Looking to adopt a female russain tortoise,

Jamalandhakim · Apr 11, 2026

Have two females already 5 and 8 and don’t want breeding, they’d be going to a proper home, located in BC Chetwynd, willing to pay for shipping, don’t have a car, it’s broken right now and can’t get it on the road to pick up any future additions.

We have a 10 foot by 10 foot cinder block enclosurer for outdoors, stacked two high with wood fence border so animals can’t pee through the bricks, topped with a sturdy 2x4 wire top fence to keep birds and any cats or other wildlife out.

Indoor space is smaller, but still good and very comfortable for my two girls. 8 foot by 6 foot wide table top for them. Will be making bigger now that I have space for another one,

Just need the materials for the upgrade.

Would be going to a good home and very loving.

COmtnLady · Apr 11, 2026

Welcome to the Forum!

The info here is the most up-to-date, backed with statistics and lots of successful outcomes. Feel free to ask tons of questions!

Have you had a chance to read this yet?

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Post pictures of your tortoises and enclosures! We love to see everyone's animals and set-ups!

.

Jamalandhakim · Apr 12, 2026

COmtnLady said:
Welcome to the Forum!

The info here is the most up-to-date, backed with statistics and lots of successful outcomes. Feel free to ask tons of questions!

Have you had a chance to read this yet?

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Post pictures of your tortoises and enclosures! We love to see everyone's animals and set-ups!

.

Yes I’ve been reading and getting info off this site since my first Russian tortoise when I got her 7 years ago almost 8 now. Got another Russian and my most recent purchase was a baby sulcata, which don’t worry tons of planning and consideration went into getting the baby. It’s still winter and I just moved back to B.C during the winter season so now that the snow is melting I’ve been preparing everything for the summer, my baby is still too small for the outdoors unsupervised. But he’s getting 30 to 60 minutes of sun every chance the weather permits Supervised, going be building a nice 8 foot by 8 foot enclosure with a nice wire fence and hides for him so he can grow big in a safe environment once he grows a few more inches and i trust he will be able to mange his body heat properly and not freeze. He’s going be getting a dog house with a heat lamp and two burrows so he has no heated hides, the heated hide is mainly for nighttime so he’s warm.

The two Russian are living happily in a 10 foot by 4 foot enclosure outdoors when weather’s permits with same hide setup one heated for nighttime and two separate burrows for day time resting.

I would buy another Russian baby but after the last two, and having a new baby already I don’t want to get a new Russian tortoise but rather adopt one from someone who would be willing to entrust their “child” to me.

Plus I’ve been seeing lots of rescues and would like to stop the amount going into shelters and sanctuary’s even if it’s just one tortoise. I’ve tried finding a sanctuary in Canada that does adoption but they are only taking them in not giving out adoptions

I just recently made an account with this website due to needing to make a post finally, this website has been very helpful over the years.

And yes I know 8 foot by 8 foot isn’t enough for a full grown sulcuta, but he’s not even 3 inches right now, so when he or she, named both my Russians a male name and turned to be female never bothered to change it. But I feel like until the sulcuta is at least a foot the 8 foot by 8 foot is good until I can get the materials for a large 20 foot by 20 foot. For him or her.

Love my tortoises like my children I spoil them, with enrichment and safety. While still making sure they still get the closest thing to natural outdoors as possible weather inside or outside

COmtnLady · Apr 12, 2026

Ummm... This is intended with the best interests of your tortoises in mind. Please don't be upset, my intention is not to pick on you, its to help the tortoises thrive.

First ~
All species of tortoises NEED to be in constant warm and humid conditions for the first two to three years of life. The only good way to accomplish this is with a closed chamber to hold the heat and humidity inside. It should be at least 84F/29C and 84% humidity, a couple degrees or percentages more of humidity are good, too!

