I need experienced keepers, help!

[IIzDaFury]

Okay thank you, i'll change the bulb soon as possible, i know the temps are about right, i'm going to try and feed them with real proper greens for the next few days till they start eating when they do i can put them on a diet!

What bulb would you recommend? good atleast i don'#t need to buy 2 bulbs!

Thank you so much for your replies, i'll be looking through these articles!

 

[IIzDaFury]

Lyn W

Do you recomend me getting this bulb: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercury-V...286460?hash=item567a6f103c:g:IBMAAOSwyQtV3Eyy

and take out my other bulb and swap it for a standard light bulb to provide normal light? or should i get another UVB buld ontop of this bulb?

 

[IIzDaFury]

I've put some food out this morning and i want to announce, they're eating!

I've got some greens, chopped them up and they came out warmed up and starting eating! super happy!

I can't thank you all enough for helping me!!

 

[Tom]

Please read these threads. They are full of info that will help you and your tortoises:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

There is a lot of old outdated misinformation circulating around out there in the world. It can be tough to know who to listen to. Here are some points I'd like to highlight from your postings:
1. Ditch the coil bulb ASAP. They can live without a UV source for weeks if need be. Just turn that one off right away, and you can get something else in the next few days. Keep using their heat bulb.
2. Reptiles are temperature dependent. You need to know what the temps are all over your enclosure day and night, so that you can make the necessary adjustments. You need to know: Warm side, cool side, basking area and overnight low. 10 is much too cold for a baby. Don't let it get below 18 or so, and 21ish would be better. You let your house get down to 10 at night? Man, I'd be freezing. Do you sleep in snow gear?
3. Get rid of the pelleted substrate before it molds.
4. Is that "Pets at Home" substrate with the limestone bits in it? If yes, I'd get rid of that ASAP too. Encouraging tortoises to eat their substrate to satisfy their calcium cravings is a very bad idea. That stuff should be taken off the market.
5. Your tortoises need to be separated now. Today. ASAP. Tortoises should not be kept in pairs, and especially not russians. The guy who sold them to you should know this. He is either ignorant, or he wanted your money more than to do what's best for the tortoises. They can usually do well in groups as juveniles, but not pairs. And when they mature, you might have to separate all of them. Best to have just one unless you intend to breed. Check this out: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/bad-day-for-baby.114328/

 

[IIzDaFury]

Please read these threads. They are full of info that will help you and your tortoises:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

There is a lot of old outdated misinformation circulating around out there in the world. It can be tough to know who to listen to. Here are some points I'd like to highlight from your postings:
1. Ditch the coil bulb ASAP. They can live without a UV source for weeks if need be. Just turn that one off right away, and you can get something else in the next few days. Keep using their heat bulb.
2. Reptiles are temperature dependent. You need to know what the temps are all over your enclosure day and night, so that you can make the necessary adjustments. You need to know: Warm side, cool side, basking area and overnight low. 10 is much too cold for a baby. Don't let it get below 18 or so, and 21ish would be better. You let your house get down to 10 at night? Man, I'd be freezing. Do you sleep in snow gear?
3. Get rid of the pelleted substrate before it molds.
4. Is that "Pets at Home" substrate with the limestone bits in it? If yes, I'd get rid of that ASAP too. Encouraging tortoises to eat their substrate to satisfy their calcium cravings is a very bad idea. That stuff should be taken off the market.
5. Your tortoises need to be separated now. Today. ASAP. Tortoises should not be kept in pairs, and especially not russians. The guy who sold them to you should know this. He is either ignorant, or he wanted your money more than to do what's best for the tortoises. They can usually do well in groups as juveniles, but not pairs. And when they mature, you might have to separate all of them. Best to have just one unless you intend to breed. Check this out: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/bad-day-for-baby.114328/

Hello,

I'll be seperating them definately!

The substrate i use is the following: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301736938411?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

IS this good enough or does it need to change? I'm removing the Coil and ordering one tomorrow! i'll be buying: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arcadia-D...hash=item1c381fa889:m:mOqTRV3H9A4jOizkGLM8Tjg - 80w Because the roof of the viv isn't that high


The Rabbit stuff was given to me by the supplier i replaced it next day the bedding was just temperay because they was sleeping there so i was waiting for them to wake up and move.

DO you think the bulb is good enough?


- Origonally i wanted 1 hermann tortoise, but the breeder text me saying he'd ran out so he'd offer me 2 russians for the same price on the day, it's kinda my fault for forgetting to research if they can be housed together but at the same time he should've told me so i'm kinda annoyed with my self and him haha

 

[Tom]

Hello,

I'll be seperating them definately!

The substrate i use is the following: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301736938411?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

IS this good enough or does it need to change? I'm removing the Coil and ordering one tomorrow! i'll be buying: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arcadia-D...hash=item1c381fa889:m:mOqTRV3H9A4jOizkGLM8Tjg - 80w Because the roof of the viv isn't that high


The Rabbit stuff was given to me by the supplier i replaced it next day the bedding was just temperay because they was sleeping there so i was waiting for them to wake up and move.

DO you think the bulb is good enough?


- Origonally i wanted 1 hermann tortoise, but the breeder text me saying he'd ran out so he'd offer me 2 russians for the same price on the day, it's kinda my fault for forgetting to research if they can be housed together but at the same time he should've told me so i'm kinda annoyed with my self and him haha

The little white bits in that substrate are the reason I say: No. Its not good. Coco coir, aka "Bed-A-Beast" and "Eco-Earth", works best for little russians in my experience.

That Arcadia bulb is perfect. It should serve you well. Just make sure you are able to maintain the correct temps with it.

 

[turtlelover323]

Hello,

I recently got 2 russian tortoises, i'm a reptile lover, i love reptiles, anyway i did a fair large amount of research before i bought them,

Unfortunately the enclosure i was given was a viv, i'm planning on changing this, i was given rubish substrate so i replaced that too, no hiding spots so i had to make my own but i'm slowly giving them a better home!

I need some help, it's been 6 days since i've got them, they're not eating!! BUT they do drink, i've watched them drink fair amounts of water when bathing and they eat small amounts of the cuttlebone fish i've supplied them.

I've seen one of the tortoises trying to nipple the food bowl dish, even when theres food inside the dish, the dish is very low so they can easily climb over it without any effort. I was wondering what should i do? How can i get them to eat their food or are they just settling in?

i was given dry nettles to feed them, i'm currently trying to grow 3 pots worth of weeds, flowers ect. hopefully they'll be up and running soon but weeds outside are hard to come by this time of year :/

Any advice?!

Many thanks!

Are you giving them tortoise pellets? They're probably going to eat better if you give them something that looks like it came from their natural habitat.