Humidity requirements- Russian Tortoise

Tortoise Mommy

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What does the humidity level for indoor enclosure need to be? Ive read to many conflicting threads!
We have a girl Russian Tortoise, seller told us she is approximately 5 years old.
 

Minority2

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Personal opinion here.

I believe indoor housed adult Russian/Mediterranean tortoises should be kept in relatively high humidity (50-70%, higher being better) because an indoor enclosure's conditions are easier to manipulate than an outdoor enclosure.

If high humidity is already proven to be good for them as hatchlings, why stop as an adult? Just because a adult tortoise can handle harsher conditions doesn't necessarily mean they enjoy or want it. I also believe humidity has more beneficial factors than merely to prevent pyramiding. I believe adult tortoises can still benefit from being housed in humid environments.

Adult tortoises in the wild majorly retreat from blazing hot weather, they stay in shade and or burrows, they void their bowels to increase the humidity of these areas to cater to their needs. Most indoor enclosures do not have the space nor depth to recreate these conditions correctly.

In outdoor enclosures where conditions are easily not adjustable, a tortoise owner should make ever effort in keeping their tortoises well hydrated at all times.

Multiple access points to water and mud puddles should be a requirement.

Adult tortoises should also be regularly sprayed and or soaked when outside. Bladder stones and other hydration health issues are quite common in adult tortoises, captive bred and wild.
 

Cathie G

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Personal opinion here.

I believe indoor housed adult Russian/Mediterranean tortoises should be kept in relatively high humidity (50-70%, higher being better) because an indoor enclosure's conditions are easier to manipulate than an outdoor enclosure.

If high humidity is already proven to be good for them as hatchlings, why stop as an adult? Just because a adult tortoise can handle harsher conditions doesn't necessarily mean they enjoy or want it. I also believe humidity has more beneficial factors than merely to prevent pyramiding. I believe adult tortoises can still benefit from being housed in humid environments.

Adult tortoises in the wild majorly retreat from blazing hot weather, they stay in shade and or burrows, they void their bowels to increase the humidity of these areas to cater to their needs. Most indoor enclosures do not have the space nor depth to recreate these conditions correctly.

In outdoor enclosures where conditions are easily not adjustable, a tortoise owner should make ever effort in keeping their tortoises well hydrated at all times.

Multiple access points to water and mud puddles should be a requirement.

Adult tortoises should also be regularly sprayed and or soaked when outside. Bladder stones and other hydration health issues are quite common in adult tortoises, captive bred and wild.
I really agree with you but I have a Russian. He avoids rain like it's a plague..so it's a thing of keeping him hydrated and yet dry and happy. He does drink water so I don't feel so bad about my care of him. I make him stay out when it rains so I'm not the bad guy. He doesn't mind a good soak.
 

Minority2

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I really agree with you but I have a Russian. He avoids rain like it's a plague..so it's a thing of keeping him hydrated and yet dry and happy. He does drink water so I don't feel so bad about my care of him. I make him stay out when it rains so I'm not the bad guy. He doesn't mind a good soak.

I also have a few tortoises that do not seem to like falling water. My guess is that they do not like the constant vibration falling water/rain does to their shells. It may seem like someone or something is constantly poking them to no end.

Some of my tortoises will also initially attempt to escape when placed into a kitty litter box for soaking. They'll get riled up when I'm there but will eventually calm down once I leave. I don't know if this is because they know food is going to appear soon or because they prefer to be alone when they go about their business during soakings. Either way I'll still soak my outdoor tortoises at least 3 times a week. Even more so if outdoor temperatures are higher than normal. I don't mind being the bad guy if the invasive practices I do choose to use will benefit them in some way or form.
 

Cathie G

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I also have a few tortoises that do not seem to like falling water. My guess is that they do not like the constant vibration falling water/rain does to their shells. It may seem like someone or something is constantly poking them to no end.

