Long nails and very tired

Rosiek15

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I just received 2 russians from a terrible home. I only have experience with red foots. That being said the nails are overgrown to the point where the veins grew with it. Therefore if I cut them they will bleed. Will walking on rocky surface fix this or is there anything I can do?

The female seems fine but the male does nothing but sleep! Is that normal for a russian?
 

lisa127

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I'm not sure if tortoise nails would work the same as dog nails or not, but I'd think. If a dogs nails are long to the point of the vein growing with it, you would cut the nails more frequently but only take off the tip until the problem is resolved. Maybe that would work?
 

dmmj

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Nails can be worn down naturally, do they have a rough surface aea to do so? Sleeping is not normal ( all day at least), so temps? indoor or outdoor?
 

Rosiek15

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Nails can be worn down naturally, do they have a rough surface aea to do so? Sleeping is not normal ( all day at least), so temps? indoor or outdoor?

I just got them so im setting everything up now. I will have a rough surface for them though. Im not sure the temps they were in before me though. I have a uvb and a 75 watt as well as a cool hide so they can escape the heat. (Temps in philly are in the 20's so I cant keep them outside)
 

TortMomma

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Russian tend to have long nails. I use slate tiles under their light for basking which help wear their nails down and I use terra-cotta saucers for water and food which help with nails and beak. I'm also near the Philly area and am using 100 watt bulbs. The room I keep them in stays very warm when we turn the heat on so I don't have to worry about heat at night.
 

TortMomma

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ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1416114122.108652.jpg
Here's a borrowed image of a hatchling russian tortoise. They're nails are just long. They do look alarming especially in comparison to other tortoises.
 

jeffjeff

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are they being kept together? may be some bullying going on and that's why one is sleeping all the time trying to keep out of the others way.
 

Rosiek15

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are they being kept together? may be some bullying going on and that's why one is sleeping all the time trying to keep out of the others way.

As far as I know they were kept together for their entire life. Shes been leaving him alone from what I've seen so far. Even if I take him out of the tank he just wants to walk somewhere and sleep.
 

Rosiek15

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Russian tend to have long nails. I use slate tiles under their light for basking which help wear their nails down and I use terra-cotta saucers for water and food which help with nails and beak. I'm also near the Philly area and am using 100 watt bulbs. The room I keep them in stays very warm when we turn the heat on so I don't have to worry about heat at night.

Yeah I keep them in the warmest room of my house. But after seeing that image and looking through more stuff, they only seem a little over grown nothing too bad. Didn't realize they had such long nails to begin with! Thanks!
 

Rosiek15

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Things work, then they don't. Starting out their lives together doesn't mean that that can continue indefinitely.

I completely understand that. She just doesnt bother him or even really go near him. So I didn't really think bullying was the issue with him.
 

johnsonnboswell

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Sometimes we never see one directly bully the other, but we see that one has given up and is hiding. That's the result.

It can't hurt to separate them, it can only help.
 

Grandpa Turtle 144

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Sorry I know you don't need any more help with bulling but it can be just the way they look at each other .
 

Rosiek15

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Sometimes we never see one directly bully the other, but we see that one has given up and is hiding. That's the result.

It can't hurt to separate them, it can only help.

I've separated them for now to see if that helps. I'm still going to take him to the vet. He is very lethargic and something is off. He doesnt wanna keep his eyes open for anything. I've soaked him, he wont eat and just sleeps.
 

Rosiek15

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Can you post pictures of both of them please?

She's adapating well, after I fix her up a bit I think she'll be fine. It's the other one im more worried about
 

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Yvonne G

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Well, the nails are NOT too long, so that's one problem solved. About the eyes...they are not swollen, just squinty and moist. I don't know what would be causing that. Do you keep them on sand? Sometimes sand irritates their eyes. It may help if you flush his eyes with sterile saline a couple times a day for a week or so. Soak him every day and keep him warm. Hopefully you'll see an improvement. Oh, and keep him separate for a while. Male russians just want to breed the females all the time, and taking that temptation away from him will help him settle down.
 

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