Looking for a Russian

[Emerie Belda]

Hi I’ve been recently interested in getting a Russian tortoise but I didn’t want to get a new born. Looking for an old Russian tortoise in need of a rehoming I have been doing a lot of research have all the equipment needed and have all the knowledge needed for this pet. I also have lots of pet experience so this would be my first pet. I’m located in Annandale VA thanks 🙏

 

[wellington]

Be sure to get the enclosure inside and out set up and running with correct info from this forum, temps, substrate, etc.
An adult Russian needs a minimum of a 4x8 foot enclosure larger if possible.
Check your local Craigslist as there are usually some needing to be rescued from their tiny enclosures.

 

[Tom]

Hi I’ve been recently interested in getting a Russian tortoise but I didn’t want to get a new born. Looking for an old Russian tortoise in need of a rehoming I have been doing a lot of research have all the equipment needed and have all the knowledge needed for this pet. I also have lots of pet experience so this would be my first pet. I’m located in Annandale VA thanks 🙏

Most of the care info found for tortoises from most sources is old, out-dated and just plain wrong. Many people do months of "research" only to come here and discover that all that source material was repeating the same old wrong info.

Go over these two threads at least a couple of times each to make sure you've got the correct care info:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

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

Sourcing an adult tortoise in need of rescue won't be difficult, but be aware that it will most likely be a wild caught, and that most pet stores will tell you that a wild caught tortoise is captive bred or "farm raised", which is a silly bunch of non-sense, but they don't know any better. WC torts are a big gamble and often come with latent diseases and parasites. Some of them live for years and are fine. Some of them are not fine and can run up thousands of dollars in vet bills trying to diagnose and treat them.

CB adults are seldom seen for sale, but occasionally pop up here and there. I don't know what you opposition is to getting a well started CB baby, but that is the safest and best option. Many breeders here start them right and don't sell them until they have months of time into them and all is obviously going well.

 

[SinLA]

I strongly recommend a rescue. The vast majority of Russians have already been imported through places like Petco and Petsmart so almost any you get is going to have come from there. Meanwhile, take a look at this listing in the Pittsburgh area. Overpriced for sure but you may be able to offer for less.

Testudo Tortoise - general for sale - by owner - craigslist

$250 for everything OBO

pittsburgh.craigslist.org

This poor guy has lived his whole life in a tank 1/8 the size of what he probably needs. You have the opportunity to rescue him and give him the proper space and care he needs. There is no feeling better than that.

But DO be sure to read the care sheets provided as most people do not give them enough space so make sure you’re able to provide a better set up than the life he has now. This would be true for any rescue you get.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I’d always encourage rescuing! Just maybe prepare yourself for some potential health issues depending what kind of listings you look at! Feel free to check I out this thread I recently made too for the set up and diet side of things🙂

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Emerie Belda]

I strongly recommend a rescue. The vast majority of Russians have already been imported through places like Petco and Petsmart so almost any you get is going to have come from there. Meanwhile, take a look at this listing in the Pittsburgh area. Overpriced for sure but you may be able to offer for less.

Testudo Tortoise - general for sale - by owner - craigslist

$250 for everything OBO

pittsburgh.craigslist.org

This poor guy has lived his whole life in a tank 1/8 the size of what he probably needs. You have the opportunity to rescue him and give him the proper space and care he needs. There is no feeling better than that.

But DO be sure to read the care sheets provided as most people do not give them enough space so make sure you’re able to provide a better set up than the life he has now. This would be true for any rescue you get.

I have contacted him about the Russian but do you think you could help me find a Russian closer to where I live? I live in Annandale VA