churlishcurls

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I've recently taken over as the primary caregiver for my family's Russian, 007. She's lived with my mom for the past ten years, so it's a pretty big adjustment for all parties involved. She's a sweetheart and I aim to spoil her rotten!

One thing I'm struggling with is establishing a decent soak schedule. I'll feed her about 8am, an hour after her light goes on. I work 9-5, and get home just before 6. Her light goes off around 7:30 or so. A few days a week I'll pop her in her tub for 20ish minutes once I get home, but I'm concerned about cooling her down too much if she gets soaked too late. When do you usually soak your buddies?
 

Maro2Bear

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Greetings..

It’s not as critical for a 10 year old....maybe try soaking on your day off..a good weekly soak.

From Tom’s care guide..
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

Soaking:
Some tortoises need it. Some don't. None of them are harmed by it. I recommend babies be soaked several times a week. I like to taper it off as they gain size. Some people choose not to soak their Russian tortoises. This is fine IF you have an established adult tortoise who is comfortable in its environment, your enclosure is very well designed with many microclimates available, your humidity is adequate in your area, and a suitable water source is available and obviously used regularly. Are YOU sure you meet all those criterion? If you are not 100% sure, then there is no harm in soaking your tortoise once or twice a week. I live in a very dry area. We have hot temps and single digit humidity most of the year. Most of my tortoises have humid underground retreats, but I still soak them once or twice a week depending on the weather. I like to use opaque tubs and warm water about a third of the way up the shell for 20-30 minutes


Good luck
 

churlishcurls

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Greetings..

It’s not as critical for a 10 year old....maybe try soaking on your day off..a good weekly soak.

From Tom’s care guide..
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

Soaking:
Some tortoises need it. Some don't. None of them are harmed by it. I recommend babies be soaked several times a week. I like to taper it off as they gain size. Some people choose not to soak their Russian tortoises. This is fine IF you have an established adult tortoise who is comfortable in its environment, your enclosure is very well designed with many microclimates available, your humidity is adequate in your area, and a suitable water source is available and obviously used regularly. Are YOU sure you meet all those criterion? If you are not 100% sure, then there is no harm in soaking your tortoise once or twice a week. I live in a very dry area. We have hot temps and single digit humidity most of the year. Most of my tortoises have humid underground retreats, but I still soak them once or twice a week depending on the weather. I like to use opaque tubs and warm water about a third of the way up the shell for 20-30 minutes


Good luck
Thank you! I appreciate the pointers.

She doesn't drink, at least not regularly, and she's been used to getting soaked at least once or twice a week - I suppose I'll leave it for the midday on the weekends and see if she needs anything more.

Do you think putting her to bed damp is detrimental (when her environment is in the process of cooling down)?
 

EdMurphy

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When do you usually soak your buddies?

Booya keeps a pretty regular schedule, if she vary's from it much I know she has a problem with something.
I leave for work @ 6:45am and get home 6:00 pm.
Booyah's lights are on a timer, come on at 7:00am and off at 8:45pm.
I put food in her dish before I leave for work, when her lights come on she stands in the entry of her hide for a few minutes then makes her way to the basking spot to warm up then it's down to the food dish and back to the basking spot, grazes and basks all day and food is gone when I get home. I soak her every day or every other day for 10-15 minutes when I get home from work till she poops.
Put her in 100-98F water, she poops when it gets about 95 and I scoop it out with a plastic fork so the water stays cleaner, because while she's soaking she does drinks a little.
After her soak she she goes back to the enclosure wet and she heads right to the food dish, has a little more to eat then heads off to her basking lamp to dry then she makes one more swing by the food dish for a bite or two on the way to the hide for the night right about the time the lights and heat go off.
I can almost set the clock by her.
 

RosemaryDW

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Welcome!

I soak my Russian less and less often, the longer we have her. She drinks exactly one time a year: coming out of hibernation. I *think* she took a sip this year before going into hibernation but can’t swear to it. Russians live in a very very dry climate; their bodies are built for it, not for constant soaking. It may not hurt but I’m not a believer in the benefits. Particularly as it’s damp where I live, I don’t think she needs more humidity than she already gets.

When I do soak, it’s in the morning. Easier to soak when they are sluggish. I can’t imagine soaking twenty minutes on a regular basis; fifteen minutes in warm water is the max mine will toleratebut they’re all different. I use the soak mostly as an opportunity to check her over and to keep her a bit used to handling (she’s pretty much free range outside).

I know it’s hard to figure out all the different advice when you’re new. They’re aren’t known downsides to soaking so if you feel like you should do it, go for it!

It’s fine to give them a soak in the evening if that’s the time you have; you can dry her off on the bottom a bit before you put her back in. I’d do that mostly to keep dirt from sticking to her. Just be sure the water stays warmish.
 

Tom

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...but I'm concerned about cooling her down too much if she gets soaked too late.

You should be soaking in warm water, and keeping it warm through out the soak. It shouldn't be cooling her.

Dampness on the carapace and skin shouldn't be a problem in the evenings, but you can always do a little towel dry if you want to.
 

Viola B

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It's nice that you have taken over the care of the Russian tort. Enjoy! This forum is wonderful with so much help.
 

churlishcurls

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Yes, the water kept warm ( I use a plastic tub in my shower) - good to know any residual dampness shouldn't do any harm. Thanks, Tom.

Viola B- much appreciated! It's definitely been a help. In fact, after digging in to the forum, I'm about 90% certain my mom was mislead about her sex, and she's likely male. Not that this alters any care habits, but it's fascinating.
 
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