Help with tortoise species and age (and any advice)

[glasseyedcat]

Hi, I'm pretty new to tortoise care and I had a few questions concerning my tortoise. As winter is approaching I know hibernation is a natural and healthy cycle for your tortoise but it isn't recommended for a tortoise younger than 3-5 and also depends on the species of tortoise.
I was hoping someone would be able to help me figure out her species (I think she might be a russian tortoise? But I want to be corrected if I'm worng). And is there anyway to know her age exactly, or would I need to visit the vet to find that out?
(I'm sorry I don't know very much about her, she's actually my little brother's tortoise but he doesn't care for her so I do.)

 

[Yvonne G]

Full grown Russian tortoise. Can't tell you the gender until we can see the tail.

 

[SinLA]

Here is a great place to start:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Tom's Brumation Thread

Every fall we get bombarded here on the forum with all sorts of questions and problems regarding hibernation and tortoises "slowing down" for winter. The purpose of this thread is to talk about all aspects of this subject, to dispel some of the myths and mysteries, and give a "how to" list of...

tortoiseforum.org

how big is she? Its not really easy to tell how old they are once they are adults

Can you show pictures underside of his/her tail?

 

[glasseyedcat]

Full grown Russian tortoise. Can't tell you the gender until we can see the tail.

I do know she is a girl because the pet store displayed the gender of the tortoises they had. Are there any tips I should keep in mind in taking care of her? I've noticed she's been getting slower lately and not eating as much, is that normal around September?

 

[SinLA]

I do know she is a girl because the pet store displayed the gender of the tortoises they had. Are there any tips I should keep in mind in taking care of her? I've noticed she's been getting slower lately and not eating as much, is that normal around September?

LOL. I'm not saying she is NOT female, but one of the first thing you will learn being on this board for a long time - pet stores say things because they say things. They may even think they are correct. But often are not.

 

[glasseyedcat]

Here is a great place to start:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Tom's Brumation Thread

Every fall we get bombarded here on the forum with all sorts of questions and problems regarding hibernation and tortoises "slowing down" for winter. The purpose of this thread is to talk about all aspects of this subject, to dispel some of the myths and mysteries, and give a "how to" list of...

tortoiseforum.org

how big is she? Its not really easy to tell how old they are once they are adults

Can you show pictures underside of his/her tail?

She's about 6 inches head to tail and 5 inches side to side

 

[glasseyedcat]

LOL. I'm not saying she is NOT female, but one of the first thing you will learn being on this board for a long time - pet stores say things because they say things. They may even think they are correct. But often are not.

I feel bad for flipping (them) over, but does that photo help?

 

[SinLA]

@Yvonne G

 

[Yvonne G]

That's a full grown MALE russian. The long, fat tail is a dead giveaway. Also, if the pet store was going by the flat plastron, male russians don't get the concave plastron like some other species do.

This is the time of year for them to stop eating so their digestive tract will be empty for brumation.

 

[SinLA]

I was going to say the same thing, but wanted more expert advice. That sure looks to me like a male tail...

 

[glasseyedcat]

That's a full grown MALE russian. The long, fat tail is a dead giveaway. Also, if the pet store was going by the flat plastron, male russians don't get the concave plastron like some other species do.

This is the time of year for them to stop eating so their digestive tract will be empty for brumation.

By full grown, does that mean he's atleast 10 years old then? And thank you that information is helpful. And if he is 10 years old, I should hibernate him, correct?

 

[Yvonne G]

At least ten, maybe more.

I've always told the folks who adopted my rescues to keep them up the first winter so you can be sure they're healthy, plus you get to know them better.

 

[glasseyedcat]

At least ten, maybe more.

I've always told the folks who adopted my rescues to keep them up the first winter so you can be sure they're healthy, plus you get to know them better.

What are indications that he is not healthy?

 

[Yvonne G]

Tortoises, like most wild animals, hide illness. . . a sick animal gets caught and eaten easier.

It's hard to determine if the tortoise is sick, or wants to brumate, or any one of other things, but once you get to know your own tortoise it becomes apparent to you that something is wrong and you need to try to figure out what.

If that time ever comes, we'll try to help you, but basically YOU have to be the detective.

 

[TechnoCheese]

Just a heads up, russians and other testudo tortoises sold in chain pet stores are almost exclusively wild caught/farmed, which is how we are able to tell that he is likely at least or around 10 years old. Beyond that estimation, it's pretty much impossible to figure out an exact age.
Be sure to give this thread a read if you haven't already. Unfortunately, pet shops generally know nothing about the animals they sell in terms of care, so it's possible that your tort's current care isn't up to modern standards.

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

 

[wellington]

Yes a male and yes keep him up the first year. Forget all the pet store told you and read the info on this forum and listen/read advice already given.