Gwan-Thwei
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2015
- Messages
- 7
Hey all! I'm obviously new to the forum, but i figured i'd better make an account just in case i needed anything from experienced handlers.
I have a female russian tortoise who's shell is about six inches long (if that helps answer any questions). She's a unique character and i want to treat her the best i can, But since this is my first and only tortoise...well, i have questions.
1. Whenever i pick her up and she's not expecting it, she squeaks. It's not her grinding her beak, it sounds more like a fast exhale whistling through her nose. I've heard such noises can be a sign of something serious, but like i said i'm not sure if i should worry.
2. Because of how my room is set up, i usually let her wander around while i'm out working. About a month ago she found dry cat food on the carpet and started eating it. I googled if it was okay to let her keep doing it and found animal proteins can cause kidney failure (?) so i've had to stop. She seems to like the dry food though, so i got her some from the pet store - 'All Living Things Tortoise Diet'. I didn't notice until i got home that the picture of the tortoise is a Sulcata, not a Russian. She still eats the pellets, but she swallows them whole...is this safe?
3. I read somewhere that a full grown russian tortoise is anywhere from 8-10 inches long. Mine is only six, which is fine, only two of the plates on the back of her shell seem to be fused together. Should i worry about this?
I have a female russian tortoise who's shell is about six inches long (if that helps answer any questions). She's a unique character and i want to treat her the best i can, But since this is my first and only tortoise...well, i have questions.
1. Whenever i pick her up and she's not expecting it, she squeaks. It's not her grinding her beak, it sounds more like a fast exhale whistling through her nose. I've heard such noises can be a sign of something serious, but like i said i'm not sure if i should worry.
2. Because of how my room is set up, i usually let her wander around while i'm out working. About a month ago she found dry cat food on the carpet and started eating it. I googled if it was okay to let her keep doing it and found animal proteins can cause kidney failure (?) so i've had to stop. She seems to like the dry food though, so i got her some from the pet store - 'All Living Things Tortoise Diet'. I didn't notice until i got home that the picture of the tortoise is a Sulcata, not a Russian. She still eats the pellets, but she swallows them whole...is this safe?
3. I read somewhere that a full grown russian tortoise is anywhere from 8-10 inches long. Mine is only six, which is fine, only two of the plates on the back of her shell seem to be fused together. Should i worry about this?