All the Russian info!

[xenad]

Hi! So, I posted before that my dad got a tortoise given to him by a colleague who no longer wanted her, and he was told it was a Hermann, but she is in fact, a Russian - thank you to the person that pointed that out!

Every time I visited my dad, she's not come out from her hide much and has been very miserable. I found this forum and did a lot of research once they asked me to take her, but since there isn't much I can do for her until she's with me. I've handled her every time I've visited, gave her a little bath, and moved her enclosure around a little, and since then, she's actually been coming out if her hide a lot in the day, and not jumping every time someone goes to put food in her enclosure or change her water, which makes me very happy! She's happy to be picked up now, and loves a little shell scratch! I can't wait until she's with me so she can live the happiest life in the biggest home she's ever had!


Anyways, she's about 3 years old (I assume this is a young adult?).
I'm getting the enclosure done in the next few weeks, it's being made bespoke because no where online sells them the right size.
It's going to be placed next to large, south/east facing, patio doors.

In the meantime, I need to gather my supplies!
I tried reading Tom's guide, but reading paragraphs right now is just frying my brain and I can't take anything in, so I just need a quick numbered list I can write down and tick off!

What UV/lighting do I need (type and wattage)
Heating element
Thermometer
Substrate
Natural vegetation to put in the enclosure
Food suitable for Russians
Suppliments I need to get (I read that cuttlebone/cuttlefish is good for them?)

And anything else I'm missing!

We don't get a lot of sun here in the UK, so I'll worry about an outdoor enclosure when we actually get a decent summer. For now, we focus on her main home!

Old pic of Miss Shelly cause my phone didn't back up my photos from the last visit, but she's a lil cutie!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello and welcome!
1. You will need T5 UVB flourescent light. Wattage - 24W (most common, short tube). Arcadia ProT5 Desert 12%, Reptile Systems Fergusson Zone 3 or ZooMed Reptisun 10.0. Check Swell Reptile online shop to see what's available.
2. Heating: flood type incandescent basking lamp - Arcadia Solar Basking Floodlight, ProRep Flood Spot (probably 75W, depending on open/closed type enclosure and room temperature). If room gets colder than 50-60F at night you will also need a ceramic heat emitter (100-150W) and simple on/off thermostat (Habistat, 600W are good).
3. Thermometer - any digital (with a display) from a hardware store should work (price tag from 2 to 10 pounds, probably).
4. Orchid bark or layer of coco coir with bark on top. Thickness 4-6 inches.
5. Potted plants like spider plants, carex (sedges) should be fine. You can also put plant trays with some tortoise edible plants and replace them when needed (seed mixes and plants can be looked at ShelledWarriors and Tortoise Hut online shops).
6. Broadleaf greens - plantain, mallow, dandelions and such. Grocery store greens - endive, ruccola (rocket salad), chickory, radicchio and so on. For variety you can add some rehydrated tortoise pellets - Agrobs Pre Alpin, Arcadia Optimized52 Tortoise Food, ZooMed Grassland. Also flower toppers are nice from time to time. Or "complex" toppers like Arcadia DragonFuel. You don't need to get all at once - one type of dried grass pellets and one type of topper is enough, just rotate offerings once bag is finished.
7. Supplements: calcium powder with D3, "full nutrition" pellets like Hikari Mulberific or Nutrazu/Mazuri Tortoise Diet, multi-vitamin powder (e.g. Komodo, Reptivite, Nutrobal and so on). Cuttlebone is nice to have to satisfy occasional "calcium cravings".

 

[xenad]

Hello and welcome!
1. You will need T5 UVB flourescent light. Wattage - 24W (most common, short tube). Arcadia ProT5 Desert 12%, Reptile Systems Fergusson Zone 3 or ZooMed Reptisun 10.0. Check Swell Reptile online shop to see what's available.
2. Heating: flood type incandescent basking lamp - Arcadia Solar Basking Floodlight, ProRep Flood Spot (probably 75W, depending on open/closed type enclosure and room temperature). If room gets colder than 50-60F at night you will also need a ceramic heat emitter (100-150W) and simple on/off thermostat (Habistat, 600W are good).
3. Thermometer - any digital (with a display) from a hardware store should work (price tag from 2 to 10 pounds, probably).
4. Orchid bark or layer of coco coir with bark on top. Thickness 4-6 inches.
5. Potted plants like spider plants, carex (sedges) should be fine. You can also put plant trays with some tortoise edible plants and replace them when needed (seed mixes and plants can be looked at ShelledWarriors and Tortoise Hut online shops).
6. Broadleaf greens - plantain, mallow, dandelions and such. Grocery store greens - endive, ruccola (rocket salad), chickory, radicchio and so on. For variety you can add some rehydrated tortoise pellets - Agrobs Pre Alpin, Arcadia Optimized52 Tortoise Food, ZooMed Grassland. Also flower toppers are nice from time to time. Or "complex" toppers like Arcadia DragonFuel. You don't need to get all at once - one type of dried grass pellets and one type of topper is enough, just rotate offerings once bag is finished.
7. Supplements: calcium powder with D3, "full nutrition" pellets like Hikari Mulberific or Nutrazu/Mazuri Tortoise Diet, multi-vitamin powder (e.g. Komodo, Reptivite, Nutrobal and so on). Cuttlebone is nice to have to satisfy occasional "calcium cravings".

