Substrate

[Jude curran]

Hi im getting a russian tortoise in 2 weeks i am looking for the best ( and cheapest ) uk substrate i can get , any ideas ?
How often do i need to change it

 

[TechnoCheese]

Welcome to the forum! How old will this Russian be?

If it’s a baby, coco coir works well.

Be sure to give these a read, and keep in mind that your tort will require a minimum enclosure size of 8x4 feet as an adult-

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

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

 

[Jude curran]

The russian is about 1 year old. The inclosure size is 24in wide, 48in long and 23in high. Also i live in scotland and its very cold this time of year i am worried that it will be cold so should i buy a heat matt aswell as the lamp because it is really cold

 

[TechnoCheese]

The russian is about 1 year old. The inclosure size is 24in wide, 48in long and 23in high. Also i live in scotland and its very cold this time of year i am worried that it will be cold so should i buy a heat matt aswell as the lamp because it is really cold

For a 1 year old I would still probably go with coco coir.

Heat mats should not be used with tortoises because they don’t have heat receptors in their plastrons. Instead, a ceramic heat emitter should be used.

 

[Jude curran]

What if the basking are is still to cold and the cooler are is still to cold because i have a bulb that is heat and uvb and all that jazz but im not sure if i should add something else because even the rooms in my house are cold

 

[TechnoCheese]

What if the basking are is still to cold and the cooler are is still to cold because i have a bulb that is heat and uvb and all that jazz but im not sure if i should add something else because even the rooms in my house are cold

If it’s too cold, then get a higher wattage bulb or raise/lower it until you get the right temp. Be sure it’s a flood bulb, and not a spot bulb of any kind.

(Also, this is my 3,000th post!)

 

[Jude curran]

If it’s too cold, then get a higher wattage bulb or raise/lower it until you get the right temp. Be sure it’s a flood bulb, and not a spot bulb of any kind.

(Also, this is my 3,000th post!)

Confrats on the 3000th post and how do i tell if its a flood bulb

 

[Jude curran]

Also what if the cool are is too cool

 

[TechnoCheese]

Confrats on the 3000th post and how do i tell if its a flood bulb

If it doesn’t say the words “spot” or “basking spot bulb”, or you can just use a normal 65 watt flood bulb from the hardware store.

 

[Jude curran]

If it doesn’t say the words “spot” or “basking spot bulb”, or you can just use a normal 65 watt flood bulb from the hardware store.

Great thanks for the help i am very excited to get him and just want to make everything nice for him lol

 

[grumpytort]

Welcome Jude

I also have a one year old tort, and also from England, not as cold as Scotland but still cold! How are you housing your tort - open top table or a closed table/vivarium? I struggled with an open topped table due to not being able to maintain the heat and humidity (baby’s need higher humidity, i aim around 70-100%).

This forum has really helped me because there’s a lot of outdated information on the internet so it’s quite confusing at first but there are very experienced people on here who are happy to help to make sure your tort has the best possible environment

 

[Jude curran]

Welcome Jude

I also have a one year old tort, and also from England, not as cold as Scotland but still cold! How are you housing your tort - open top table or a closed table/vivarium? I struggled with an open topped table due to not being able to maintain the heat and humidity (baby’s need higher humidity, i aim around 70-100%).

This forum has really helped me because there’s a lot of outdated information on the internet so it’s quite confusing at first but there are very experienced people on here who are happy to help to make sure your tort has the best possible environment

Hi im using an open top tabke my russian is one year old and will be kept in a conservatory

 

[JoesMum]

Hi im using an open top tabke my russian is one year old and will be kept in a conservatory

I have commented on this in your other thread. An open table is only suitable for older tortoises.

A tortoise table cannot be used in your conservatory in Scotland. You cannot possibly get the heat and humidity high enough fir a baby.

You need a closed chamber for a baby and, ideally, you need it in the house.

In summer it will be far too hot in the conservatory. In winter your tort will be too cold and is likely to get very sick.

Tortoises cannot regulate their body temperatures like you can. They are wholly reliant on external heat. Too much is as dangerous as too little.

 

[Jude curran]

I have commented on this in your other thread. An open table is only suitable for older tortoises.

A tortoise table cannot be used in your conservatory in Scotland. You cannot possibly get the heat and humidity high enough fir a baby.

You need a closed chamber for a baby and, ideally, you need it in the house.

In summer it will be far too hot in the conservatory. In winter your tort will be too cold and is likely to get very sick.

Tortoises cannot regulate their body temperatures like you can. They are wholly reliant on external heat. Too much is as dangerous as too little.

I will move it into my house , why do they need a closed house , if it was in a warm house with the correct lamps

 

[JoesMum]

I will move it into my house , why do they need a closed house , if it was in a warm house with the correct lamps

Because your house will not be 26C day and night. And an open table lets the humidity escape; the highest you will get without a cover is around 50% rather than 80%+.

A baby Russian needs high humidity and steady high temperatures to be active and healthy.

Cold and damp can kill a tortoise.

 

[vladimir]

For a 1 year old I would still probably go with coco coir.

Heat mats should not be used with tortoises because they don’t have heat receptors in their plastrons. Instead, a ceramic heat emitter should be used.

I had not heard that before about no heat receptors on the plastron. Do you have more details at all? Was this topic covered previously?

 

[JoesMum]

I had not heard that before about no heat receptors on the plastron. Do you have more details at all? Was this topic covered previously?

Tortoises are designed to bask in the sun. That’s above the tort. That’s as much as I understand.

 

[waretrop]

i believe they know when they need to get heat and when they are too hot. Alice has a heat pad on half of her bedropm and she will move from one side to the other to control what she wants heat wise.

After owning many pet shops for over 25 years its something i learned from Alice after retiring.. i used to tell customers that they didnt feel heat or know when to find heat when they need it...not true..snakes lay on raods to warm themselves..

i think they are smart cookies...its the human that doesnt know.
..