New tort and don’t know what to do?! Help!

[hollygaucas]

I have a 3 month old Russian tort, but my cat has been lingering around his closure. Should I be worried? He also has been sleeping an awful lot but I don’t know whether this is normal as I have only had him for a couple days. Please help!

 

[hollygaucas]

Also he hasn’t been eating his food and I’m not sure what I should be feeding him. Thanks.

 

[Tim Carlisle]

My neighbor has a couple of Ruskies. He feeds them mostly grass and weeds, especially dandelions. He keeps his indoors in the winter, and they have been known to hibernate, or at least slow down significantly, for a few weeks to a month in the winter. In your case (since you've only had it a couple of days) it might just be going through an adjustment period trying to get used to its new surroundings. They can be quite shy at first.

 

[TechnoCheese]

It is normal for a tortoise to act like this when you first get it. Have you taken a look at our care sheet?

Russian Tortoise Care Sheet

https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...hp?threads/Russian-Tortoise-Care-Sheet.80698/

Also take a look at this-

Beginner Mistakes

https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...rg/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

Also, make sure you handle it as little as possible until it gets used to its surroundings

 

[hollygaucas]

My neighbor has a couple of Ruskies. He feeds them mostly grass and weeds, especially dandelions. He keeps his indoors in the winter, and they have been known to hibernate, or at least slow down significantly, for a few weeks to a month in the winter. In your case (since you've only had it a couple of days) it might just be going through an adjustment period trying to get used to its new surroundings. They can be quite shy at first.

Thanks for that information my tortoise has been eating a lot more now, she just wanted Italian salad, I guess! She is more active now as well! Thanks for the concern!

 

[hollygaucas]

It is normal for a tortoise to act like this when you first get it. Have you taken a look at our care sheet?

Russian Tortoise Care Sheet

https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...hp?threads/Russian-Tortoise-Care-Sheet.80698/

Also take a look at this-

Beginner Mistakes

https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...rg/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

Also, make sure you handle it as little as possible until it gets used to its surroundings

Thanks for the reply, you’re right. Do you know how many watts should be on the UVB bulb?

 

[hollygaucas]

At what age should my tort start to hibernate?

 

[TechnoCheese]

Thanks for the reply, you’re right. Do you know how many watts should be on the UVB bulb?

No, I do not. What uvb bulb do you have?
I personally recommend any strip light that is labeled for desert animals, but I would check here first. I use zoo med’s reptisun 10.0 https://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/11442-507367/18-inch-15-watt-t8-.html

 

[hollygaucas]

No, I do not. What uvb bulb do you have?
I personally recommend any strip light that is labeled for desert animals, but I would check here first. I use zoo med’s reptisun 10.0 https://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/11442-507367/18-inch-15-watt-t8-.html

Thanks for the link. I see that that bulb is 15 watt but I am using a 50 watt, is that bad?

 

[TechnoCheese]

It depends what kind of bulb you are using. Is it a MVB, coil, etc.

 

[TechnoCheese]

At what age should my tort start to hibernate?

I’m not sure, but you should never let one younger than a year hibernate.

 

[hollygaucas]

It depends what kind of bulb you are using. Is it a MVB, coil, etc.

I’m not quite sure, what’s the difference?

 

[hollygaucas]

I’m not sure, but you should never let one younger than a year hibernate.

Okay thanks, you have been extremely helpful!

 

[TechnoCheese]

Can you take a picture of your bulb?

 

[hollygaucas]

I can but I don’t know how to post it onto the forum.

 

[hollygaucas]

Can you take a picture of your bulb?

Do you know how I can post it onto the forum?

 

[TechnoCheese]

Do you have the app?

 

[hollygaucas]

Do you have the app?

No I am using it on the internet, I can download the app if necessary.

 

[TechnoCheese]

Download the app, and sign in. It makes it much easier.

 

[hollygaucas]

Download the app, and sign in. It makes it much easier.

Okay thanks. I won’t be long.