How to make a closed-chamber baby habitat out of a 55gal Sterilite bin

Since several folks have asked about how to make a closed chamber baby enclosure out of a 55gal Sterilite tote, here are some pics and description of how I do. This is not the most beautiful option, but since the babies will only be in here for 9-12 months, I'm okay with that. My own Russian...

tortoiseforum.org

SUGGESTION for Setting Up a Baby Habitat

There is more than one "right" way to set up a tortoise habitat. Whatever works for you, and provides what the baby needs, that's the "right" way for you. This is how I set up my baby habitats. I start with a plastic Rubbermaid tub, some small sized Orchid Bark, a Zoo Med Power Sun Mercury...

tortoiseforum.org

Your baby is too young to be outside much at all... much over an hour altogether is too much. Yes, it needs UVB/UVA, and natural is better than artificial, but keeping the hatchling warm and damp is so much more important.
This might have some ideas you could incorporate.

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

Good info ~

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

Each adult tortoise needs a minimum of 4'X8', more space is better. With the sulcata you will need significantly more once it is past the hatchling and juvenile stages. Tortoises need a LOT of exercise to process their food and keep healthy. When they can't walk enough they can develope kidney and bladder stones.

Tortoises are solitary animals. Keeping them in pairs is a very bad idea. They don't want company; they see another tortoise as competition for resources. Because they are so slow and don't bark or other ways show their intentions, humans think they are ok with another tortoise around when its a cold war in reality.
When they follow the other around the enclosure, people credit it to being friendly, but it is really harassment. They don't "cuddle", sleeping together is actually dominance behavior. There is so much more, but - no matter how much they seem to be getting along - they aren't. The stress affects both, will cause one to grow larger than the other, which adds to the threat-level.

Signs of bullying in young tortoises

'Following' is a form of "mad dogging". Cuddling and sleeping in the same area is a form of trying to crowd the other out of the territory. Does one or both sit on the food? That's another one. Outward, obvious hostility like biting, ramming, or flipping seldom happens with juveniles. The...

tortoiseforum.org

Which tortoise to keep?

So it finally happened. After over 8 years together, my 2 CDT finally got into it. They had been separated for the last 4 years or so but finally went outside in the yard together. I watched them quite closely for a month or so and exactly what I had hoped would happen, did: complete...

tortoiseforum.org

Its also a really bad idea to add a significantly smaller/younger tortoise to an enclosure with one or more larger tortoises. Mixing sizes or species is a very bad idea, just adds conflict and stress and will end sadly.

How often do you soak each tortoise? I didn't see a mention of this.
The water, especially for the hatchling, needs to be lukewarm/95F-35C for the entire time the tortoise is in it. Since the water should only be as deep as where the top shell connects with the bottom shell, it will cool off VERY QUICKLY. Keep a close eye on the temp, warm it up as needed, for the entire half-hour or longer the tortoise is in it. Don't let your tortoises get chilled. And when its time to put the tortoise back into its enclosure, do it when its nice and warm, rather than than when its time to warm the water back up. The hatchlings should be soaked every day, but adults can do ok with every-other-day. There is almost no such thing as too much soaking, so keep your tortoises healthy and hydrated by soaking frequently. (Do not worry if they scrabble around. Its great exercise for them. Soak a half-hour minimum.)

Let's talk and exchange ideas. All of us want the same thing - for your torts to thrive!!

.

Show us pictures, please.

.

Jamalandhakim · Apr 12, 2026

COmtnLady said:
Ummm... This is intended with the best interests of your tortoises in mind. Please don't be upset, my intention is not to pick on you, its to help the tortoises thrive.

First ~
All species of tortoises NEED to be in constant warm and humid conditions for the first two to three years of life. The only good way to accomplish this is with a closed chamber to hold the heat and humidity inside. It should be at least 84F/29C and 84% humidity, a couple degrees or percentages more of humidity are good, too!

How to make a closed-chamber baby habitat out of a 55gal Sterilite bin

Since several folks have asked about how to make a closed chamber baby enclosure out of a 55gal Sterilite tote, here are some pics and description of how I do. This is not the most beautiful option, but since the babies will only be in here for 9-12 months, I'm okay with that. My own Russian...

tortoiseforum.org

SUGGESTION for Setting Up a Baby Habitat

There is more than one "right" way to set up a tortoise habitat. Whatever works for you, and provides what the baby needs, that's the "right" way for you. This is how I set up my baby habitats. I start with a plastic Rubbermaid tub, some small sized Orchid Bark, a Zoo Med Power Sun Mercury...

tortoiseforum.org

Your baby is too young to be outside much at all... much over an hour altogether is too much. Yes, it needs UVB/UVA, and natural is better than artificial, but keeping the hatchling warm and damp is so much more important.
This might have some ideas you could incorporate.

