Quick question on Russian torts

Why do they climb?


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BowserTurt

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I've heard that Russian torts can climb gates, edges, etc.? (I'm new to turtle owning)

Is climbing a natural thing? or are they just adventurous? is it a sign that they need a bigger enclosure?

( it doesn't have to be just Russians, just any turtle/tortoise in general :) )
 

TechnoCheese

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It can be a sign that they need a bigger enclosure, or they could just be trying to escape. A Russian tortoise requires a minimum of 4x8 feet. How large is you’re enclosure?
 

Yvonne G

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Tortoises are not domesticated. This means they are wild animals. They haven't gone through years and years of human intervention to make them into domesticated animals. So, in that vein, it is not in their nature to be contained within four walls - indoors or out. It is especially hard on a wild caught tortoise to be 'caged.'
 

RosemaryDW

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A497E9D0-538A-4944-9FF2-CF64AE13BE99.jpeg Here is my outdoor, wild caught Russian tortoise. She has a very large enclosure (our yard) but spends between 45 minutes and an hour most days checking for weakness in this padlocked, all holes filled, next to no light coming through, gate.

Yesterday she was at it so hard she flipped herself.

She also bounces off and over rocks all day. No need to, it’s just how she is built.

We found her as an escapee, which seems especially common for Russians?
 

Luke52

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View attachment 233909 Here is my outdoor, wild caught Russian tortoise. She has a very large enclosure (our yard) but spends between 45 minutes and an hour most days checking for weakness in this padlocked, all holes filled, next to no light coming through, gate.

Yesterday she was at it so hard she flipped herself.

She also bounces off and over rocks all day. No need to, it’s just how she is built.

We found her as an escapee, which seems especially common for Russians?
Don’t worry Russian tortoises are weird like that haha they are actually known to climb be careful what you put in your cage
 

Tom

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None of the above and all of the above.

The answer is: Because they can.
 

Luke52

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Agreed they can’t climb everything but when given the chance they will
 

ohio

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I have Hermann, Marginated, and Russians. Some captive breed and some WC. All climb at some point or another and all try to escape. They have large outdoor enclosures with plenty of room to roam but still find a corner and try to climb. I think it's normal, no matter how big your enclosure it can't be close to what they would travel in a daily basis in the wild.
 
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