How Long Do Russian Tortoises Stay In Their Burrow?

[Pebbles_and_Boulders]

I'm new to owning a tortoise. I did as much research as I could before getting her so I knew she would burrow. I provided extra substrate for her and she made sure to take advantage of it. She made a burrow for herself about 12 hours ago ( before night/bed time) and hasn't come out since. When should I be worried if I should be worried at all?

 

[wellington]

This is the time of year that Russians brumate. Being she is new to you, you won't really know if she is healthy enough to brumate, so you should keep her up the first year.
Temps at night should stay 70 or above. Day temps 80 with basking of 95-100. Be sure the enclosure is brightly lit for 12 hours a day. Don't let her stay borrowed for more then a day. If you have to get her out of hiding, give her a warm water soak and place in front of food.

 

[Tom]

I'm new to owning a tortoise. I did as much research as I could before getting her so I knew she would burrow. I provided extra substrate for her and she made sure to take advantage of it. She made a burrow for herself about 12 hours ago ( before night/bed time) and hasn't come out since. When should I be worried if I should be worried at all?

Hello and welcome. Russians don't burrow. They just dig down into the substrate.

Its excellent that you did research before getting her, but there is a big problem: Almost all of the info out in the world from pet stores and online sources is all wrong. They sell you and tell you all the wrong stuff.

Here is the correct care info:

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

This time of year, most of them want to go into brumation. You will need to dig the tortoise up, soak it in warm water, and keep it awake while you decide if you want to brumate it or not. Here is the info on that:

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

 

[Pebbles_and_Boulders]

This is the time of year that Russians brumate. Being she is new to you, you won't really know if she is healthy enough to brumate, so you should keep her up the first year.
Temps at night should stay 70 or above. Day temps 80 with basking of 95-100. Be sure the enclosure is brightly lit for 12 hours a day. Don't let her stay borrowed for more then a day. If you have to get her out of hiding, give her a warm water soak and place in front of food.

How often should I get her out? If I bathe and feed her every time she needs to come out will she stop attempting to brumate or will she keep trying? I know it's a yearly thing for them but will she just lose the urge this year or will she be adamant about it?

 

[wellington]

Well mine has always gone on and off all winter, well not really all winter, 2 or 3 months. Because I know he will come out of hiding, i let him do it on his own. However if it's been a couple days then i pull him out.
So it could go either way.

 

[Tom]

How often should I get her out?

Daily.

If I bathe and feed her every time she needs to come out will she stop attempting to brumate or will she keep trying?

There is no way to know. This depends on many factors. Some factors you have control of, like lighting and heat. Other factors are out of your control.

I know it's a yearly thing for them but will she just lose the urge this year or will she be adamant about it?

Same answer as the last question.

As I said, you need to decide if you want to brumate or not, and then take the correct steps for whichever way you want to go. This is all explained in the second thread I linked.

 

[Danajmc]

Is this a good heat gun... don't have 100 to 200 euro to spend at the moment on one with all the bells and whistles

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

View attachment 373497

Is this a good heat gun... don't have 100 to 200 euro to spend at the moment on one with all the bells and whistles

That looks fine to me!

 

[Danajmc]

This is on sale would this thermostat be good

 

[Danajmc]

That looks fine to me!

Ok thank you get that then.. that's great

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

View attachment 373498View attachment 373499View attachment 373500
This is on sale would this thermostat be good

Depends on the price... It's an overkill, to be honest. One simple on/off thermostat with a single knob like Habistat Classic is usually enough. You only need to maintain "safe low" temperature which is the same day and night with a stable hot basking area during the day.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Depends on the price... It's an overkill, to be honest. One simple on/off thermostat with a single knob like Habistat Classic is usually enough. You only need to maintain "safe low" temperature which is the same day and night with a stable hot basking area during the day.

Yeah seconding what Alex said, not only is it more expensive, when I myself looked into this one, the reviews were awful! So if getting it, buy with caution and keep your guarantee! But your CHEs being on a on/off thermostat will work just fine🙂

 

[Danajmc]

Ok thanks guys, I'll get the classic one then

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Ok thanks guys, I'll get the classic one then

Will definitely do the job and save you some money😊👍