Thinking about getting a russian tortoise

[kirbybirby]

I need to actually do research on them before I get one. I already went through that with my Red Sliders. But anyway, could someone tell me a good habitat setup? Like, what kind of soil mixture should I use, how often do I need to clean it out, and will it attract tons of bugs (it will be in my room so that wouldn't be pretty...).

I like the russian tortoises mostly because they are land turtles. My red sliders are just getting too expensive. I'm going to need an even bigger tank for them now and then a new filter and all this.

And I'm not saying a russian tortoise wouldn't be expensive but I already would have the UVB and UVB light, and the basking light. And the half log for him to hide under. And then I also have a very large black container with no top.

I was also thinking, could I put like a garbage bag under the whole habitat so that way I would just need to pick up the garbage bag whenever I go to clean the whole thing out.

But let me know what all I need to know about these guys. Don't post a link in a comment telling me to go there. That's not why I came here.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi KirbyBirby:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

May we know your name and where you are?

You actually don't have to clean out the habitat too often. I do mine about once a year, but I spot clean daily.

We usually post links because questions like yours have been answered many times. Its just easier for us to show you your answers where they've been posted before than it is for us to have to type it all out all over again.

 

[kirbybirby]

Hi KirbyBirby:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

May we know your name and where you are?

You actually don't have to clean out the habitat too often. I do mine about once a year, but I spot clean daily.

We usually post links because questions like yours have been answered many times. Its just easier for us to show you your answers where they've been posted before than it is for us to have to type it all out all over again.

Oh right sorry. My name is Gabey, I'm in Pennsylvania.

But really? Only once a year? Oh man I'm really confused now. Pretty much every website I've looked at says you need to change out the bedding and whatnot every month.....

 

[Yvonne G]

Lol! KirbybirbyGabey!!!

Hi Gabey:

Your first 5 posts are moderated. After that they'll show up as soon as you hit "post reply."

You only need to change the substrate when it gets dirty. If you spot clean every day, it doesn't get that dirty.

 

[kirbybirby]

Lol! KirbybirbyGabey!!!

Hi Gabey:

Your first 5 posts are moderated. After that they'll show up as soon as you hit "post reply."

You only need to change the substrate when it gets dirty. If you spot clean every day, it doesn't get that dirty.

Haha sorry about posting a reply 10 times.

But oh.. that's really good to know. And what about humidity? I've heard many different things on that. Some people say they need no humidity and some say they need a lot of humidity.

 

[Yvonne G]

Babies need more humidity than full grown adult tortoises do. I would say that your new Russian (Agrionemys horsefieldii) probably can get buy with less humidity. Just keep a water dish in the habitat for him.

I use cypress mulch. You can wet it down, then the lights dry out the top layer, so he's not walking around on wet substrate.