Plan for tortoises

[Yvonne G]

Hi David:

I also have marauding hunters roaming my neighborhood, and yet, all my tortoises live outside. As long as you either bring the tortoise in at night, or provide a safe and secure nighttime hiding place, your tortoise will be fine outside. The type of hunters that you've described usually hunt at night. During the day your tortoise will be fine outside. Please reconsider this. Its much cheaper in the long run to let your tortoise be a tortoise, and live outside.

 

[Morty the Torty]

I just bought a $2 plant pot from Home Depot and put it on its side as a hide Morty keeps climbing the log and falling off so I had to take it out.

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I do love that you're putting the links and prices on here. That means you're really putting a lot of thought into this!

 

[chase thorn]

Amazon is amazing! Petco torts are risky and maybe consider ordering a tort from Tortoise supply or Arizona tortoise compound.

 

[JoesMum]

I don't want to derail this thread, but please let Morty climb and fall off things. The sooner he works out how to fall off in a controlled manner the better... and this requires practice.

if you're going to be out for more than hour or two you may want to take it out, but otherwise leave it there!

 

[chase thorn]

My Russian set up...

Large animal trough from a feed store measures 12H x 31W x 52L
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NPBLAU/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
2 bags of cypress & 1 brick of coco coir
http://www.petco.com/product/6347/Zoo-Med-Forest-Floor-Bedding.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010OSIHW/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
1 8" pot saucer from Lowes for $7.00
Lamp that hangs 12" from substrate
http://www.petco.com/product/9469/F..._-ProductDetail_3-_-Fluker's Clamp Lamps-9469
100w Zoo med powersun (I have 2 of these and absolutely love them!)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AQDJK/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
Half log, size Xlarge for hide.
Calcium from petco
Small childs plastic plate for food. Nice and flat and easy to clean
Food that I grow and that is in the store bought lettuce boxes called spring mix is also what I use.
Hope this helps!
DO NOT for get to get a thermometer or 2...or 3!
Add small flat rocks for the little one to climb on as well!

This is just my setup that you may use as an example. Mine is simple yet a stress-free area for my tort and he loves it!

 

[yuri2012]

The main piece is that the enclosure is too small for your Russian tortoise. Think about getting a larger container at least 4 feet by 3 feet. You can build it yourself or take the lazy way out and buy pre-made enclosures which can cost between $80-$160. If you don't care how your home looks to guests and the people you live with then feel free to use a Rubbermaid tub or something less cosmetically appealing.

 

[chase thorn]

Yes, Russians may seem small and may never get much larger than when you get it, but they are very active and do need a large enclosure. Mine stays inside most of the year until mid summer. CO does not stay as warm as he would like!

 

[34KING18]

I can't thank you guys enough for helping me with my list of supplies. Sorry to tell you this guys, but I don't have space for those rubber enclosures and the glass tank is the best fit for me and my house. Sorry if that offends anyone but I'm sorry. I have a couple questions:

Is the substrate that I picked good for a russian tortoise?

If i put half of the pot in the substrate will the turtle still have space or will it be to crammed for him?

Do tortoises need deep water dishes or is the terra cotta saucer good for them?

Is the basking light that I picked for them good?

Does the basking light need to be uvb and uva or can it just give off heat and light?

Do the tortoises need a spot in the tank to go under a uvb light or can i put one so the whole tank is kind of like in a uvb light?

Do the powersun mercury-vapor bulbs give off uva and uvb light?

Thanks guys for helping me so much with this list and here is it AGAIN revised:



Tank (36 x 18 x 19): $ 55

Tortoise: $ 80 http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3893725

Substrate: $ 2.75 http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-G...87f579&cj=true&cm_mmc=CJ-_-5320196-_-11013433

Hide: $ 19.98 http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...&keyword=terra+cotta+flower+pot&storeId=10051

Plants: $ 7.66 http://www.petco.com/product/108128/Exo-Terra-Silk-Amapallo-Jungle-Plant.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

Food Dish: Piece of slate

Water Dish: $ 6.98
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...&langId=-1&keyword=plant+saucer&storeId=10051

Clamp Light: $ 12.74 (8.5 inch diameter) http://www.petco.com/product/9469/Flukers-Clamp-Lamps.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

Basking Light: $ 8.39
http://www.petco.com/product/4969/Z...ile_1-_-Zoo Med Repti Basking Spot Lamps-4969

Clamp Light: $15.29 ( 10 inch diameter )
http://www.petco.com/product/9469/Flukers-Clamp-Lamps.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

Light bulb: $ 37.04 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AQDJK/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Zoo Med Reptile Lamp Stand, Full Size: $ 44.54 (x 2)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000255OUO/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[JoesMum]

I can't thank you guys enough for helping me with my list of supplies. Sorry to tell you this guys, but I don't have space for those rubber enclosures and the glass tank is the best fit for me and my house. Sorry if that offends anyone but I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, but caring for a pet means catering for its needs. A tortoise, especially a Russian needs space. If you cannot provide that space, please do not get one. It would be cruel to do so.

