Recent content by unlikelyrussian

  1. U

    sad tortoise update--he is doing better!

    Hi, I joined in November 2021 after taking on a sad Russian tortoise that seems to have been neglected for a lot of his previous ten years. He is doing much better! An exotics vet treated him for parasites and we gave him antibiotics because his white blood cells were elevated. He is now in a...
  2. U

    Adding non-native species to the ESA hampers preservation of the species

    Hi there, This is under "debatable topics" but there doesn't seem to be much debate.... As someone who took on a tortoise by accident and is not involved in breeding tortoises, I am inclined to support adding non-native species to the ESA to add additional regulation to their trade. Here are my...
  3. U

    still rehabilitating sad tortoise, what else to do?

    Hi, I adopted a Russian tortoise earlier this month that had clearly been neglected for some time and was living mostly on sand in a 50 gallon tub. Since then: Sand was replaced with deep orchid bark and I gave him an upside down plastic tub with an entrance to be a hide. He has visited an...
  4. U

    antibiotic course for elevated WBC in a Russian tortoise?

    I recently adopted a Russian tortoise that I think had been largely neglected by a previous owner. I took it to an exotics vet to check it out. The vet says the tort is in relatively good shape and shell, etc is looking OK. They trimmed its beak. After bloodwork, however, the vet is saying its...
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    Taking on sad, previously-owned Russian tortoise

    Thank you all very much for this encouragement. He was given to me in a 18 inch by 32 inch plastic tub, like a 50 gallon storage container, where he has lived for years. Half of its floor was covered with sand. I immediately ditched the sand and threw in the rest of the substrate that was...
  6. U

    Taking on sad, previously-owned Russian tortoise

    Hello all, I am new here. I have just taken on a Russian tortoise that was owned for over a decade by someone I know. It's clear to me after reading 15 minutes on this forum that the tortoise has been inadequately cared for. His housing is far too small and has no hide-away. There's no UVB...
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