Well what now?

[smarch]

Hey guys,
It's always been a question to me whether or not my Russian, Franklin was CB or WC because he was from petco. Well last night I sent a message to corporate petco asking where they got there tortoises, like what countries or what breeder, I got a really speedy response but it turns out he was most likely Asian (or Usbecastan or another that starts with a K that I just can't remember at all) I feel bad since he is no longer free, but he seems to have adjusted really good, he has had no health problems at all so far no URIs or any signs of one, nice pink not red or white tounge, no lethargic anything, he's actually quite active, normal excretements the only thing I noticed was the back of his shell was somewhat dented, presumably from shipping. I've been letting him out much more often and for longer periods, but I know this is not his normal habitat, what do you suggest I do to help lessen the change? Also clearly I have no plans to hibernate him this year (or ever since soooo much can go wrong and he's my lil therapy pet just watching him calms me, and he senses when I need him.) anyways do you think he'll have other plans for himself? And with the knowledge that he's WC I it possibl to come up with some sort of estimate for my lil guy?

 

[tortadise]

Petco sells WC russians. Kazahkstan and Uzbekistan what you were thinking of? You dont have to hibernate them. I never have, just keep the temps at a minimum of 80 or better and they shouldnt try to.

 

[wellington]

Others that no more have said that the Petco etc ones are most likely WC as you have found out and approx. around 5 years old. If you post a picture and length and weight, someone may be able to give a better guess then the average 5. Don't feel bad. It is to bad they still bring in WC, butt it sounds like he has a great family and many don't

 

[smarch]

I'll get some measurements when I'm out of work tommorow, but even getting a close estimate of 5 right now makes me happy, I want to calculate how long he ends up living as close as I can. I've attached the pictures u believe show a good size reference, and mostly just to show off my lil guy. The last one was 2 months ago his first day home. Also I've been planning to go to the vet with him, what's an estimate on prices to get him checked with the nessecary tests to make sure he's parasite free? He may seem healthy now but being WC i'd rather find out if he has any now rather than when he would get sick.

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iPod dont always post pictures (sorry if they pop up twice)

 

[Laura]

if he lives on sand, id change that to something more soil or dirt like. ingesting sand is not good.

 

[smarch]

He used to live in sand he hated it and I knew it was a mistake. He now has Eco earth with repti mulch on top and is much happier.

 

[Tom]

The best thing you can do for him is build him a nice safe large outdoor enclosure and let him live out there as much as the weather will permit. They like to wander around a lot so the bigger and more interesting both his enclosures are, the better it will be.

The other aspect is diet. Feed him as many weeds as you can. Learn to ID them and find safe sources for them, or grow your own. Much better for any tortoise than store bought greens.

 

[smarch]

He currently has a temporary outdoor enclosure, since it's just a fence and netting I only put him out while I'm at home and that's cut short by the nights that are getting cooler now. I plan to build him a large outdoor permanent enclosure but seeing as I'm right at the time to move out (2 years ish depending on how much college I can power through) my parents won't allow me a permanent enclosure since me an Franklin will be gone and they don't want an enclosure just chilling out for nothing. Does anyone know a way to build a permanent outdoor enclosure that isn't permanent to the land? He's a burrower but really only moves te grass around since our dirt here is pretty much hard to budge even with shovels and such.

 

[tortadise]

You could use a few sheets of plywood and 2x10 boards for the walls. like a giant tortoise table and store it in the garage until you come back. Place it on some legs just getting it up off the ground a little. Then when its time for college again you can empty the mulch into the beds and put in the garage again. I would think this is doable, but still kinda a pain. Just a suggestion. Or a huge baby pool, but those are kinda boring.

 

[smarch]

Good news, I had a brilliant idea cross my mind! No one has used our sandbox in years not even the cat. So I asked my dad if we could revamp it for Franklin, he said yes! We took out all the overgrowth tonight and smoothed out the sand, I was worried about the sand but he has never been so happy! It's empty right now but I have a bag of regular mulch to put in a corner and we're going to dig up a swatch of grass to stick in another corner and in the spring I'll grow dandilions in the sand.

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Just a note there will be a cover put on too, suggested materials? And will it be safe just leaving him out on safe weather days I no ones home? I just worry about my baby!

 

[Tom]

Your cover can be built out of a 2x4 frame wire 1"x1" welded wire. That will help insure that he stays in and predators stay out.

I strongly suggest you remove the sand and replace it with something more tortoise friendly. Straight sand poses a serious impaction risk it can also be very irritating on their eyes and skin.