Setting up for a Russian Tortoise - Constructive comments welcome

[Ink]

I purchased this from Amazon and different lettuce seeds. Works great. I also purchased flower seeds.

 

[_The_Beast_]

I purchased this from Amazon and different lettuce seeds. Works great. I also purchased flower seeds.

I use one of these, different brand, and it's been sooooo great for growing and starting veggies and flowers.

 

[David Steere]

@Tom @SinLA @wellington @Alex and the Redfoot @Ink @Cathie G @Yvonne G @jaizei @Pippen's Pal @Kala @ecachuh @The_Four_Toed_Edward @TechnoCheese @_The_Beast_ @EppsDynasty @LanaJoy @Jillgp @Anastasia 22 @SocialD @ZEROPILOT

Please let know if you notice any concerns or questions concerning Sandy.

November 2024
Monthly Checking: Sandy gained 39 grams and 1 inch this month!
Weight: 285.5 grams
Length: 5 1/4 inches +/-

 

[wellington]

She's beautiful.
I would work on expanding her enclosure. A 4x8 foot for an adult.

 

[David Steere]

She's beautiful.
I would work on expanding her enclosure. A 4x8 foot for an adult.

I am ahead of you on that. This winter going to work on a 4'x4' addition wing.

So total:
4'x6 ( 24 sq ft ) and 4'x4' ( 16 sq ft ) = 40 square feet total

Each day Sandy walks around the total enclosure now exploring.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

@Tom @SinLA @wellington @Alex and the Redfoot @Ink @Cathie G @Yvonne G @jaizei @Pippen's Pal @Kala @ecachuh @The_Four_Toed_Edward @TechnoCheese @_The_Beast_ @EppsDynasty @LanaJoy @Jillgp @Anastasia 22 @SocialD @ZEROPILOT

Please let know if you notice any concerns or questions concerning Sandy.

November 2024
Monthly Checking: Sandy gained 39 grams and 1 inch this month!
Weight: 285.5 grams
Length: 5 1/4 inches +/-

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One thing - basking lamp dome clearly "shadows" the UVB lamp. It's not critical but would be much better to adjust basking lamp dome height and UVB lamp position a little (make a little spacing from basking lamp and optionally tilt basking lamp dome at 5-10 degrees).

Also, if 5.25 inches is the carapace length (not including neck and limbs), I feel she should weight more than 284 grams.

 

[David Steere]

One thing - basking lamp dome clearly "shadows" the UVB lamp. It's not critical but would be much better to adjust basking lamp dome height and UVB lamp position a little (make a little spacing from basking lamp and optionally tilt basking lamp dome at 5-10 degrees).

Also, if 5.25 inches is the carapace length (not including neck and limbs), I feel she should weight more than 284 grams.

You bring up a something that continues to bother me since I got Sandy.

Each day I place a shells worth of food and I end up throwing half of it away each night. I have always worried that Sandy is not eating enough. Sandy does hit the food 4 or five times a day on its own and I pick Sandy up and place Sandy by the food a couple times a day. Sandy does eat but the lack of an empty dish does bother me to no end.

But I figure if Sandy walks the entire enclosure during the day, poops, pees and releases paste like urate each daily soak and gains weight each month it must be good?

As for the UVB light I do check and the measurement measures 3.5 across the entire light. I have had to lower it during this time. I assume it the light giving out. Will try to come up with something since I agree with your assessment.

 

[wellington]

One thing - basking lamp dome clearly "shadows" the UVB lamp. It's not critical but would be much better to adjust basking lamp dome height and UVB lamp position a little (make a little spacing from basking lamp and optionally tilt basking lamp dome at 5-10 degrees).

Also, if 5.25 inches is the carapace length (not including neck and limbs), I feel she should weight more than 284 grams.

Basking should be straight down, not on a tilt. All lights should hang straight.

 

[wellington]

You bring up a something that continues to bother me since I got Sandy.

