This is a Russian Tortoise.
The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...
tortoiseforum.org
Thank you! Any recommendations on what I should do specifically for this tortoiseThis is a Russian Tortoise.
The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...
You first should try to find the rightful owners. Russians are escape artist and the owners may be looking for him. Someone that finds someone else's pet should always try to find the owners first.
Look for the owners first. It's not a native tortoise and someone may be missing this guy/girl.
Tried that the first time it came out in my backyard in September of last year and no one claimed it.
Tried that the first time it came out in my backyard in September of last year and no one claimed it.
Thomas tortoise
Well-Known Member
He is not a sulcata he is a Russian tortoise. Sulcatas get big! Russians get the size of a medium dinner plate and stay that size. Like all tortoises he eats plants and sometimes some insects like mealworms. He needs to have uvb and uva lighting and heat! He should not be in less than 60 degrees.
While torts may occasionally eat live bugs on leaves, I don't think mealworms are on the list of foods to be fed to this species; as I understand it they get their protein from plants. I may be wrong and missed it on the caresheet - let's ask @Tom.
Hi and welcome.
Have you had this tort since last September?
If you read the caresheet linked above - that will tell you everything you need for this tort and if you follow the advice he should thrive, but ask as many questions as you like there's always someone here to help.
Have you had this tort since last September?
If you read the caresheet linked above - that will tell you everything you need for this tort and if you follow the advice he should thrive, but ask as many questions as you like there's always someone here to help.
Hello and thank you. No it came out in my backyard last September but I just let it be after no one claimed it and I guess it’s been burrowed somewhere in my backyard this whole time, it’s almost 90 degrees today here where I am in California and I saw it sunbathing in my yard again. I will look at the care sheet and start feeding it dark leafy greens asap.
Thomas, none of that is correct. Please refrain from giving advice about species you don't know.
The care sheet that Todd linked for you above is specifically for your tortoise. Care for the temperate species is pretty much the same. I wrote that sheet with Russians, DTs, Chersina, greeks, and hermanni in mind.
No you are not wrong.
Thomas tortoise
Well-Known Member
Oh I am so sorry I tried looking it up but I guess Google is wrong
Most sources of tortoise info are all wrong. Vets, breeders, "experts", you tubers, book authors, pet stores, etc... All wrong. This forum is the only source I know of that gives up to date correct care info for most species. Some of the best and most experienced tortoise keepers in the entire world are on this forum, and we share info daily.
Take a minute to read that care sheet that Todd linked in the second post of this thread and see how it differs from what you found on google.
Thomas tortoise
Well-Known Member
Okay
Okay thanks!
