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I am wondering if anyone else notices something that looks like a broken beak on my tortoise. I have noticed that Saturn is not as active lately, and although he is still eating, it isn't as often or as voraciously as usual. I have been a tortoise owner for 3 years now and believe all the temp...

I am looking for suggestions on how to protect my wood enclosure from damage. I have layered the bottom with a thin tarp and then covered the tarp with coco coir substrate.. I placed rocks around the edges to keep it down. It seems that my Russian's favorite pasttime is to push the rocks to...

This will be my first winter with my Russian in my classroom without me at night. When he's been home with me in the winter, our temperature doesn't get below 60 degrees F so I've never worried about nighttime heat. I can't control the heat at night in our school, so I'm looking at a CHE on a...

I mixed up some coco coir substrate a few weeks ago and used what I needed, and stored the leftover in an airtight Rubbermaid container. Of course, I forgot about it. I was going to add new substrate today and remembered. I'm wondering if it's too old or not. I don't see any visible mold and...

Lately my Russian has such Foul-smelling waste, and a lot of it. It's basically a really bad barn smell. Could it be from a change in his diet? I started adding some radiccio and escarole to his usual romaine, kale, and occasional dandelion leaves.

My rt usually is too busy traveling to stop and smell the roses, but this time he couldn't get enough of these weeds! Does anyone know what these are and if they're safe?

When is the best time to soak? Right away in the morning? After some sun time outside? Before sun time outside?

Now that it's spring, I've been able to take my Russian ,Saturn, outside almost every day for about 30 minutes. He loves it! My question is, is he getting too much uv with his uv lamp on for 12 hours as well? He sleeps in his hide for about 3 of those hours and here and there throughout the day.

We are in the middle of "Sprinter" right now in Wisconsin; I.e., one day it's spring, the next day it's winter, and some days it's both in the same day! This will be my first summer with Saturn, my Russian, and I can't wait to get him outside a few hours a day where he'll be so happy! I've heard...

Saturn's favorite treat is broccoli! I give it to him just one a month and he's so happy:)

I've attached a picture of my current enclosure for my Russian, along with a picture of the lamp fixture I'm thinking about getting. I've taken temperatures with a digital temperature lazer gun. Here's what I came up with: 100 degrees F on basking rock right under light, 93 around the rock, 83...

So, is it true that I cannot use any type of fragrance in my home unless it's essential oils? Currently, my Russian is housed in my classroom, where I have always used wallflower plug ins from bath and body works. The actual plug in is on the complete opposite side of the room, but the scent is...

My husband bought me roses for Valentine's day a week ago and I was wondering if, instead of tossing them in the garbage when they get wilted, it would be safe to feed either petals or leaves to my Russian? We have daisies here too, but some have food coloring in the stems so I'm sure those...

My russian is super picky about eating. I'm trying a variety of greens that I've found on this sight. He loves fruits, so I've been getting him to eat a little Mazuri on a tiny piece of squash each day. Except for today, sigh. His former owners said they would sprinkle ground hibiscus on his...

I've had my Russian for 3 weeks now. He has two enclosures...one for weekdays in my classroom and one for weekend at home? Eventually, I week be leaving him at school (in his larger, favorite enclosure) and going in to feed and check on him daily. But fir now, I've been bringing him home. Is...

Just curious, what's your Russians routine like? I've had mine for 3 weeks now, and I thought I was getting to know him well and his routine, but he's switching it up in me now. The biggest thing I've noticed is he seems to "hunker down"for the evening much earlier than usual, like early...

I'm wondering how long is a"good soak" for my Russian tort? He's been eating fine -spring mix, romaine, wheat grass-but I'm noticing he's starting to eat substrate too. I use coconut coir mixed with repti bark. I've been reading to soak daily so he doesn't get constipated. How long would you...

I purchased a used wooden enclosure because it was a great deal and I was assured it was in excellent condition. When I received it, I was saddened to see that it was not clean at all. What do you suggest using to clean and sanitize?

Hi everyone! First of all, I absolutely love this forum! I've had my Saturn, russian tort, for a week and a half, and anything I need to find answers for is on here! I'm asking for everyone's help. My daughter is in Kindergarten and is conducting a science fair experiment on how fast tortoises...

Okay, so my new tortoise is doing something funny. I've had him a week and technically haven't seen him eat yet, but I knew that's okay. The funny thing is today he was sitting on his food dish. He ducked into his shell and came out chomping.I didn't want to disturb him but I didn't necessarily...