New Tortoise Woes

[BatJill]

Hi all! I adopted my first Russian tortoise last Monday (1/20) from a coworker's sibling. This guy had been living in a 30 gallon, glass fish tank with a basking light and a UV light, no hides, a water bowl, and was being fed daily butter lettuce. For two years. No supplements.

When we went to get him, I noticed his shell looked funny (the scutes look weird to me, like some grew quickly and his coloration seems off) and seemed to cave in a little bit. His shell all seems firm still, but I can see it is flaking off in areas. I do have an appointment with an exotic vet on February 3rd, but I'm starting to get worried about his behavior.

He was obviously not handled much, as every time I put my hand near him or to primp his enclosure, he pulls into his shell and hisses. He seems really scared.

We temporarily have him set up in the same tank (making a new, large enclosure tomorrow) glass windows are covered, he has a hide, water bowl, basking rock, UV light, and heat lamp. Soil, reptile bark, coconut color... Cuttlebone. I've soaked him in warm water twice (no poop or pee).

In the last two days, he's spent all day under his log and only comes out for 30 minutes or so, then digs himself back into the ground. He also has not eaten anything (tried all the weeds, all the food food, even caved and gave him butter lettuce) and he will not eat it. Doesn't even pay attention to it.

He also now has a white spot under his right eye.

I don't know if he's just still settling into his new environment, or if it's cold and he'd rather be hibernating, or he's sick.

I want to do everything right by him, and I feel like I've followed all the tortoise home requirements to a T, but he just seems off.

So I guess I'm looking for either reassurance he's okay or if there's something else I should try.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello and welcome!
This guy looks like a wild-caught adult. A 30 gallon tank for him is like living in a car trunk (4x8 ft. is a good minimum).

He is stressed by changes (tortoises generally don't like them), even if changes were for good. He needs a few weeks to adjust. Warm soaks are both beneficial and stressful for him, he will get used to bathing eventually.

What is temperature under the basking lamp? (put a thermometer under the lamp for an hour to measure).

 

[Tom]

Hi all! I adopted my first Russian tortoise last Monday (1/20) from a coworker's sibling. This guy had been living in a 30 gallon, glass fish tank with a basking light and a UV light, no hides, a water bowl, and was being fed daily butter lettuce. For two years. No supplements.

When we went to get him, I noticed his shell looked funny (the scutes look weird to me, like some grew quickly and his coloration seems off) and seemed to cave in a little bit. His shell all seems firm still, but I can see it is flaking off in areas. I do have an appointment with an exotic vet on February 3rd, but I'm starting to get worried about his behavior.

He was obviously not handled much, as every time I put my hand near him or to primp his enclosure, he pulls into his shell and hisses. He seems really scared.

We temporarily have him set up in the same tank (making a new, large enclosure tomorrow) glass windows are covered, he has a hide, water bowl, basking rock, UV light, and heat lamp. Soil, reptile bark, coconut color... Cuttlebone. I've soaked him in warm water twice (no poop or pee).

In the last two days, he's spent all day under his log and only comes out for 30 minutes or so, then digs himself back into the ground. He also has not eaten anything (tried all the weeds, all the food food, even caved and gave him butter lettuce) and he will not eat it. Doesn't even pay attention to it.

He also now has a white spot under his right eye.

I don't know if he's just still settling into his new environment, or if it's cold and he'd rather be hibernating, or he's sick.

I want to do everything right by him, and I feel like I've followed all the tortoise home requirements to a T, but he just seems off.

So I guess I'm looking for either reassurance he's okay or if there's something else I should try.

Thanks in advance!View attachment 386307View attachment 386308

Hello and welcome. I can see the growth areas you mentioned, but it's all okay. Nothing can be done about it now and it should have no effect o his health or quality of life at this point.

Great advice from Alex, and I agree. He needs time to settle in to the new area and routine, and he needs the proper sized enclosure with the correct heating and lighting. Here is more info on all of that:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

Also, be aware the most of the care info given from most sources is all wrong and out-dated. Likewise, vets are taught about medical treatments in vet school. They usually know very little about tortoise care and learn what they do know from the same wrong sources as everybody else. Do not let the vet give your tortoise any "vitamin injections". This is a clear sign they have no idea what they are doing with a tortoise.

Get this tortoise set up, lit, and heated correctly, and he will come around.

Also realize that tortoises are creatures of habit. They eat what they have eaten before. New foods, no matter how good they are, are typically ignored. You have to go through a lengthy introduction process to get them eating new foods. You have to mix in tiny minced amounts of new stuff with old favorites, and it can take weeks or months to get them eating the new stuff.

 

[BatJill]

Hello and welcome!
This guy looks like a wild-caught adult. A 30 gallon tank for him is like living in a car trunk (4x8 ft. is a good minimum).

He is stressed by changes (tortoises generally don't like them), even if changes were for good. He needs a few weeks to adjust. Warm soaks are both beneficial and stressful for him, he will get used to bathing eventually.

What is temperature under the basking lamp? (put a thermometer under the lamp for an hour to measure).

Thank you so much!

We're definitely going to be giving him a mansion to live in! Hoping he'll learn to love it in about 10 years or so.

The hottest point under his basking lamp is usually around 106'F. Room temperature stays around 68.5'F.

