New Starter Keeper- Need Help!

[Team Dube]

Hey guys,
So I I have tons of research on tortoises in general and I really like the Russian tortoise. I was wondering, can one single adult live in a 3 foot long by 2 foot wide wood enclosure for its life. Yes, the tortoise will get out everyday in the summer, probably for an hour to two hours everyday in the summer. I would also like to know the best diet from these guys, and where to buy a captive-bred specimen.
Thanks.

 

[Nicole M]

There are plenty of breeders right here on the forum, so you've come to the right place! I would suggest looking in the "for sale" section and/or making a "wanted" post.

As for care sheets, please read these:

"Beginner Mistakes" http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

"Russian Care" http://www.tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Russian-Tortoise-Care-Sheet.80698/

"Baby Russian Care" http://www.tortoiseforum.org/index....r-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species).107734/

As for the enclosure size, no. That is definitely too small for an adult Russian, and I'd say that's even too small for a hatchling. I would suggest a 6'x2' minimum enclosure side, though many suggest even 4'x8' as a minimum. Really you should be thinking less about the minimum size enclosure to house your tortoise and more about the MAXIMUM amount of space you can provide. When it comes to outdoor enclosures (for sunning your tortoise, if you're unable to house your tortoise outside), this is a good guide: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/

 

[Jodie]

Hello, and welcome to the forum. Russians are very active, and will cover miles of territory in the wild. I agree with the above. You want to go as large as you can. If you can get them outside into a larger enclosure, for most of the time, then a smaller inside enclosure can work.

 

[JoesMum]

Please read the links that Nicole gave you.

4' x 8' is the minimum recommended size and the enclosure you talk of is far too small.

 

[Tom]

Hey guys,
So I I have tons of research on tortoises in general and I really like the Russian tortoise. I was wondering, can one single adult live in a 3 foot long by 2 foot wide wood enclosure for its life. Yes, the tortoise will get out everyday in the summer, probably for an hour to two hours everyday in the summer. I would also like to know the best diet from these guys, and where to buy a captive-bred specimen.
Thanks.

Hello and welcome. You'll need something larger than that inside, as the other posters have mentioned, but I wanted to address the outside time in summer. One or two hours a day of outside time is great for a baby, but an adult should be outside most of the time during nice weather. Its pretty easy to make a large, secure enclosure for them. Lots of ideas here for that.