What are these tiny little bugs I saw crawl on my tortoise?

[Gwen Loves Tortoises]

my Russian tortoise came out to bask and as I sat on the couch to check him out I saw 3 insy wensy teeny tiny bugs crawl in him they were a silverish black color and they moved very quickly. I freaked out snatched my tortoise out of his tank and put him in his bath immediately and then I clean out the tank top to bottom sanitizing it and then laying fresh New substrate and I sanatized all of the fixtures I put inside his tank. What are those bugs? How did they get there? What am I doing wrong? I never want to see bugs on my baby again.

 

[Melis]

Springtails?

 

[Gwen Loves Tortoises]

Springtails? Really? How’d they get there? Is that bad for his health? Do I need to give him more baths? After I bathed him I didn’t see any more bugs! Phew!

 

[Melis]

They're harmless. They thrive in moist environments and will feed on old uneaten food. Ive had them in bags of soil before.

 

[TechnoCheese]

They might even be beneficial. They feed off of fungi and dead stuff, so they’re great for bioactive enclosures!

 

[Gwen Loves Tortoises]

Oh thank u Melis and cheese. Now I can calm down, I think my reaction was that when I saw the springtails I just assumed it was something bad. I don’t like bugs or spiders no how no way lol they give me the heebee jeebeez like lice making my head itch lol

 

[Gwen Loves Tortoises]

Also when I change the subtrate in his tank, he gets really upset and runs around and around it frantic as if he’s looking for something. Also today I let him stay out of his tank the longest about 10-15 mins and then when I put him back he got very upset. I know he’s super smart and now he knows of the freedom and doesn’t want to be back in his tank. He put his little head down on the subtrate and he looked so sad. Until I put fresh spring mix in his food dish, then he began to throw it down. Is he stress eating ???

 

[TechnoCheese]

Also when I change the subtrate in his tank, he gets really upset and runs around and around it frantic as if he’s looking for something. Also today I let him stay out of his tank the longest about 10-15 mins and then when I put him back he got very upset. I know he’s super smart and now he knows of the freedom and doesn’t want to be back in his tank. He put his little head down on the subtrate and he looked so sad. Until I put fresh spring mix in his food dish, then he began to throw it down. Is he stress eating ???

Tortoises don’t like change, so that’s pretty normal.
However, a tank is much too small for an adult Russian, and that is likely why he paces. Your tortoise needs a minimum enclosure size of 4x8 feet.

 

[Gwen Loves Tortoises]

Oh ok well I have him in a 40 gal tank from the pet store it had a picture of a tortoise on it

 

[Gwen Loves Tortoises]

He hadn’t paced in a long time now, instead he eats a lot and sits under his log or on top basking

 

[Gwen Loves Tortoises]

He definitely knows his name too when I say his name he bobs his head a shrugs his shoulders

 

[Gwen Loves Tortoises]

He’s super spoiled I give him piles of fresh spring herb mix with kale all day long.

 

[Gwen Loves Tortoises]

I sware he counts leafs he always wants more and I just love to give it to him.

 

[Gwen Loves Tortoises]

I come home on my lunch break just to check on that baby. He’s SoO sweET!!

 

[TechnoCheese]

Oh ok well I have him in a 40 gal tank from the pet store it had a picture of a tortoise on it

Yep, that’s the problem with pet stores, always misleading. If you need help building a tortoise table, we’re always ready to help!

 

[Melis]

Oh ok well I have him in a 40 gal tank from the pet store it had a picture of a tortoise on it

How old is your tort? This tank will be too small if he's older than a baby. The stores will put pics of anything on products in order to get you to buy it.

 

[TechnoCheese]

How old is your tort? This tank will be too small if he's older than a baby. The stores will put pics of anything on products in order to get you to buy it.

They get the tort from petsmart, so 5-10 years old

 

[Melis]

They get the tort from petsmart, so 5-10 years old

Ahh thank you techno. Looks like I can't respond or "like" fast enough this morning. You've got me beat! Lol

 

[TechnoCheese]

Ahh thank you techno. Looks like I can't respond or "like" fast enough this morning. You've got me beat! Lol

 

[Rusky]

He definitely knows his name too when I say his name he bobs his head a shrugs his shoulders

This is him breathing, in order to make space for air in their lungs inside a hard shell, they have to move their head and legs. He might do this more when he's excited (i.e. seeing you and wanting food).