help ! (what species is this)

[vic--twm]

i have been given a tortoise and i don't know what species it is can anyone help please ?

 

[G-stars]

Hello and welcome. You have yourself a Russian tortoise.

Here is a great care sheet for this species.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Russian-Tortoise-Care-Sheet.80698/

 

[Tom]

Your species is Testudo horsfieldii, or as G-Stars already pointed out, the Russian tortoise. They are really a good one and relatively easy to care for.

In addition to that care sheet, check these out:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/semi-underground-russian-box.98590/

Where are you? Your climate will have an influence on care advice.

 

[vic--twm]

thanks for that, i live in the uk and the tortoise is around 7 years old i dont know if its male or female ? but it has been living in a wooden tank with a heat bulb and occassionaly left out in the garden (in a enclosure) i have noticed its nails are quite long so do u have any advice on this ?

 

[Tom]

All of the above sounds good. Show us a pic of the tail and anal scutes and another pic of the nails and we can advise. They do tend to have long nails as they are a digging species, but we'll need to see just how long.

Wooden tables are fine as long as they are big enough. 4x8 feet is the minimum size I recommend for an adult russian like yours.

 

[vic--twm]

thank u

 

[Tom]

thank u

I can't get a feel for how long the tail is when its pointed straight at the camera like that. The second picture in your first post would have been perfect if it was just a little wider. Can you snap one of the whole underside of the tortoise and be wide enough to show the tail and the nails. I think that would do it.

 

[vic--twm]

thanks again

 

[Tom]

Nails don't look bad. It wouldn't hurt to Dremmel a little off the tips. I think you've got a female there.

 

[vic--twm]

thank u

 

[G-stars]

Looks female to me too. Beak looks a little long in that first pic. I'd focus on that and not so much the nails.

 

[vic--twm]

what should i do with the beak ? think i should maybe take her to a reptile shop and get her looked over ?

 

[G-stars]

what should i do with the beak ? think i should maybe take her to a reptile shop and get her looked over ?

Can you post a better picture of her face?