Andrew89
New Member
I am getting one tomorrow and would welcome any advice and tips. He's 8 years old.
Thankyou for your reply and advice I really appreciate it 😁Hi and welcome,
Congratulations on becoming a tort keeper!
There's a lot of old and incorrect information still being passed on by some breeders, non specialist vets and especially pet shops who are only too happy to sell you unsafe and unsuitable equipment for profit.
This is the most up to date caresheet you need which will help your Russian tort thrive
Don't waste your money on expensive water dishes which are often too steep and a tipping/drowning hazard - cheap terracotta plant saucers are ideal and much safer. Coiled and cfl bulbs have been known to damage tort eyes, and all in one MVBs dry and damage shells so they aren't recommended now either.The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...tortoiseforum.org
If you want to check what bulbs, substrate and type of enclosure etc you need read the caresheet and then ask as many questions as you like.
I've just noticed that he's 8 years old not months , so while a lot of the info in the caresheet will still be useful for you - he's going to need a minimum 4 x 8 feet enclosure but the bigger the better. Russians are expert escape artists - they can dig and climb so you'll really need to make sure it's very secure.
if you want to post pics of where he's going to live you'll get good feedback to help make sure he'll be safe.
You'll also find www.thetortoisetable.org.uk good for identifying tort safe food.
Genus used to be Testudo, but they changed it to Agrionemys fairly recently... if we all choose to go along with that...I am getting one tomorrow and would welcome any advice and tips. He's 8 years old.
Actually, I think it's back to Testudo, from Agrionemys. Or so is being said in Europe? Because of an RT's ability to produce fertile progeny with Greeks and Hermanni, apparently.Genus used to be Testudo, but they changed it to Agrionemys fairly recently... if we all choose to go along with that...
Having a little Russian for almost 15 years makes me think they are a genius of their own. Danged little in duh viduals 😊Actually, I think it's back to Testudo, from Agrionemys. Or so is being said in Europe? Because of an RT's ability to produce fertile progeny with Greeks and Hermanni, apparently.
That is also my understanding from the euros.Actually, I think it's back to Testudo, from Agrionemys. Or so is being said in Europe? Because of an RT's ability to produce fertile progeny with Greeks and Hermanni, apparently.