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

Good info ~

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

Each adult tortoise needs a minimum of 4'X8', more space is better. With the sulcata you will need significantly more once it is past the hatchling and juvenile stages. Tortoises need a LOT of exercise to process their food and keep healthy. When they can't walk enough they can develope kidney and bladder stones.

Tortoises are solitary animals. Keeping them in pairs is a very bad idea. They don't want company; they see another tortoise as competition for resources. Because they are so slow and don't bark or other ways show their intentions, humans think they are ok with another tortoise around when its a cold war in reality.
When they follow the other around the enclosure, people credit it to being friendly, but it is really harassment. They don't "cuddle", sleeping together is actually dominance behavior. There is so much more, but - no matter how much they seem to be getting along - they aren't. The stress affects both, will cause one to grow larger than the other, which adds to the threat-level.

Signs of bullying in young tortoises

'Following' is a form of "mad dogging". Cuddling and sleeping in the same area is a form of trying to crowd the other out of the territory. Does one or both sit on the food? That's another one. Outward, obvious hostility like biting, ramming, or flipping seldom happens with juveniles. The...

tortoiseforum.org

Which tortoise to keep?

So it finally happened. After over 8 years together, my 2 CDT finally got into it. They had been separated for the last 4 years or so but finally went outside in the yard together. I watched them quite closely for a month or so and exactly what I had hoped would happen, did: complete...

tortoiseforum.org

Its also a really bad idea to add a significantly smaller/younger tortoise to an enclosure with one or more larger tortoises. Mixing sizes or species is a very bad idea, just adds conflict and stress.

How often do you soak each tortoise? I didn't see a mention of this.
The water, especially for the hatchling, needs to be lukewarm/95F-35C for the entire time the tortoise is in it. Since the water should only be as deep as where the top shell connects with the bottom shell, it will cool off VERY QUICKLY. Keep a close eye on the temp, warm it up as needed, for the entire half-hour or longer the tortoise is in it. Don't let your tortoises get chilled. And when its time to put the tortoise back into its enclosure, do it when its nice and warm, rather than than when its time to warm the water back up. The hatchlings should be soaked every day, but adults can do ok with every-other-day. There is almost no such thing as too much soaking, so keep your tortoises healthy and hydrated by soaking frequently. (Do not worry if they scrabble around. Its great exercise for them. Soak a half-hour minimum.)

Let's talk and exchange ideas. All f us want the same thing - for your torts to thrive!!

.

Show us pictures, please.

.

First I don’t mix, they live separately, the baby has a closed enclosure, he has heat and warmth 24/7.

second I’m aware of how much space they need, I live on 4 archers, I expand as they need, I notice they claw at walls I expand their space, all my tortoise are happy and content.

Third, if the new one doesn’t get along with the current two then it gets its own space

I offer them more space then you recommend, I didn’t come here for tips or anything unless asked, I’m here looking to offer a home to someone in my area of Canada a place to surrender their tortoise to home where they are put first

Jamalandhakim · Apr 12, 2026

COmtnLady said:
Ummm... This is intended with the best interests of your tortoises in mind. Please don't be upset, my intention is not to pick on you, its to help the tortoises thrive.

First ~
All species of tortoises NEED to be in constant warm and humid conditions for the first two to three years of life. The only good way to accomplish this is with a closed chamber to hold the heat and humidity inside. It should be at least 84F/29C and 84% humidity, a couple degrees or percentages more of humidity are good, too!

How to make a closed-chamber baby habitat out of a 55gal Sterilite bin

Since several folks have asked about how to make a closed chamber baby enclosure out of a 55gal Sterilite tote, here are some pics and description of how I do. This is not the most beautiful option, but since the babies will only be in here for 9-12 months, I'm okay with that. My own Russian...

tortoiseforum.org

SUGGESTION for Setting Up a Baby Habitat

There is more than one "right" way to set up a tortoise habitat. Whatever works for you, and provides what the baby needs, that's the "right" way for you. This is how I set up my baby habitats. I start with a plastic Rubbermaid tub, some small sized Orchid Bark, a Zoo Med Power Sun Mercury...

tortoiseforum.org

Your baby is too young to be outside much at all... much over an hour altogether is too much. Yes, it needs UVB/UVA, and natural is better than artificial, but keeping the hatchling warm and damp is so much more important.
This might have some ideas you could incorporate.

