Lazy tortoise

[covetort]

For about five years I've had a Russian tortoise named Babushkin. She's probably about 10 years old. Recently we have taken in another tortoise (most likely also a Russian) of unknown age, and he is quite regularly active. This made me question Babushkin a little - she barely moves besides between this half log that she likes to sleep and stay under and this area below the heat lamp. At that, she moves a lot slower than our new tortoise and she has much less of an appetite. Usually when I give her food she eats just part of it (sometimes none) and goes back to the log. The new tortoise eats everything. This has been Babushkin's regular behavior for at least 9 months (as long as I can remember, it might have been longer).

Babushkin is also oddly different looking than many Russian tortoises, her shell seems more flat and less round than others. Also, the new tortoise's shell kind of curves upwards in the back, exposing his tail where hers goes down. Could this be an issue?
Is there anything I should be doing to have Babushkin be more active?

Somewhat unrelated, the new tortoise has broken out of every habitat we've put him in so far except for a large cardboard box (with the necessary things for his well being). What's he trying to get out of breaking out of these enclosures? He wasn't doing this when he was with Babushkin but I started another thread that resulted in me apparently needing to separate the two tortoises.

 

[Yvonne G]

What kind of heat/light are you providing for the tortoises. If they aren't warm enough they don't eat well and don't move much.

 

[stinax182]

first of all, i wouldn't keep them together. especially if you just received the other and don't know it's past. plus, your tort hasn't had to share anything for awhile, she probably doesn't wanna start now. i learned that the hard way.

and both the torts are Russian tortoises, there's a couple different shapes and sizes (i love the round, flat ones) Russian torts like a lot of dirt to bury themselves in and escape warmer temps, so dump some water into the dirt so it's cooler. under the basking light should be 100°f while dropping down to 75°f on the cool side of the enclosure. they also benefit from a small drop in temp at night, maybe 68°f. Russian torts are escape artists, trust me, haha. they also seem to be the tort that most wants what's on the other side of the wall. if they see a way out, they will exploit it. ways to resolve this is to make them each the biggest enclosure you can, they are known to travel miles daily in the wild over their territory, so a box just does not cut it.

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