Some of my tortoises will also initially attempt to escape when placed into a kitty litter box for soaking. They'll get riled up when I'm there but will eventually calm down once I leave. I don't know if this is because they know food is going to appear soon or because they prefer to be alone when they go about their business during soakings. Either way I'll still soak my outdoor tortoises at least 3 times a week. Even more so if outdoor temperatures are higher than normal. I don't mind being the bad guy if the invasive practices I do choose to use will benefit them in some way or form.
Yea me too. I try not to but if they need it...they need it. And I really believe in making sure their shell and innards are hydrated. But I will never use a spray bottle on him again. Ever. I'll just sprinkle water over him with my fingers from his soaking water.
 

drew54

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I don't mist my hatchling. I just slowly pour the soak water over her and she doesn't seem to mind much. I think I misted get twice since I've had her and it startled her both times so I stopped.

May I ask why people don't soak adult Russians or alike everyday?
 

Minority2

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I don't mist my hatchling. I just slowly pour the soak water over her and she doesn't seem to mind much. I think I misted get twice since I've had her and it startled her both times so I stopped.

May I ask why people don't soak adult Russians or alike everyday?

Some owners find one soaking per week is enough for their indoor/outdoor adult tortoises. While advice such as these may work for some people, others may not exactly follow it word for word. Newer and inexperienced owners may take the minimal recommended advice and go below that. There are far too many reasons why and not nearly enough time to properly attempt to justify any of them.

Examples can be found in tortoise forum if one looks hard enough. I will not linking anyone and or thread as an example.

I personally don't consider the advice wrong. Regular interval soakings, even once per week can be fine depending on the type of diet, weather, and conditions set by the owner and their location of residence. I just believe a more frequent flushing of systems as an adult can be good for the tortoise.
 

drew54

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It seems logical to me to soak a tort everyday. I can understand and appreciate the larger species being more difficult due to size and weight, so they get reduced. The smaller species, however, shouldn't be that difficult I wouldn't think, but I understand your explanation though.
 

Minority2

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It seems logical to me to soak a tort everyday. I can understand and appreciate the larger species being more difficult due to size and weight, so they get reduced. The smaller species, however, shouldn't be that difficult I wouldn't think, but I understand your explanation though.

Prior to the wide spread availability of the internet, computer, and smart phone, many people often believed in exactly what the pet shop owner, reptile trade vendor, and backyard neighbor/breeder said about tortoises. Those who were more interested in advanced tortoise care would need to go to the local library and deal with issues surrounding available publications and or would need to go to a larger library that had them at the time. Because many people didn't have the luxury or time to do so, the majority of the tortoise pet industry believed in certain theories surrounding the need to mimic natural conditions or the idea of such conditions brought forth by certain individuals/experts, which as you may know, in some parts are outdated and misguided to say the least.

To be honest, I don't remember soaking being that a big concept as it is today (in tortoise forum*) when I was first dealing with turtles and tortoises during the early 90's. I still remember receiving my first turtle(s)? (I can't remember the amount) in a fishbowl with no heating elements, no UV(B) bulb, and a can of dried turtle food.
 

Tortoise Mommy

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Ok, Back to humidity....I noticed yesterday during the day with her light and heater on the humidity stayed in the 40's and 50's with temperatures staying in the upper 80's.
That being said, last night when I turned her heater and light off for her "night time temps" the humidity steadily increased rather quickly and topped out in the mid 80's with temps staying mid 60's.
Is it ok for the humidity to go that high? Is it a problem to have such high humidity with the lower overnight temperatures??
 

JoesMum

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Ok, Back to humidity....I noticed yesterday during the day with her light and heater on the humidity stayed in the 40's and 50's with temperatures staying in the upper 80's.
That being said, last night when I turned her heater and light off for her "night time temps" the humidity steadily increased rather quickly and topped out in the mid 80's with temps staying mid 60's.
Is it ok for the humidity to go that high? Is it a problem to have such high humidity with the lower overnight temperatures??
It depends on what the overnight minimum temperature is (you will need a digital min/max thermometer to find out)

Warm and humid = healthy
Warm and dry = pyramidding
Cold and damp = Possible Respiratory Infection
 

Tom

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The over night minimum temp for last night was 63
Humidity climbs as the temp drops. This is fine. Night temps in the 60s for an adult Russian is great, as long as they can warm up properly during the day. 80 is fine as a daytime ambient, but there also needs to be a basking area that reaches 95-100 during the day.

