I'm building an 8x8 enclosure outside, which I will make as interesting as possible.(I did not start yet so I can make it larger) I currently have 2 russian tortoises and just thought it would be cool to have a group of them rather than just the 2(by group I mean 1-2 more). I am not trying to jam as many as possible in the enclosure I myself just find it more interesting to see animals in groups. I can up the size if needed. all opinions would be great. thanks!

I would think an 8x8 would be ok for 3 russians maybe even 4, but you want to make it as big as you can so you can have lots of food for them as they will buldoze it all quickly. I personally plant various plants but then I also throw in a bunch of seeds for them. But if you can up the size I would.

I made an 8x8 for my two greeks wish I had made it bigger then I wouldn't be putting up several more now. Jens right Bigger is better.

Nice thing about bigger, is if you do get more you have room for them, especially if one becomes aggressive and you need to separate it. It's usually easier to create a small enclosure inside of a large one then starting totally from scratch.

I think we all end up wishing we had built our enclosures bigger. A pond never ends up being big enough. We seem to find more plants to try, more things for them to climb over or hide in/under to enrich their lives. Or we get more animals either thru purchases, friends, breedings, or rescues.

Okay, now how large would you guys suggest for 3-4 tortoises and is there a certain way I should introduce them? Do all of them have to be females or males or w.e it may be or does that not matter? I got my first to from petco = O and I don't want to go that route again so what are some better ways to get russians? ONE last question haha, how big of an indoor enclosure would you guys recommend for the winter?

thanks! sorry for all the questions!

James were are you located? Rescue groups, breeders or Craigslist often has Russians. I would quarenteen the new ones for a few months to make sure they are not sick. If you plan to breed get 3 females to 1 male. if you do not plan to breed get all females. Males will most likely fight if they are housed together.
Do you plan to hibernate?

I don't know much about hibernating, sounds interesting, but will ahve to look into it more. should I take them all out to the vet because a lot of sites seem to recommend that? I would be interested in breeding, but I'm not very familiar with it. I want to get my enclosures 100% finished(not saying I don't have an enclosure just want to make sure I have what I want without changing anything around) and feel comfortable with them before I start to think about breeding, in the mean time should I just have 3 females and get the male later or does it not matter if I get male now? (as you can see I know nothing about breeding!)

I'm in pittsburgh, pennsylvania

If you don't plan on breeding then I would get all females for now, as the males harass the females and/or you may end up with eggs. As far as an indoor enclosure I would make it as big as you can, my indoor enclosures are 5' long by 2' wide and I wouldn't put more then 2 to an enclosure and even that is pushing it to me when they are full size adults. I would make sure you at least take a fecal sample in to be checked for parasites, and all new ones should be seperated from your current ones for a few months (I go with 90 days). You don't want your new ones to pass something to the ones you already have or vise versa. If you choose to hibernate you need to make sure they are all healthy and have a good weight, and then find a cold room in your house to hibernate them, since you get snow. Also keep a close eye on them in the fall if you have them outside, because they will go under to hibernate without notice and once under they are hard to find (well at least mine are.)

James, ditto what Jen said. You already have two are they females?