First day

[Tort1419]

I just got my Russian tortoise today. Male and I named him George. ( didn't steal the name from anyone, I have wanted to name my tortoise George ever since third grade) here he is basking

I would include a video of him exploring and falling in his head , but it says no extension

 

[Lyn W]

Good luck in your new home George!

 

[LinusRocky]

How old is he, just got mine today and called him rocky he is a baby Russian tortoise and he likes to dig, take baths and sleep on pillows! I hope you and George are happy!

 

[Tort1419]

I don't know, but he is captive bred. We are and rocky was my second choice as a name , I love that name. I hope you and rocky do great as well

 

[LinusRocky]

Thank you buddy i will maybe ask you some questions tomorrow and send you some pics

 

[Tort1419]

Sure, can't wait!!

 

[Oxalis]

I just got my Russian tortoise today...

Looks like a cutie already! I've had my Russian, Steve, since 2009. Tortoise Forum has been invaluable in that time! Let me know if you have any Russian questions.

 

[Tort1419]

Thanks so much, @Oxalis and do have a question lol, I have had him for a couple of days and he looks very happy, he lets me hand feed him, pet his head, and he loves to roam around. Probably his favorite hobby though is to sit and bak under his baskinglight. Something that I am not so sure about is his behavior around walls. You see I have two types of tape on the wall. He sometimes thinks he can climb the tape. He only does it for like 30 minutes, but it still raises the question of is he trying to just play with the tape or is he climbing the walls. Here is what it looks like
Also I have a ramp leading up to a small extra level with his food. I have part of it blocked off so he doesn't fall. He also tries to climb that. I feel like he is confused. What do you think.

 

[Oxalis]

Can you take a photo of the whole enclosure? Russians are pretty crazy tortoises! They love to climb and are very territorial. They love to burrow as well. They're also known as escape artists, which can add some difficulty to one's enclosure design! Giving Russians plenty of spaces to hide, burrow, and climb will stimulate them as well and block the enclosure walls from their sight. I guess they do not like to "see" the walls around them. I am still adding these "sight barriers" into my outdoor Russian enclosure using rocks and plants. In the wild, they can walk miles in a day. My Russian will pace for hours back and forth along one wall of his outdoor enclosure. Russians can be strange like that! But the more space they have to move around, the better.

 

[Tort1419]

My tortoise has tons of space to roam around, sorry I can't post a picture because it's so big I would have to post five Pictures, and the Internet is so slow it would take forever. Anyways I have a bunch of hides for him and plants and sight barriers, I think he is just nervous, becuase he just got here. However if I notice this behavior more often I might need to add more sight barriers. How can I do that on the walls without overcrowding the area @Oxalis

 

[Lyn W]

My tortoise has tons of space to roam around, sorry I can't post a picture because it's so big I would have to post five Pictures, and the Internet is so slow it would take forever. Anyways I have a bunch of hides for him and plants and sight barriers, I think he is just nervous, becuase he just got here. However if I notice this behavior more often I might need to add more sight barriers. How can I do that on the walls without overcrowding the area @Oxalis

How about partitioning off a bit of the enclosure until he is used to it and starts to wander?

 

[Tort1419]

Well, he wanders every day, I'm just worried that he is getting stressed because he thinks he can get out @Lyn W

 

[Lyn W]

Well, he wanders every day, I'm just worried that he is getting stressed because he thinks he can get out @Lyn W

They all think that! No matter how big the enclosure they want to be on the other side of it.
That's Ok, if he's exploring then, I only suggested it because I thought he wasn't moving much and may have been intimidated by the amount of room he has.

 

[Tort1419]

Oh ok thanks @Lyn W

 

[Oxalis]

He may just be getting used to the new environment if you just got him this past week. I'm sure he'll get settled soon!

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Russian tortoises climb. They climb well. It's what they do. Mine do it when they're hungry. That tape may get scratched up. Make sure he can't eat it.

It would be good to add more water to your substrate, just pour it in.

 

[Oxalis]

Russian tortoises climb. They climb well. It's what they do. Mine do it when they're hungry. That tape may get scratched up. Make sure he can't eat it. It would be good to add more water to your substrate, just pour it in.

Yes, my Russian does get quite active when he's hungry! At a nice, toasty temperature, he's super fueled for adventure! We have quite a warm day today, so he is outside now running his laps, hehehehe!