Each day I place a shells worth of food and I end up throwing half of it away each night. I have always worried that Sandy is not eating enough. Sandy does hit the food 4 or five times a day on its own and I pick Sandy up and place Sandy by the food a couple times a day. Sandy does eat but the lack of an empty dish does bother me to no end.

But I figure if Sandy walks the entire enclosure during the day, poops, pees and releases paste like urate each daily soak and gains weight each month it must be good?

As for the UVB light I do check and the measurement measures 3.5 across the entire light. I have had to lower it during this time. I assume it the light giving out. Will try to come up with something since I agree with your assessment.

My Russian barely empties his plate. As long as you are feeding enough and the right foods, she is gaining, and acting normal, then don't worry about it. She just may be a slower grower. They all grow at their own pace.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Basking should be straight down, not on a tilt. All lights should hang straight.

I think a small angle is acceptable (5-10 degrees, not 45). By the way, what's the reasoning behind this recommendation? For mercury vapour bulb strict top-down installation is required by design of these lamps but for CHE or incandescent lamps it's not applicable.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

You bring up a something that continues to bother me since I got Sandy.

Each day I place a shells worth of food and I end up throwing half of it away each night. I have always worried that Sandy is not eating enough. Sandy does hit the food 4 or five times a day on its own and I pick Sandy up and place Sandy by the food a couple times a day. Sandy does eat but the lack of an empty dish does bother me to no end.

But I figure if Sandy walks the entire enclosure during the day, poops, pees and releases paste like urate each daily soak and gains weight each month it must be good?

As for the UVB light I do check and the measurement measures 3.5 across the entire light. I have had to lower it during this time. I assume it the light giving out. Will try to come up with something since I agree with your assessment.

I would be less worried about her eating little (as she grows and gains weight). More about size/weight ratio (not Jackson ratio but in general). My redfoot at 6 inches was around 600 grams and for sure there are differences in carapace shape but not that significant. Since I don't keep Russian tortoises I can't tell if it's okay or not, it has just catched my eye. If Tom or wellington see no issues - just ignore my comment

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Each day I place a shells worth of food and I end up throwing half of it away each night. I have always worried that Sandy is not eating enough. Sandy does hit the food 4 or five times a day on its own and I pick Sandy up and place Sandy by the food a couple times a day. Sandy does eat but the lack of an empty dish does bother me to no end.

My adult russian tortoise usually doesn't empty his food dish by eating. If it is empty, it is beacause he has tracked the food out of the dish, and onto the substrate. So I wouldn't worry about emptying the dish either.

I have a small male, full grown at 4.7 inches and 480-500 (hydrated weight) grams. He seems to be on the heavier side, but I have been told he is fine.

 

[wellington]

I think a small angle is acceptable (5-10 degrees, not 45). By the way, what's the reasoning behind this recommendation? For mercury vapour bulb strict top-down installation is required by design of these lamps but for CHE or incandescent lamps it's not applicable.

Che doesn't matter except they aren't going to heat as well and possibly not last as long. Bulbs are meant to point straight up or straight down. When tortoise eyes are involved, I wouldn't angle them. A flood bulb used as a flood bulb in ones yard, isn't pointing in anyone's face.
The coil bulbs are meant to hang left to right, but most everyone hangs them up and down and although I wouldn't recommend them, that's the biggest problem with them now, is improper hanging.
Yes, mercury and halogens are more dangerous on an angle, but I wouldn't take a chance with a flood for almost the same reasons.

 

[Tom]

Thanks Tom!

I currently use "Mazuri" and "ZooMed" every day mixed in with the greens. Will check out the others you mentioned.

I would not use Mazuri more than twice a week personally. Less important with the ZooMed pellets, but I don't like to feed anything every day.

I think you are doing a great job and the steady weight gain supports this.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Che doesn't matter except they aren't going to heat as well and possibly not last as long. Bulbs are meant to point straight up or straight down. When tortoise eyes are involved, I wouldn't angle them. A flood bulb used as a flood bulb in ones yard, isn't pointing in anyone's face.
The coil bulbs are meant to hang left to right, but most everyone hangs them up and down and although I wouldn't recommend them, that's the biggest problem with them now, is improper hanging.
Yes, mercury and halogens are more dangerous on an angle, but I wouldn't take a chance with a flood for almost the same reasons.

