Traveling

[RassyRocks]

We are going to be doing quite about of traveling in the next few weeks, and I wonder how best to do it with Rassy.  For thanksgiving break he will have two 5.5 hour drives within a week.  Then two weeks later he'll drive 4 hours to New York, and a week after that he will drive another 4 hours to CT, and then two weeks he drives back to PA for 5.5 hours.  So how is the best way to move him about?    Should we just put his tupperware in the back seat and keep him in it?  Should we put him in a bow so he goes to sleep and isn't confused as to why there isn;t any light?  Should his feeding schedule change at all?  Anything else that you can think of?

[AW1971]

I took mine on holiday 7 1/2 hour drive each way. They were alright but it did effect their eating, they knew they were somewhere different even though they never left their enclosures (Hubbys got a lvery large van). I wouldnt recommend it if you can help it as thats alot of upset for a tort. I travelled evening when they were asleep but i think it stressed me out more than anything. 

[baxter]

I noticed mine did better staying in the tub and traveling at night, but it was only a 1 1/2 hour drive each way. I also tried a small box with towels and covered him, but it was daylight and he was not happy about being someplace else. But I don't know if it was the drive or the new place or both. Your little Rassy probably won't be too happy, so expect him not to eat as much. I don't think feeding him while traveling in the car would be a good idea, but that's just my guess.

[RassyRocks]

ok, thanks.  We can't very well leave him at school for 6 days, and in over the christmas holiday he is starting at my boyfriends and then when I go to visit I'm taking him home because my boy will be gone for 10 days.  Maybe I can convince my mom to take him beginning christmas so he travels a bit less, but the three weeks between thanksgiving and semester break is too long to ask my mother for.  Grrrr.  I suppose we could feed him earlier in the day, as we won't leave til around 3:30 or so.

a bit off topic, I think he is too smart for his own good.  I have him crawling around my floor and he stopped by my chair and looked at me.  I told him that we get to go for a car ride soon and he started walking away.  He didn't like the car ride to the vet, and that was all of five minutes.  He was fine when on my shoulder, so maybe we could just put him on my boyfriends lap....

[baxter]

He didn't like the car ride to the vet, and that was all of five minutes.  He was fine when on my shoulder, so maybe we could just put him on my boyfriends lap....

lol, well I don't think long distance would be a good idea for him to be on anyone's lap or shoulder (very stressful for them and they don't understand it). What I read (and my experience) is to put them in a dark confined place and let them sleep.

I would definately feed him before you leave on any of the trips.

I don't doubt that he's too smart for his own good, these torts amaze me with how smart and clever they are!

Let us know how your travels go with Rassy, and be sure to have some really fun time off from school. BTW, what school do you go to and when do you graduate?

[RassyRocks]

I am a junior history and psychology double major at Lycoming College in Williamsport PA (not an invitation to stalk me, but hey, if I told you either the town or college you could find me).  I graduate May 2008 hoping all goes well.  After that, a cardboard box while I spend another 4 years getting my doctorate. 

[baxter]

Well, sounds like you're in for the long haul (he he), that's great tho. Don't worry, I'm at the other end of the continent with no plans of heading off to PA that I know of. Have a good and safe trip.

[AW1971]

I agree with Baxter 100% dont put him on your knee travelling. I thought i was being kind to my first tort on her first vets visit and held her, she freaked. Wee`d, poo`d everywhere hid in her she`ll. the poor thing.
Get rassy up really extra early, bathe her, feed her lots so shell want to sleep then turn off your lights a good hour before you leave and she`ll dig down to sleep. Just leave her werever she`s settled. Then carefully put a towel or something breathable over her enclosure so shes in the dark and then she will be ready for travelling. She wont know too much about it if you do it this way and her stress will be lower. Dont be too concerned if she does go off her food for a while she`ll be ok. Remember theyre not dogs theyre wild animals, so a hug and kisses will probably upset them more, being in their own environment will make them feel safe.
Enough of my waffle, enjoy your hols have a lovely chillin time. Take care,xx

[RassyRocks]

Yeah, it will be an interesting next two semesters...

Turbo, that sounds like a good idea.  We normally turn rassy's light on after our frist class(namely because we are too tired to turn it on...) but it won't be hard to change that around.  Should we feed him a lot more then the 20minutes worth?  Do more the hour that way if he doesn't eat the day after we will be fine?

[AW1971]

Rassy may eat ok, its pot luck. Mine didnt eat at all very well, they knew they werent in the same place. Tefa my older tort lost 2grams in two weeks, she didnt eat a single thing. So yea feed hrassy lots just to be on the safe side, don`t panic if she does go off her food just keep her hydrated while youre away. She will be ok and can go along time without food so dont worry. On the other hand she may eat and be ok, so just play it by ear. If before you turn off her lights you give her lots to eat she`ll go straight to sleep. A tort with a full tum will tend to go to sleep, 

[jill_lovato]

I took mine on vacation once, and we're thinking about doing it again over thanksgiving.

It was a 5 hour drive each way. We just took him in the rubbermaid and he basically slept the whole time. He was a bit razzled at the hotel, and didn't eat much, but was pretty normal otherwise. On the drive home I had him in my lap for a good 3 hours and he came as close to cuddling as I think a tortoise ever can! He just burrowed into the blanket on my lap and rested his little head to the side and went to sleep. At a rest stop I had to wake him up and put him back in his container, but when we got back into the car he was restless until I picked him up and put him back in my lap! It was the cutest thing!

[AW1971]

AAhhh little angel,
wished i lived in the usa everyones so nice, i`d be foster tort mum and you could all bring them to me while you go on holiday, i`d love that, i`m sad now, 

[baxter]

How sweet Jill, well like they say, you never know what a tort will like, as each one's so different.

Turbo, you're welcome to come over and babysit my torts while I'm on holiday...that would be awesome, then I wouldn't worry about them!

[AW1971]

Thanks Baxter and the same goes here for you, hopefully one day we can meet up. 

[baxter]

Yes, that would be really really cool.