Hi! Thank you for all of this! It definitely helped untangle my brain a bit

With the lighting, will I need both the Arcadia ProT5 AND the 10.0 ZooMed Reptisun? If so, what size and wattage do I need for Reptisun?
They come in:
18" 15W
24" 18W
30" 25W
36" 30W

And similar for the Heating, will I need both those lights? It will be a closed enclosure, because I have cats and wouldn't want them thinking it's a glorified litter box so would you still recommend the 75W?

The temp in the winter never goes under 22°C/72°F because I have the Thermostat set to that temp (I don't like the cold either), but in the summer, it can get as low as 16°C inside because the heating isn't on. Would you suggest I get the emitter for that?

Would you suggest getting a Dimmer Thermostat? I've seen a few people mention them on here so just wondered if that would be better than the on/off ones?

 

[zolasmum]

Hello and welcome from Devon - I was born in Northampton, and grew up in Spratton, but haven't been back for a very long time. I am sure Miss Shelly will be very happy in your care - you are obviously trying to get everything just right for her. I can't advise you about anything much, as we got Zola 24 years ago, and there was very little helpful information around then - but we muddled through, and he is a healthy and happy boy, and the boss of the family !!
Very best wishes from Angie

 

[xenad]

Hello and welcome!
1. You will need T5 UVB flourescent light. Wattage - 24W (most common, short tube). Arcadia ProT5 Desert 12%, Reptile Systems Fergusson Zone 3 or ZooMed Reptisun 10.0. Check Swell Reptile online shop to see what's available.
2. Heating: flood type incandescent basking lamp - Arcadia Solar Basking Floodlight, ProRep Flood Spot (probably 75W, depending on open/closed type enclosure and room temperature). If room gets colder than 50-60F at night you will also need a ceramic heat emitter (100-150W) and simple on/off thermostat (Habistat, 600W are good).
3. Thermometer - any digital (with a display) from a hardware store should work (price tag from 2 to 10 pounds, probably).
4. Orchid bark or layer of coco coir with bark on top. Thickness 4-6 inches.
5. Potted plants like spider plants, carex (sedges) should be fine. You can also put plant trays with some tortoise edible plants and replace them when needed (seed mixes and plants can be looked at ShelledWarriors and Tortoise Hut online shops).
6. Broadleaf greens - plantain, mallow, dandelions and such. Grocery store greens - endive, ruccola (rocket salad), chickory, radicchio and so on. For variety you can add some rehydrated tortoise pellets - Agrobs Pre Alpin, Arcadia Optimized52 Tortoise Food, ZooMed Grassland. Also flower toppers are nice from time to time. Or "complex" toppers like Arcadia DragonFuel. You don't need to get all at once - one type of dried grass pellets and one type of topper is enough, just rotate offerings once bag is finished.
7. Supplements: calcium powder with D3, "full nutrition" pellets like Hikari Mulberific or Nutrazu/Mazuri Tortoise Diet, multi-vitamin powder (e.g. Komodo, Reptivite, Nutrobal and so on). Cuttlebone is nice to have to satisfy occasional "calcium cravings".

Also, another question (sorry)

Is that a T5 UVB light, a basking lamp, AND a heat emitter? And do the basking lamp and heat emitter need to be in a reflector/cage?

 

[xenad]

Hello and welcome from Devon - I was born in Northampton, and grew up in Spratton, but haven't been back for a very long time. I am sure Miss Shelly will be very happy in your care - you are obviously trying to get everything just right for her. I can't advise you about anything much, as we got Zola 24 years ago, and there was very little helpful information around then - but we muddled through, and he is a healthy and happy boy, and the boss of the family !!
Very best wishes from Angie

Ahh I live in Northamptonshire myself! From Wales but moved here almost 3 years ago with my husband

I'm really nervous, but hopeful! I just want her to have the best life because its been pretty naff so far bless her!