I agree that lamps should not be pointed in the eyes. With proper height small angles should not be a problem, though. Most yard, construction site, scene or stadium floodlights, I've seen, are mounted with an angle but at sufficient height. Arcadia ThermalZooPro hood also has very subtle tilt of left and right lamp slots (for T5 or Jungle Dawn LED bars).

In the end of that blog post there is a short animation illustrating what I'm talking about:

What is “UV Shadow” and how do I avoid it? | Tomaskas

tomaskas.co.uk

 

[wellington]

I agree that lamps should not be pointed in the eyes. With proper height small angles should not be a problem, though. Most yard, construction site, scene or stadium floodlights, I've seen, are mounted with an angle but at sufficient height. Arcadia ThermalZooPro hood also has very subtle tilt of left and right lamp slots (for T5 or Jungle Dawn LED bars).

In the end of that blog post there is a short animation illustrating what I'm talking about:

What is “UV Shadow” and how do I avoid it? | Tomaskas

tomaskas.co.uk

Yes, as I said, using as an actual flood outside it doesn't matter, they are not anywhere close to the height we hang for our tortoises
If you want to risk or actually risk your tortoise, go ahead. I wouldn't and I wouldn't recommend for someone else to either.
They wouldn't be as bad as a halogen or mercury hanging on an angle, but I still wouldn't do it.
Simple 100% safe solution is to just move it over if it's actually blocking any uvb.
I should have also said, I have no idea if it would be harmful or not. There is no proof that I can find either way. I just wouldn't do it.

 

[Anastasia 22]

Sandy is beautiful!
My Russuin tortoise was severely underweight when I got her. First month she ate like she never had food in her life (poor thing). She gained weight, she is much bigger than she was, and now she doesn't eat like she used to. She's getting lazy and I have to make her walk.
I noticed that my boy (Russian as well) eats when he's bored, upset or angry, and he always has a snack before he goes to bed.
I believe, all tortoises are different and have different eating habits

 

[David Steere]

Shaking my head today.

I check every hour. Sandy on her own went to the food dish no less than six times today. Over half the food is gone. She is very active. Every time I checked she was in a different area off the enclosure.

Wonder if Sandy has a secret member of this forum? LOL

 

[_The_Beast_]

Shaking my head today.

I check every hour. Sandy on her own went to the food dish no less than six times today. Over half the food is gone. She is very active. Every time I checked she was in a different area off the enclosure.

Wonder if Sandy has a secret member of this forum? LOL

Sandy is doing so great and has such a wonderful home She may indeed also have an account on this forum

 

[David Steere]

@Tom @SinLA @wellington @Alex and the Redfoot @Ink @Cathie G @Yvonne G @jaizei @Pippen's Pal @Kala @ecachuh @The_Four_Toed_Edward @TechnoCheese @_The_Beast_ @EppsDynasty @LanaJoy @Jillgp @Anastasia 22 @SocialD @ZEROPILOT

Got a question.

Sandy Born: September 1, 2023
Basking: 6am-8pm - temp: 90 - 100 degrees
Heat: - Set at 77 degrees / timer: 6am to 8pm.

This is my first winter with Sandy. Want to keep Sandy up 365 days a year.

Noticed night time room temperature is around 67 degrees. Enclosure is enclosed so I assume the space stays warmer longer. When I soak Sandy at 6:15 temperature is around 74 degrees.

Question: Should I be concerned?

I could keep the heat on 24/7 or longer.

I know Russians can take cooler temperatures but do not want Sandy to get sick due to the drop in temps. Once Sandy is being soaked Sandy starts to move around. Sandy poops, urates and I assume pees fine each morning. Sandy hits the food dish 4 to 6 times a day also. Sandy is also active during the day.

Video of Sandy right after soak.