 

[34KING18]

I'll think about the rubber enclosure thing but can you answer my questions please? ( Not trying to sound rude )

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

Is the substrate that I picked good for a russian tortoise?

not an expert on Russians, but I would think its a good start. You can always supplement it with coconut coir (this can be purchased thru various online vendors).

If i put half of the pot in the substrate will the turtle still have space or will it be to crammed for him?

Depends on the size of the pot and the size of the tortoise.

Do tortoises need deep water dishes or is the terra cotta saucer good for them?

I would say, deep enough for them to keep their plastron on the bottom while not straining their head to stay above the surface.

Do the tortoises need a spot in the tank to go under a uvb light or can i put one so the whole tank is kind of like in a uvb light?

It depends on the lighting situation. If you use the Mercury Vapor Bulbs (the ZooMed powerSun), that is basically a basking bulb AND a UV light in one, so it should be on one side. If you use a typical tube florescent bulb for UV, and just have a "regular" basking bulb for heat, then you can place it in the middle.

The main thing is that you want a temperature gradient within the enclosure: i.e. a cool side and a warm side.

Is the basking light that I picked for them good?

Does the basking light need to be uvb and uva or can it just give off heat and light?

Do the powersun mercury-vapor bulbs give off uva and uvb light?

Yes, the mercury vapor bulb (MVB) doubles as heat bulbs and UV bulb. Depending on your temperature situation, you may not need the other basking light.

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Which reminds me....You NEED to get one of these:

Temperature Gun - $35 - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009OBFW4/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Anyone who keeps reptiles should have one. Period. NO excuses.

 

[34KING18]

Thank you for replying very quickly. I'll look into the temperature gun. With the lighting, if I put the basking light on the right side of the tank so that all the light is concentrated in one spot in the tank, could i put the mvb bulb in the middle so that it lights up my whole entire tank so my tortoise gets uvb and uva rays all the time with a little heat also?

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

Thank you for replying very quickly. I'll look into the temperature gun. With the lighting, if I put the basking light on the right side of the tank so that all the light is concentrated in one spot in the tank, could i put the mvb bulb in the middle so that it lights up my whole entire tank so my tortoise gets uvb and uva rays all the time with a little heat also?

That is something only a temp gun will tell you.

 

[34KING18]

Haha i WILL get the temperature gun but do i have the uva/uvb lights in the right spots and the basking light?

Does the basking light need uva/uvb rays or can it just be a lamp that gives off heat?

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

Haha i WILL get the temperature gun but do i have the uva/uvb lights in the right spots and the basking light?

The basking light should be on one end of the enclosure. This end will serve as the "warm" end.

Personally, I think you would be fine just using the PowerSun MVB on one side and use no other lighting. As I said before, that bulb doubles as a basking light and a UV light. Simply have it on a timer and leave it on for 12 hours a day. Russian tortoises come from a temperate climate similar to North America, and can tolerate nighttime drops. Hopefully, someone experienced in keeping Russians indoors can expand and add to this. But for now, you would just ONE light and only have it on ONE side of the cage.

Does the basking light need uva/uvb rays or can it just be a lamp that gives off heat?

I believe I already answered this. If you have another lamp that gives off UV rays (either the MVB powersun or a tube floresecent fixture), the basking light does not have to provide UVB/UVA rays. Basically, there's no need to have two UV lights (unless you just have a HUGE indoor enclosure!).

But as I stated above, if you end up only using the PowerSun MVB, the point is moot, as you have one light that has both.

 

[34KING18]

Wouldn't it look bad with one side lit up and one side dark ? plus, wouldn't the tortoises need the whole tank lit up so that it simulates daytime?

 

[JoesMum]

Wouldn't it look bad with one side lit up and one side dark ? plus, wouldn't the tortoises need the whole tank lit up so that it simulates daytime?

Sorry, I haven't been ignoring you. I had to cook dinner and there's the small matter of England v Ukraine to watch on TV ... Football ... Proper football with a round ball

You do need to maintain a good light level, but you'll be surprised how much light you will get from the fixtures you have plus the light in the room.

 

[34KING18]

Thank you for replying. No rush here. England vs. Ukraine was on ? I thought it was tommorow. Any way , do you think my supply list is fit for a russian tortoise ?

 

[ShervyBaby]

Thank you for replying. No rush here. England vs. Ukraine was on ? I thought it was tommorow. Any way , do you think my supply list is fit for a russian tortoise ?

Why would you listen to everything everyone has told you here and get everything they suggested yet NOT get a proper enclosure for it? That's just not smart.

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

Thank you for replying. No rush here. England vs. Ukraine was on ? I thought it was tommorow. Any way , do you think my supply list is fit for a russian tortoise ?

Why would you listen to everything everyone has told you here and get everything they suggested yet NOT get a proper enclosure for it? That's just not smart.

Indeed. It would seem that all the money you're saving by buying some of this stuff elsewhere besides the pet store, you could put toward a bigger, better enclosure.