I have three Russians. Pretty sure at least 2 sub species. Can you identify?

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Delilah is massive. About 4.5 lbs and at least 9”.
Female, rescue.

Becky is 6” or maybe 6.5” and I don’t remember her last weight. Around half of Delilah maybe? Female, rescue.
Milton is 4” and less than a pound. Came from a pet shop. Male.

milton and Delilah are most similar in shape, but not sure if they’re the same sub, as they definitlet have differences.

;
Delilah and Milt are very round and flatter. Becky is more oval and domed.

can you help me identify?

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RosemaryDW

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My lord she is huge. I’m no expert but doesn’t look that old, I don’t think. Maybe just a good eater? She’s got a ton of smooth yellow growth. Ours had a significant jump in the two years after we adopted her and went from five to around seven inches (forgot to measure her this year, oops!) but I’m sure she won’t hit nine inches for years, if ever.

I don’t think we’ve had mention of even an eight inch Russian in some time, although I suspect someone does and doesn’t advertise the fact. :) @Yvonne G has two that weigh that much but weren’t that large the last time she mentioned them. That was in 2009 (!) so perhaps they are getting close to that size or are the sub species that grows high domes, not wide.

No clue on sub species, just had to comment on your girl.
 
Joined
Jan 5, 2019
Messages
48
Location (City and/or State)
Illinois
My lord she is huge. I’m no expert but doesn’t look that old, I don’t think. Maybe just a good eater? She’s got a ton of smooth yellow growth. Ours had a significant jump in the two years after we adopted her and went from five to around seven inches (forgot to measure her this year, oops!) but I’m sure she won’t hit nine inches for years, if ever.

I don’t think we’ve had mention of even an eight inch Russian in some time, although I suspect someone does and doesn’t advertise the fact. :) @Yvonne G has two that weigh that much but weren’t that large the last time she mentioned them. That was in 2009 (!) so perhaps they are getting close to that size or are the sub species that grows high domes, not wide.

No clue on sub species, just had to comment on your girl.
You know that’s a good point. She doesn’t look old at all, her shell is not weathered and is near perfect. I do not have the slightest clue how old she is. I rescued her from a place called Critters in South Elgin, IL. Someone relinquished her, and the store had her vetted and she had a wonderfully clean bill of health, and always has. She’s a great eater (if I put a dandelion in front of her nose while she’s dead asleep she will immediately wake up to eat it... it’s absolutely hilarious). She was kept in a forty gallon tank with a male and could barely even turn around when she was with her old owners who apparently were an older couple. The shop tried to get me to take the male as well but I didn’t have the cash at the time for a whole new enclosure and I didn’t want to keep them together like they were because I’d done enough research to know that wasn’t a good idea. The male was, unsurprisingly, half her size. I just knew I needed to take the one who was probably miserable due to her massive size and lack of space. A forty gallon tank.... COME ON. Her first enclosure was a 6’ by 3’ kiddie pool and I would take her outside for hours in warm weather. I used to live on an abandoned golf course turned nature preserve and I’d be walk 1/4 of a mile with her. She loves being outside.

secretly I do hope she’s less than 20 or 25 and just an absolute unit so I can have her around for a long time. I wonder if she’ll grow another 1/2 inch if she’s only 20 or so.
 

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Golden Greek Tortoise 567

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I have to agree with you, her shell is smooth and beautiful, she doesn’t look very old but the other factor is that she is massive! My female russian is only 5 1/2 inches.
 

RosemaryDW

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secretly I do hope she’s less than 20 or 25 and just an absolute unit so I can have her around for a long time. I wonder if she’ll grow another 1/2 inch if she’s only 20 or so.
There used to be ten-inch females imported, from what I’ve read, but they’ve all been plucked at this point and just the little ones left coming in.

Given the size ours was when we got her and our vet’s best guess I don’t think ours was older than 20 when we got her so we have to plan for who will get her after we’re dead. :eek:
 
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