My new Russian!

[pip]

I'm pretty sure it's a female, since her belly is flat and there's not notch above the tail. I got her from the pet store, so I have no idea how old she is. I'm going to buy some more substrate, since I think she probably needs a bit more in this enclosure. But she's pretty cute! She got to crawl around the garden during the afternoon, which I'm assuming was her first time being outside.

I put some spider plants in with her, but she decided she was gonna dig them up

She then decided she was gonna dig in the hay pile and hide. So here's her butt.

 

[dmmj]

a tortoise especially a Russian will decorate their enclosure however they feel like.

 

[wellington]

Cute. From the pet store she is wild caught and probably between 8-10. Give it take a few. If you can get her outside all day when it's warm like 70+ then just bring her in at night, it would do her a lot of good. Just be sure there is a bottom and top of wire mesh or something so she doesn't dig out or climb out. They are great escape artist.

 

[pip]

Aw, I didn't know they were wild caught at the store

I make sure to stay outside with her when she's out. When it's warm out, i'll def have to get an undiggable bottom for the garden. She stays in a little playyard (kinda like the playpen from the Rugrats) that is half on a brick walkway, half on the garden when I need to take quick trips in the house and let her stay outside. I didn't think it'd be enough time for her to dig out, but watching her dig in the enclosure she could probably get out pretty fast :0

 

[Oxalis]

Yeah, it makes me sad to think about. My Russian is likely wild-caught too. I imagine he was so overjoyed when I first took him outside to a garden of fresh greens and lots of sunshine!! It gets bigger and better every year!

 

[Paranub]

Nice looking tort, all be it sad that its wild caught, you have saved it from spending any more time being shipped around and living in a store who probably will never treat it will the love and care that you provide, does she have a name yet?

 

[Oxalis]

Nice looking tort, all be it sad that its wild caught, you have saved it from spending any more time being shipped around and living in a store who probably will never treat it will the love and care that you provide, does she have a name yet?

Oh so true! It's great to spoil an adorable tortoise!!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Nice looking tort, all be it sad that its wild caught, you have saved it from spending any more time being shipped around and living in a store who probably will never treat it will the love and care that you provide, does she have a name yet?

A lot of wild caught tortoises and turtles become dinner.
At least the pet trade ones have a chance.

 

[Yvonne G]

Just a word of explanation - Russian males don't have a concave "belly." The only way to tell males from females in the Russian species is by their tail.

 

[Sandy Martinez]

Russians are fun! I bought mine from someone who bought him from Petsmart as well. She was moving into an apt. Not sure hold old mine is either but she had him for a year after she bought him from Petsmart. I've had him for a couple months. Russians are so much fun and active! He loves being rubbed on top of his head and on the side of his neck. I especially get a kick out of him at feeding time -- if torts could run I would say he is -- he's so fast! lol
Have fun with yours!

 

[pip]

Just a word of explanation - Russian males don't have a concave "belly." The only way to tell males from females in the Russian species is by their tail.

Oh ok. The tail is short and has the 'asterisk', so I still think female.
Not sure about names yet. I was thinking Vladlena, or something Russian.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Helga should be a tortoises name.
No offense to any members named Helga.................

 

[Sandy Martinez]

Helga is German I think -- think she'll be offended? But I like Helga