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I have a CB approximately 6 month old Burmese Mountain Tort (brown). It is kept on moist Bed a Beast sustrate, temps varying from 85 at high end to 70 at lower end. Eats fine fruits and greens. Looks healthy but I am wondering about his activity. He will sit looking out from one of his two hides, head up, neck out, eyes open, and watch the world go by for hours! I have actually looked in on him hourly for 10 hours and he is happy as a clam to sit and watch. If I put him out on the floor he will wander around and then find somewhere that he can back into and do the same thing. Is this typical for a young emys? I have a hide on my desk and he is sitting here watching me type this letter. None of my other torts would stay put for that long. My leopards when they were this age and still are always wandering around the tank. My redfoots are a little like this but come out and walk around much more.

Tom

Hey Tom,

>>Looks healthy but I am wondering about his activity. He will sit looking out from one of his two hides, head up, neck out, eyes open, and watch the world go by for hours! I have actually looked in on him hourly for 10 hours and he is happy as a clam to sit and watch. If I put him out on the floor he will wander around and then find somewhere that he can back into and do the same thing. Is this typical for a young emys?

In my experience with this species (both subspecies actually around 10 years now), this is quite normal. I've actually had my one HUGE female M.e. phayrei sit in the EXACT same spot for more than a week just 'observing' the world if you will. I also have occasions where they will follow me everywhere just waiting for food... MAJOR beggers! As long as food and water uptake are 'normal', I'd have no worries. Actually, more than anything I've found these torts like to hide UNDER substrate. So, each Spring I rake up dozens of garbage cans worth of dead leaves and dump them into their enclosure. Usually, within a day they are all underneath this and just heads are looking up and out (see PIC). VERY interesting tortoises! I'd say yours is 'normal' and doing what they do. I'm sure other keepers likely have similar (and I'm sure different) experiences too.

Note: The female (Manouria emys phayrei) pictured weighs approximately 50 pounds and is completely 'hidden' under a couple feet of oak leaves. She will just expose her head to see what's going on out in the world...

Matt

What a brilliant picture! Made my day.

Nina

Thanks, Nina! That's the main reason why I keep torts... they 'make' my days. One of my favorite things is sitting in the backyard on a warm sunny day with my wife next to me, a pint of stout and large torts wandering amok. Makes life just that much better. High recommended for relaxation! ...unless my Sulcata are courting of course

Matt

>>What a brilliant picture! Made my day.
>>
>>Nina

Thanks for the reply and wonderful photo. I hung it up above his indoor enclosure. Give him something to look at.
Tom

Hey Tom,

>>Thanks for the reply and wonderful photo.

My pleasure!

>> I hung it up above his indoor enclosure. Give him something to look at.

LOL!!! Too funny... Hey, it will be that large someday too, so 'it' can see what the future holds.

All the best with the little one!

Matt

yup, this normal and healthy behavior for M. emys, especially for juveniles, which tend to more secretive than adults. I've seen these guys in the wild in Thailand too, and they can spend days sitting in almost the same spot there too.

I recommend giving your little tort some damp sphagnum moss to get under and stay well hydrated.