need help identifying tortoise (pictures enclosed)

[Niki]

I need help identifying this tortoise i recently acquired. One vet says she's a Russian and another says its a Desert. I've posted some pictures and hopefully someone can help identify this darling tortoise of mine..
thanks in advance
niki

 

[mobtech]

I say Russian Tortoise.

 

[Laura]

good size ? russian.. trying to eat calcium out of that sea shell!
how did you come across her?

 

[Niki]

good size ? russian.. trying to eat calcium out of that sea shell!
how did you come across her?

A friend of mine had to move into apartment,so I took her. She said it was a Desert, I took her to a vet and one said Russian then her colleague said no, its a desert. Yes, she tried to eat that sea shell! Do I feed her calcium? I really was hoping she was a Desert bc I live in AZ and her enclosure is outside.

 

[Laura]

my russina lives outside 24/7. so yours can too.
yes, she needs calcium. get a Cuttle bone. its sold for birds. you can give it to her whole or scrape it over her greens.
she looks good. any idea how old she is?
if you post picks of her underside, we can tell you boy or girl.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

She's (if she IS actually a she) is a Russian. No doubt about that to me.

 

[Utah Lynn]

They both look Russian to me. I think they'll do equally well, there in Arizona. Welcome to TFO.

 

[Jessie]

Russian.

 

[Niki]

Ok... Taking pic of her underside now. So, can I put her outside now? She hibernated for 2 months in my garage ( just woke up last week) I have been bringing her in at night bc it's in the 40's at night. I actually had a heat lamp on her. She spends days outside eating and basking in sun. I am also going to send pic of her enclosure. Thanks again for help... I was told Russians couldn't take the Az summers outside? Is this true?

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Here's a picture of her underbelly and her enclosure...

 

[Laura]

its a girl! lucky you..
and nice yard.. make sure there is plenty of shade in the hot arizona summer.. and russians are escape artisits. they can climb well and get out of small areas.

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for safety from predators... day and night.. you may want to cover that area with wire mesh of somesort..

 

[Niki]

its a girl! lucky you..
and nice yard.. make sure there is plenty of shade in the hot arizona summer.. and russians are escape artisits. they can climb well and get out of small areas.

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for safety from predators... day and night.. you may want to cover that area with wire mesh of somesort..

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Thats good....her name is Greta..i just started planting, so going to add a larger shrub for shade.The fencing is 6 inches deep. I will definitely put something over it, not sure what thats going to be. So, can I keep her outside now? Or do I wait until its warmer at night? And I know I am redundant....but she is ok when the temp gets 115 in summer? Thanks again!

 

[Utah Lynn]

Being Winter here, I have mine inside. When the weather gets decent, I have them outside, but our night temps usually drop to the 40's, so I bring them in at night. Myself, if the temps didn't get much lower than 60, I would consider leaving them out (covered) 24/7.

 

[Niki]

Being Winter here, I have mine inside. When the weather gets decent, I have them outside, but our night temps usually drop to the 40's, so I bring them in at night. Myself, if the temps didn't get much lower than 60, I would consider leaving them out (covered) 24/7.

Sounds good.. I will continue to bring her in at night. I am going to have to figure a way to cover that enclosure. Thanks.

 

[dmmj]

People sometimes refer to russians as desert box turtles, so I can understand the confusion ( maybe not from a vet though). Nice looking big female russian you have there.

 

[dmarcus]

Very nice looking female Russian you have....

 

[Jacqui]

She is indeed a nice one!

 

[ascott]

She sure is we'll, voluptuous and very beautiful to boot...I would second capping that area so she does not get out as well....

 

[ada caro]

Russian, nice looking girl.

 

[Irwin4530]

Beautiful female russian!
Congrats!

 

[mule88Day]

I also have a desert... Thats a Russian tortoise. I have 6 Russians- 4 female & 2 male, 2 female sulcata's, and a desert. Not too mention 3 box turtles .