Hi there thank you for your help, I will give it a read thanksHello
Your Russian is growing very rapidly, but is being raised far too dry.
You need to raise the humidity using damp substrate in a closed chamber to prevent pyramidding
I recommend you read the TFO care guides and compare them with your setup
They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.
Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
Russian Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
I use pets at home substrate but also have calcium rock and cuttlefish bone, can you recommend an alternative?Hi Killer MC. Welcome to the forum.
Read those threads from Joe's Mum. It explains it all.
Also, I see you are using that "Pets at Home" substrate with the limestone bits in it. Encouraging a tortoise to eat its sandy substrate to satisfy its calcium cravings is a very bad idea. I recommend you with it ASAP.
Ok thank youCoco coir or fine grade orchid bark are the most popular substrates on here as they hold the moisture well.
Buy them from a garden centre or hardware store as it will be much cheaper. Just make sure there are no white bits, like vermiculite, or fertilisers added to it.
Thank youCoco coir can be bought very cheaply in "bricks" from Amazon - use water to soften the brick into compost
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LITRE-ORGA...8&qid=1507974391&sr=1-7&keywords=coconut+coir