Largest Russian tortoise you've seen?

[Uberspooky]

I was given three Russians recently from a lady who couldn't take care of them anymore. They look like Russians, at least, but they dwarf my others. I'd say the one female is 9-9.5" and the slightly smaller female is approaching 9. Is there another species out there with all the characteristics and markings of Russians but larger?

She said she was told when she purchased them a year ago that they were six months old. I don't think that's close to true, but wouldn't Russian torts of that size be actually rather old? They're a lot blonder than my males. The male she gave me is very clearly Russian, but these two females are surprisingly large. Logically, they look for all the world to be Russian. It just shocked me. These torts never really saw sun--do torts kept under lights bleach a bit?

 

[peasinapod]

Pictures!

 

[Uberspooky]

Pictures!

I'll upload some when I get home. I knew better than to post without pics, lol. I'm just at work.

 

[wiccan_chicken]

Yes pictures please :3

 

[Uberspooky]

Here's one of the ladies. She's 9" and very solid. I had this pic on my phone. I can get better ones in the run tomorrow.

 

[tortadise]

Those are russians indeed. There is 7 types of russians. They all can get around the same size. But its the shape that shows the differences. Those are all within the sizes that horsfieldi gets. But they are most certainly not of the age she stated I would have to say.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

I have seen Russians that don't get real sunlight be much lighter in color.
Also, they are much older than you were told but there is nothing wrong with that. I'd love to get my hands on some 9"ladies.

Sent from my TFOapp

 

[Sh3wulf]

I have seen Russians that don't get real sunlight be much lighter in color.
Also, they are much older than you were told but there is nothing wrong with that. I'd love to get my hands on some 9"ladies.

Sent from my TFOapp

TFO is one of the few places someone could say "I would like to get my hands on some 9"ladies" and not raise a lot of eyebrows. Lol

Beautiful tortoises. Would love to see more pics

 

[kanalomele]

I have a couple of ladies in that size range. They are much older than 6 months however. No Russian that was growing that fast would be as smooth as these.

 

[FLINTUS]

Can we have a plastron pic please? Could be an unusual forstenni at a guess, although 99% sure it is a horsfield. There are quite a few 9 inch ones around.

 

[biochemnerd808]

Beautiful, and I'd say definitely a Russian tort. Nice new growth, too. Did you measure the flat length, or curved over the top?

Female RTs do occasionally grow to be this big. I hope mine do some day... it can take up to 20+ years to get that big though, so definitely not a yearling...

Congrats on the new torts!

Here's one of the ladies. She's 9" and very solid. I had this pic on my phone. I can get better ones in the run tomorrow.

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TFO is one of the few places someone could say "I would like to get my hands on some 9"ladies" and not raise a lot of eyebrows. Lol

Hahahah!

 

[Irish]

TFO is one of the few places someone could say "I would like to get my hands on some 9"ladies" and not raise a lot of eyebrows. Lol
[/quote]

That is so funny and so right!