Hi, again? ...

[Yuukari]

My name is Katie, I'm from southern California. I have three Russians. I disappeared from the forum a while ago when my tortoise wandered away, May of last year. Last Monday (March 10th)a muddy little tortoise wandered up to me while I was refinishing some furniture. After soaking her and looking over her shell, I realized it her (Gertrude), my very large Russian tortoise.
Since her departure we have adopted two more Russians Delilah and Franklin.

Here's a picture of Gurtrude attempting an escape from her new indoor enclosure.

 

[Jodie]

Welcome back. Glad you have her back. Sounds like she will keep you on your toes.

 

[keepergale]

Great news your tortoise found you
They are survivors. They have to be to have lived here as long as they have.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello and welcome back to the TFO from AZ. Go girl torts rule !

 

[smarch]

Wow, what luck! congrats on her coming back! Sounds like you'll really need to escape proof any outdoor enclosure for her!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

That's the second time Gertrude has walked into your yard! She must like it there.
Don't let her get away again.
I like a story with a happy ending, glad you got her back and now you are more experienced, what with the other two.
Welcome back!

 

[TortsNTurtles]

Welcome back!

 

[gingerbee]

Welcome back and congrats on getting your girl back!!

 

[Sheldon the russian tortoise]

Congrats!

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the forum, Katie.

If you tell me your previous username I can ask Josh to combine the two accounts for you.

 

[Momof4]

How cool is that? I wonder if she will have a hard time being in an enclosure after all the freedom she had! Congrats!!!

 

[Yuukari]

Thanks everyone, Yvonne this is the same account, thank you tho.
I do have a bit more experience under my belt, but still a bit lost.
I am pretty impressed with my outdoor enclosure,it is rather secure now, 17' x 4' cinder block enclosure underpinned 2' and 2' to the substrate, pretty sure she can't get out again.
For now its shared til I figure out what to do, but the fighting is pretty bad .

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Maybe divide the enclosure into 3? That's still nearly 6' x 4' each, which is not too bad for Russians. They don't need the company, as you know and they'll be less stressed without the competition and fighting. It sounds like the new 2 consider Gertrude a threat, or, if they can remember, a returning and no longer required queen bee, so to speak.
It's usually handbags at slow speed sort of stuff, but they could, potentially, cause injury and certainly stress is a factor.
Sounds like a super new enclosure.

 

[Yuukari]

Yeah trying to figure out how to divide it I tried once and they dug under, any ideas of a easy and quick to install/get divider, the dug under the rock wall I tried.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hmmm, I'm not much of an artificer. Maybe dig a trench and fill it with cement under the divider? Maybe have a look at the enclosures forum? I dunno, I've only got the one now, when I used to have two they didn't bother each other, kept well apart quite naturally, but their indoor enclosures were separate.

 

[Yuukari]

The girls are getting along really well but my male is aggressive, to his own detriment, my husband and I are discussing re-homing him, before he gets himself really hurt.

 

[bouaboua]

Good to have you back and so glad you found your torts! ! !

 

[pam]

Welcome back