tortilla-the-tortoise
Member
Hey!
I'm a certified forum lurker, but finally decided to actually ask the questions I need answers to myself!
I've never cared for a tortoise (or any reptile, for that matter) before about 3 weeks ago, when I took over the care of my Oxford College's tortoise. Don't ask-- it's a university tradition that goes back a long time. He's a 12 year old Russian, and I'd done an awful lot of research before getting him for the next year.
However, I have some concerns that he hasn't been properly cared for in the last 4 years of him being owned by my College.
For one, his enclosure's substrate when I took over was purely aspen bedding. From my understanding, that's offering him absolutely none of the humidity he needs. Could anyone in the UK please let me know a safe soil alternative? He loves digging, so I know I'd need a good depth.
Light and heat are set up well -- warm side at 33, cool at 20.
My other concern at the minute is that he will not wake up unless I get him out of his hide and put him under his basking lamp. I've never risked seeing how long he'd sleep for without me interrupting him, but is it normal for a Russian to be so sleepy? Once he's up he'll be pretty active for a few hours, especially after a bath, so it's not like he's completely lethargic. I took him to the vets last week, and was told he has very good muscle tone, so not particularly concerned about that.
And one more thing -- earlier today I noticed he twitched his head really hard from side to side, and has done so a few times. He seems to be shedding some skin from his neck at the minute, so could it just be discomfort from that? I've read that calcium deficiency can cause twitching like that, but I use Arkvits ace-high on his food regularly and he has a cuttlebone in his enclosure (which he barely even looks at, to be fair). He has some pyramiding from years ago, so I'm just worried there's a looming deficiency of some kind...
Really trying to get my little guy back in good shape, and make sure he's properly cared for by the Uni for the rest of his days. I really appreciate any help you can give
I'm a certified forum lurker, but finally decided to actually ask the questions I need answers to myself!
I've never cared for a tortoise (or any reptile, for that matter) before about 3 weeks ago, when I took over the care of my Oxford College's tortoise. Don't ask-- it's a university tradition that goes back a long time. He's a 12 year old Russian, and I'd done an awful lot of research before getting him for the next year.
However, I have some concerns that he hasn't been properly cared for in the last 4 years of him being owned by my College.
For one, his enclosure's substrate when I took over was purely aspen bedding. From my understanding, that's offering him absolutely none of the humidity he needs. Could anyone in the UK please let me know a safe soil alternative? He loves digging, so I know I'd need a good depth.
Light and heat are set up well -- warm side at 33, cool at 20.
My other concern at the minute is that he will not wake up unless I get him out of his hide and put him under his basking lamp. I've never risked seeing how long he'd sleep for without me interrupting him, but is it normal for a Russian to be so sleepy? Once he's up he'll be pretty active for a few hours, especially after a bath, so it's not like he's completely lethargic. I took him to the vets last week, and was told he has very good muscle tone, so not particularly concerned about that.
And one more thing -- earlier today I noticed he twitched his head really hard from side to side, and has done so a few times. He seems to be shedding some skin from his neck at the minute, so could it just be discomfort from that? I've read that calcium deficiency can cause twitching like that, but I use Arkvits ace-high on his food regularly and he has a cuttlebone in his enclosure (which he barely even looks at, to be fair). He has some pyramiding from years ago, so I'm just worried there's a looming deficiency of some kind...
Really trying to get my little guy back in good shape, and make sure he's properly cared for by the Uni for the rest of his days. I really appreciate any help you can give