby tortoise was in the garden with me on Sarurday (under my supervission) and when i was busy weeding she did a disapearing act! only to be found making her way under the shed? the little tinker!!.

My biggest fear is that she will not survive buried while so young and with no food?

Thank you so much for your reply's they're very helpful.

Kind regards

Jayne:-)

Hello Jayne, Horsfields like to burrow, it's natural behaviour. Try & do a bit of reading up on them. Try to leave an area in the middle of the garden & encourage burrowing. You need to be vigilant by the fences. Hope it's still in the garden - speak to neighbours. They need a house with some soft straw in it, for at night, etc, like a rabbit hutch, but with the front boarded, leaving a 30cm opening in the middle. Preferably with a polycarbonate roof. Hope it turns up, let us know.
Best wishes
Tom

Good afternoon Tom,

Just to update you..... Still no sign of the tortoise? I have spoken to my neighbours who say that they have not seen it but will keep a look out for him.

I go home every day at lunch time but have not had any sightenings? My older tortoise has been spending more time under the shed while the weather has been so hot later afternoon so wonder if the little one is keeping cool?

I have done some reading up as you suggested and have learned a wealth of information, thank you. I did think that I was doing my best? sadly I do not think that I have!.

A lesson learned!!! Your advice has been so helpful.and gratefully received.

Many thanks

Kind regards

Jayne Pearson

That's ok Jayne that's what the site is for. Yes torts must have shade as well as sun. A house provides this as well as shelter.
The problem is that all your torts have come from the pet trade, their interest is purely £££s. Nil advice or wrong.

Regards
Tom
Keep watching where you walk it could still turn up.

Hi Tom,

Just to say hello and to let you know that I have now found my missing tortoise, Morris.

I'm so very happy. :-) :-)

I could no longer stand not knowing what had happened so we took my old shed apart and pulled up the floor, he had burried a good 5 inches deep in the soil and was quite happy covered in mud!!!

Thank you so very much for all your advice.

Many thanks

Kind regards

Jayne

Hello, I have lost my horse field tortoise and he is a 5 year old male. I kept him in the garden for about 5 days and came to look at him and he had gone :( I fed him the day before and it was really sunny so he was active but no sign of him anywhere. If he has escaped from his pen then there are holes in the fence to neighbours and then onto a main road. He has been missing for 9 days and worried about his food or if he's dug under something or climbed somewhere. Really worried about my baby!