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

Good info ~

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

Each adult tortoise needs a minimum of 4'X8', more space is better. With the sulcata you will need significantly more once it is past the hatchling and juvenile stages. Tortoises need a LOT of exercise to process their food and keep healthy. When they can't walk enough they can develope kidney and bladder stones.

Tortoises are solitary animals. Keeping them in pairs is a very bad idea. They don't want company; they see another tortoise as competition for resources. Because they are so slow and don't bark or other ways show their intentions, humans think they are ok with another tortoise around when its a cold war in reality.
When they follow the other around the enclosure, people credit it to being friendly, but it is really harassment. They don't "cuddle", sleeping together is actually dominance behavior. There is so much more, but - no matter how much they seem to be getting along - they aren't. The stress affects both, will cause one to grow larger than the other, which adds to the threat-level.

Signs of bullying in young tortoises

'Following' is a form of "mad dogging". Cuddling and sleeping in the same area is a form of trying to crowd the other out of the territory. Does one or both sit on the food? That's another one. Outward, obvious hostility like biting, ramming, or flipping seldom happens with juveniles. The...

tortoiseforum.org

Which tortoise to keep?

So it finally happened. After over 8 years together, my 2 CDT finally got into it. They had been separated for the last 4 years or so but finally went outside in the yard together. I watched them quite closely for a month or so and exactly what I had hoped would happen, did: complete...

tortoiseforum.org

Its also a really bad idea to add a significantly smaller/younger tortoise to an enclosure with one or more larger tortoises. Mixing sizes or species is a very bad idea, just adds conflict and stress and will end sadly.

How often do you soak each tortoise? I didn't see a mention of this.
The water, especially for the hatchling, needs to be lukewarm/95F-35C for the entire time the tortoise is in it. Since the water should only be as deep as where the top shell connects with the bottom shell, it will cool off VERY QUICKLY. Keep a close eye on the temp, warm it up as needed, for the entire half-hour or longer the tortoise is in it. Don't let your tortoises get chilled. And when its time to put the tortoise back into its enclosure, do it when its nice and warm, rather than than when its time to warm the water back up. The hatchlings should be soaked every day, but adults can do ok with every-other-day. There is almost no such thing as too much soaking, so keep your tortoises healthy and hydrated by soaking frequently. (Do not worry if they scrabble around. Its great exercise for them. Soak a half-hour minimum.)

Let's talk and exchange ideas. All of us want the same thing - for your torts to thrive!!

.

Show us pictures, please.

.

Really not trying to be an *** or rude but I’ve been owning and caring for these guys for nearly 10 years and have a passion for it. Don’t need people chiming in on how to care and look after them, considering I’ve been doing so and a good job at doing so, this would be no different then me telling you how to raise your actual kids because you do something ever so slightly different or something doesn’t sit right with you because you don’t do it that way, even though there is no need to say anything In the first place because the kids are healthy, safe and growing.

Whether you have kids or not hope you can imagine what it would feel like to have someone backpack and tell you how todo things even though you’re doing perfectly fine. 30 mins of sunlight to an hour is perfect especially if they are willing to burn the energy, god forbid I just let my baby sit outside, he stays outside til he’s done exploring and munching on grass n weeds, wether it’s 15, 30, or 60 minutes. if he isn’t moving or doing anything he goes inside the moment he try’s to go sleep or rest in the shade. Wanna give helpful tips go too the uneducated people of Facebook groups not here, pretty sure anyone on this site has a brain

Littleredfootbigredheart · Apr 22, 2026

We all like to offer tips and pointers to new members despite level of experience, I promise no offence is meant, we all love tortoises here and like to share the most up to date information caring for them, I hope you find your new addition soon, would love to see some pics of your torts

Jamalandhakim · Apr 22, 2026

Littleredfootbigredheart · Apr 22, 2026

Jamalandhakim said:
View attachment 399904 View attachment 399909

How precious

Looking to adopt a female russain tortoise,

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