I don't worry about humidity for adult Russians. Keep them on a thick layer of damp (not wet) substrate, offer a humid hide, and they should be fine with whatever is it. They can survive for months or years with no water at all in the wild, but this isn't "good" for them. Regular soaks in our captive environments are a good way to ensure they stay hydrated and healthy. I think soaking once or twice a week is plenty for an adult Russian in most housing conditions, but 3-4 times a week or daily, won't hurt anything.
 

Tortoise Mommy

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Thanks Tom! That helps alot!!!

We're keeping the daytime temp around the mid 80's about 83-85, she has her "basking corner" at 95 and we're still trying for that 100. Inside her humid hide (opposite side of basking corner) stays around 75.
We're using a mix of zoo med forrest floor and zoo med reptibark about 4-5in deep with more forrest floor in the mix on the warmer side of enclosure.
Also have a shallow water dish that she sometimes climbs into. We just got her Saturday so haven't done any soaking yet, but plan to today and twice a week from there.
* I bought two of the terracotta plant bases one of which is her water, I'm thinking about putting the other one upside down in her basking corner but wonder if it may be too hot on her bottom shell??*
 

Tom

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Thanks Tom! That helps alot!!!

We're keeping the daytime temp around the mid 80's about 83-85, she has her "basking corner" at 95 and we're still trying for that 100. Inside her humid hide (opposite side of basking corner) stays around 75.
We're using a mix of zoo med forrest floor and zoo med reptibark about 4-5in deep with more forrest floor in the mix on the warmer side of enclosure.
Also have a shallow water dish that she sometimes climbs into. We just got her Saturday so haven't done any soaking yet, but plan to today and twice a week from there.
* I bought two of the terracotta plant bases one of which is her water, I'm thinking about putting the other one upside down in her basking corner but wonder if it may be too hot on her bottom shell??*

There should be a flat rock or piece of slate under the basking lamp. By all means check the temp, but it should not be too hot if the basking temp is set correctly.

I use the terra cotta saucers for water and food.

Your tortoise might act like you've dropped her in acid during the first few soaks. Don't be too alarmed and don't worry about it. I've had many behave like they were dying, but all of them get used to it and its good for them.
 

Tortoise Mommy

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Ok!! She seems to like climbing in her water dish, so maybe she'll like soaking! We will see!
Right now I do not have any slate in the basking corner, so I'll give the terracotta a try and see if she likes it.
 

drew54

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Prior to the wide spread availability of the internet, computer, and smart phone, many people often believed in exactly what the pet shop owner, reptile trade vendor, and backyard neighbor/breeder said about tortoises. Those who were more interested in advanced tortoise care would need to go to the local library and deal with issues surrounding available publications and or would need to go to a larger library that had them at the time. Because many people didn't have the luxury or time to do so, the majority of the tortoise pet industry believed in certain theories surrounding the need to mimic natural conditions or the idea of such conditions brought forth by certain individuals/experts, which as you may know, in some parts are outdated and misguided to say the least.

To be honest, I don't remember soaking being that a big concept as it is today (in tortoise forum*) when I was first dealing with turtles and tortoises during the early 90's. I still remember receiving my first turtle(s)? (I can't remember the amount) in a fishbowl with no heating elements, no UV(B) bulb, and a can of dried turtle food.
Very helpful thank you. I'm glad things are slowly improving for these guys.
 

drew54

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Ok!! She seems to like climbing in her water dish, so maybe she'll like soaking! We will see!
Right now I do not have any slate in the basking corner, so I'll give the terracotta a try and see if she likes it.
If you can find a flat rock you could use that also for the baking area and use your dishes for food and water.
 

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