New to the forum

[Kimberly5515]

Hi, I'm Kim...
My family and I have just adopted a male Russian from a family friend who could no longer care for him. His name is Sheldon and he is our first tortoise. I found this forum while researching how to care for him. It has been a wonderful resource. We are currently building a tortoise table (Sheldon was in a small aquarium). We are using coco coir bricks and cypress mulch as substrate and feeding him spring mix (no spinach), some collard greens and kale. I am concerned with keeping the proper humidity, the level goes from the 40's all the way to the low 80's??? Wondering the best way to regulate that? Also wondering how much we should feed him each day (don't want to go overboard)? We have had him for 8 days and he had 3 fifteen/twenty minute warm baths, is that too much? Worried about him becoming dehydrated I should say goodbye for now, I could ask questions for days!
Thanks for your time, I am sooo happy I have this resource to go to!

 

[Bogie=babyDINO]

Welcome to the crazy tortoise lovers forum!!!

 

[leigti]

Welcome to the forum. If he is an adult tortoise humidity around 50% is just fine. And soaking a couple times a week is also fine. You can keep the substrate slightly damp by pouring water into it and stir it around with your hands. Make the enclosure as big as you can. 8 x 4' is recommended for indoors. Check out the grocery store for cactus, dandelion greens, endive, escarole, collard greens, turnip greens etc.
I occasionally give my Russian a chunk of cucumber, no nutritional value but good source of water. She loves it.

 

[leigti]

The general rule is to feed them a pile of greens that is about the same size as they are. Sprinkle some calcium powder or scrape some cuttlebone on it a couple times a week.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Kim

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Welcome, Kim!

 

[Alaskamike]

The worry about over feeding is a hold over from the days when so many people fed the wrong foods.

IMO you cannot really over feed as long as you make available the variety of foods appropriate for your tort.

Hope you have a good time with your new friend. Welcome.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Kim, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum to you and Sheldon.
To keep in the humidity you need to make your tortoise table into a closed chamber.
See http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/
As for diet http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/nutrientanalysis.htm is very useful, the ones in bold are the best.
If you put down food for the tort and it is all gone later, you are not feeding enough, they should be able to browse when they want to. Overfeeding should not be an issue if their conditions are correct and they can exercise.
Two or three 15 to 20 minute baths is adequate per week unless your tort is already dehydrated in which case daily soaks for a while are good.
Also http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
or, if he is still a baby http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
If you do have any further questions, please don't be afraid to ask, as we have many experienced Russian owners on the forum!!!
Good luck.

 

[dmmj]

salutations. You named your tortoise Sheldon? Real original you know actually I like that name. It is awfully hard to overfeed a tortoise it can be done but you gotta try real hard. I don't. thank you have anything to worry about.

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum, Kim!

 

[Speedy-1]

Hi and welcome Kim and Sheldon !

 

[aundreagwen]

I'm a new russian owner too. I've had my guy for a week and a half. Great question about the food. My guy seems to eat A LOT! Good luck with Sheldon!

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

 

[Blakem]

Welcome! Glad you found the forum!

 

[Kimberly5515]

Hi again ☺
Wanted to say thanks to everyone for the warm welcome and all the good info, it has been very helpful!
We have made a tortoise table for him and he seems to be enjoying it. I'll take some pics and see what you all think. We will welcome any suggestions on improvements.
Thanks again!

 

[AnimalLady]

Hello and welcome!

Sheldon and Shelly are super popular tort names!

Would love to see a pic of your guy!