 

[BatJill]

Hello and welcome. I can see the growth areas you mentioned, but it's all okay. Nothing can be done about it now and it should have no effect o his health or quality of life at this point.

Great advice from Alex, and I agree. He needs time to settle in to the new area and routine, and he needs the proper sized enclosure with the correct heating and lighting. Here is more info on all of that:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

Also, be aware the most of the care info given from most sources is all wrong and out-dated. Likewise, vets are taught about medical treatments in vet school. They usually know very little about tortoise care and learn what they do know from the same wrong sources as everybody else. Do not let the vet give your tortoise any "vitamin injections". This is a clear sign they have no idea what they are doing with a tortoise.

Get this tortoise set up, lit, and heated correctly, and he will come around.

Also realize that tortoises are creatures of habit. They eat what they have eaten before. New foods, no matter how good they are, are typically ignored. You have to go through a lengthy introduction process to get them eating new foods. You have to mix in tiny minced amounts of new stuff with old favorites, and it can take weeks or months to get them eating the new stuff.

Hi, thank you so much for all this info!

Thank both you and Alex for soothing my worries that I've done so.wthinf wrong and it may just take him awhile to not be so crabby with me.

I spent a good chunk of time here yesterday scouring through posts and you're so right; there is SO much contradictory information out there!! Glad I've stumbled upon this site! Gonna set the little side up for a long, happy life.

Thank you again!!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hello, as stated above it’s likely your guys is currently stressed bless him, he’ll settle for you and then probably go huffy again once in the new onegive him time though

As well as toms threads, hopefully you’ll find this thread helpful, this covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc, stores often sell the wrong stuff so double check here), correct levels(double check these too), sizing(you can get away with smaller indoors if you can build a larger outdoor space when weather permits), appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and a really handy diet link to check out!

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

This includes lots of inspiration for an adult set up both indoors and out! The indoor bit has some good ideas to tackle indoor space whilst still providing the needed roaming room! Check comments too, I’m always adding to it. I know the recommended adult size is intimidating to some, especially if you’ve been lead into thinking he’ll be fine in a smaller set up(very common) but tortoises long term health really does rely on lots of roaming room.

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one here is probably most important to go over and keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

Always feel free to ask further questions! Welcome to the forum!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thank you so much!

We're definitely going to be giving him a mansion to live in! Hoping he'll learn to love it in about 10 years or so.

The hottest point under his basking lamp is usually around 106'F. Room temperature stays around 68.5'F.

Keep us in the loop on the new enclosure!

Basking area is a bit too hot. Your aim is 95F. What basking lamp do you use?

 

[BatJill]

Hello, as stated above it’s likely your guys is currently stressed bless him, he’ll settle for you and then probably go huffy again once in the new onegive him time though

As well as toms threads, hopefully you’ll find this thread helpful, this covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc, stores often sell the wrong stuff so double check here), correct levels(double check these too), sizing(you can get away with smaller indoors if you can build a larger outdoor space when weather permits), appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and a really handy diet link to check out!

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

This includes lots of inspiration for an adult set up both indoors and out! The indoor bit has some good ideas to tackle indoor space whilst still providing the needed roaming room! Check comments too, I’m always adding to it. I know the recommended adult size is intimidating to some, especially if you’ve been lead into thinking he’ll be fine in a smaller set up(very common) but tortoises long term health really does rely on lots of roaming room.

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one here is probably most important to go over and keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

Always feel free to ask further questions! Welcome to the forum!

Sadly we're in the gloomy part of Washington, so he will be inside for the most part, but we definitely have plans to make him a nice, safe outdoor space once it warms up!!

Glad to hear the teenager-esque attitude is pretty expected.

Thank you for all the resources, happy to be here!!

 

[BatJill]

Keep us in the loop on the new enclosure!

Basking area is a bit too hot. Your aim is 95F. What basking lamp do you use?

We are using the lamp he was set up with previously (in hind sight, probably should have questioned this lol). I foolishly do have it just clamped to the side of the enclosure (learned that is a no-no). Should I try to lift it up so it is not as hot??

The lamp doesn't have any real markings on it, it looks like a hardware store clamp lamp and the bulb is a 100w hot, hot lamp - the gal told me it was his basking lamp...

 

[COmtnLady]

Welcome to The Forum!

Here has the best most up-to-date info, plus there are a lot of years of expert tortoise keeping represented by the various members here. Everyone will do their best to help you help your tortoise to have a happy healthy life.
.
For your own peace of mind don't listen to the "advice" given by other sources, like: pet shops, social media sites, YouTube videos, people at reptile shows, and even most veterinarians. They're still using old info that doesn't work as well as what you'll find here.

Study the info in the links offered. All those head-exploding details will show you how to help your tortoise to thrive.

And, ask a lot of questions.

Hint: Run it by the keepers here before you buy new equipment or whatever - their expert expertise will save you a lot of stress and money.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

We are using the lamp he was set up with previously (in hind sight, probably should have questioned this lol). I foolishly do have it just clamped to the side of the enclosure (learned that is a no-no). Should I try to lift it up so it is not as hot??

The lamp doesn't have any real markings on it, it looks like a hardware store clamp lamp and the bulb is a 100w hot, hot lamp - the gal told me it was his basking lamp...

Yes, lift a lamp a bit. If the bulb has any labels can you post a photo? Some bulbs are spotlights and have narrow and intense beam which is a bad choice for tortoises.