 

[babyshell]

Hi! So, I posted before that my dad got a tortoise given to him by a colleague who no longer wanted her, and he was told it was a Hermann, but she is in fact, a Russian - thank you to the person that pointed that out!

Every time I visited my dad, she's not come out from her hide much and has been very miserable. I found this forum and did a lot of research once they asked me to take her, but since there isn't much I can do for her until she's with me. I've handled her every time I've visited, gave her a little bath, and moved her enclosure around a little, and since then, she's actually been coming out if her hide a lot in the day, and not jumping every time someone goes to put food in her enclosure or change her water, which makes me very happy! She's happy to be picked up now, and loves a little shell scratch! I can't wait until she's with me so she can live the happiest life in the biggest home she's ever had!


Anyways, she's about 3 years old (I assume this is a young adult?).
I'm getting the enclosure done in the next few weeks, it's being made bespoke because no where online sells them the right size.
It's going to be placed next to large, south/east facing, patio doors.

In the meantime, I need to gather my supplies!
I tried reading Tom's guide, but reading paragraphs right now is just frying my brain and I can't take anything in, so I just need a quick numbered list I can write down and tick off!

What UV/lighting do I need (type and wattage)
Heating element
Thermometer
Substrate
Natural vegetation to put in the enclosure
Food suitable for Russians
Suppliments I need to get (I read that cuttlebone/cuttlefish is good for them?)

And anything else I'm missing!

We don't get a lot of sun here in the UK, so I'll worry about an outdoor enclosure when we actually get a decent summer. For now, we focus on her main home!

Old pic of Miss Shelly cause my phone didn't back up my photos from the last visit, but she's a lil cutie!

Shes lovely.
Keep it very simple and effective
It doesn't have to be rocket science
Alot of the info is conflicting so I generally talk to maybe the same 2 or 3 people for advice. Otherwise you will torture yourself worrying that you are doing the right thing.
Shes really lovely and obviously enjoying your company .. she's a new little friend
I'm from the UK, so I really have to get my thinking cap on with my little Russian. But I'm a creative by nature so I enjoy putting stuff together for him then seeing him enjoy it is the best

 

[babyshell]

Ahh I live in Northamptonshire myself! From Wales but moved here almost 3 years ago with my husband

I'm really nervous, but hopeful! I just want her to have the best life because its been pretty naff so far bless her!

Thankfully she's only 3 so you really can turn that right round.
Despite what is said about torts being quite solitary, I find my little man waits for me, listens to me, responds and reacts to me and generally enjoys being around his mama (me) .. he also likes me to hand feed him !
You will get to know her every little whim .. they really do have little personalities and I swear they smile when they're happy

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Not sure if you saw this one last time but I think you’ll like this thread! I cater to visual learners like myself towards the bottom! I get overwhelmed by text too don’t worry!

It covers correct equipment(lighting, heating, uv), levels, appropriately maintaining humidity, substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything and a really handy diet link to check out!

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

When it comes to setting up, this one is also really good to familiarise yourself with, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

Hope they help!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Also, another question (sorry)

Is that a T5 UVB light, a basking lamp, AND a heat emitter? And do the basking lamp and heat emitter need to be in a reflector/cage?

T5 UVB lamp is correct (you need only one and Arcadia is the best choice). This lamp should be installed at height of 20-21" above substrate.
Ceramic heater is correct too.

Cages are not necessary - they are for lizards, who crawl and jump and can burn themselves.

For the basking lamp reflector dome is not necessary. Lamp sleeve is a reflector itself. https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/arcadia-solar-basking-floodlight#basking-solar-75w-floodlight - here is the right one. Depending on viv size and material, 50W can be sufficient. But I'll start with a 75W. Here is the simple lamp holder for it:

ProRep Ceramic Lamp Holder with Bracket

Ceramic lamp holder designed to withstand high temperatures Rated for use with heat emitters and lamps up to 300W Includes standard E27 fitting, 1-year guarantee and 2m cable

www.reptiles.swelluk.com

This wide dome works better for ceramic heat emitter (spreads heat over larger area):
https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/swell-clamp-lamp#clamp-lamp-with-guard-large (you can use a holder without a dome, but heating will be less efficient).

I would get a simple on/off thermostat for CHE, set it for required minimal temperature and forget about it. Dimming and pulse proportional thermostat allow precise temperature control but you don't really need that in tortoise enclosure.