Russians Ready For Spring

[Len B]

3 of my russian tortoises spent the winter outside underground. They are 2 females and 1 male, I put the other 8, 1 male and 7 females that spent the winter inside in tupperware containers asleep, back outside in the same enclosure this past Monday. Everyone seems to be fine and eating collards, cactus, and homegrown weeds. Here are the 3 that were outside over winter , they are easy to spot because they are still covered with dirt This is the 3rd winter that at least 2 of my russians have stayed outside over winter without any problems. I'm thinking maybe leaving them all out next winter.

 

[Yvonne G]

I couldn't find one of my females to put away for the winter, and she spent our very wet winter outside. The grass is very long in their yard, and a couple days ago there were "crop circles" in the grass. I followed her trail and found the spot where she spent the winter. It was right out in the middle of the yard, no shelter at all from the rain, but when I put my fist down into the hole it went almost up to my elbow. She seems none the worse for spending a very wet winter hibernating outside. I have always believed that wet and hibernation don't mix. Guess I'm wrong.

 

[Kasia]

Those two on the last picture look huge How much home-grown cactus did they have??

 

[Len B]

I couldn't find one of my females to put away for the winter, and she spent our very wet winter outside. The grass is very long in their yard, and a couple days ago there were "crop circles" in the grass. I followed her trail and found the spot where she spent the winter. It was right out in the middle of the yard, no shelter at all from the rain, but when I put my fist down into the hole it went almost up to my elbow. She seems none the worse for spending a very wet winter hibernating outside. I have always believed that wet and hibernation don't mix. Guess I'm wrong.

I believed the same thing until 3 years ago when 2 of mine dug in deep not to be found until the next spring. I believe I posted a thread about them at the time.

Those two on the last picture look huge How much home-grown cactus did they have??

They have access to all the cactus they want, they live in a cactus patch It's fun to watch them climb it.

 

[Kasia]

I believed the same thing until 3 years ago when 2 of mine dug in deep not to be found until the next spring. I believe I posted a thread about them at the time.

They have access to all the cactus they want, they live in a cactus patch It's fun to watch them climb it.

On a spiky cactus? Mine RT is too spoiled for that kind of tricks Those to are females? Who old/big are they?

 

[Len B]

On a spiky cactus? Mine RT is too spoiled for that kind of tricks Those to are females? Who old/big are they?

All of my russians are young adult imports so I don't know their ages. The 2 in the pic together are females and the larger one is a little over 6 inches in length.