Hello, I am a brand-new tortoise owner. My son's class at school had a tortoise that spent about the last year in school in a plastic storage box. The Teacher who owned the tortoise couldn't keep it at home anymore because she got a new puppy and was afraid that the puppy would chew on the tortoise. She got the tortoise as a gift a couple years earlier. She said that I could keep the tortoise if I wanted. I think I will as I can give it a better living space.
So I have been doing a lot of research on tortoises. I know that this is a Russian. They told me it was a female, but after reaserch, I believe it is a male. I have a few questions that I'm having difficulty finding the answers to. I also have questions about its shell. I would appreciate your advice.
1. Is this a male or a female?
2. I think it's shell is showing signs of calcium and UVB deficiency. I know that they only fed it romaine lettuce. I don't know if it had anything else. What do you thinkof the shell? If it gets more sun will the scales turn brown?
3. Its beak and side cheek plates look unusually long to me. Do you think I should try to trim its beak? Is there anything I can put in its cage to help trim down the size of the beak?
4. I gave it a bath in a shallow pan of warmish water. It didn't seem to like it and kept rying to crawl out. Over all it looks very clean. I have attached a picture below its underbelly and am concerned about the brownish areas there.
5. A lot of advice says if you can keep the tortoise in the warm bath long enough for it to pee that's great. My question for people who have tortoises in their homes is when a Russian tortoise wanders around the floors, does it pee and poop much?
6. I think it's toenails are just fine. They don't appear too long to me. What do you think?
7. It weighs 1 lb. 6 oz. It is about 6.5" long and 5.5" wide. Any guesses as to how old it might be?
8. It looks really healthy, eyes are clear and no sniffling. It moves around just fine. Other than a couple of Shell issues, I think it's in very good health. Should I take it to the vet to be checked out and if so? Do they give turtles any vaccinations or shots?
I have already built a portable outdoor playpen so it can go out and eat green plants, dirt and weeds and such. I'm looking for a spot along my house where it's warm to build a better cage. It is 4x4'.
It seems really tame, although it's not used to me yet. It does look up when I talk to it. When I let it out on the floor and sat down close by, it came to me twice! So I'm really happy about that!!
I know this was a long post, but I'm trying to do the best I can. Thank you in advance for your advice.
RVenece, NE illinois
So I have been doing a lot of research on tortoises. I know that this is a Russian. They told me it was a female, but after reaserch, I believe it is a male. I have a few questions that I'm having difficulty finding the answers to. I also have questions about its shell. I would appreciate your advice.
1. Is this a male or a female?
2. I think it's shell is showing signs of calcium and UVB deficiency. I know that they only fed it romaine lettuce. I don't know if it had anything else. What do you thinkof the shell? If it gets more sun will the scales turn brown?
3. Its beak and side cheek plates look unusually long to me. Do you think I should try to trim its beak? Is there anything I can put in its cage to help trim down the size of the beak?
4. I gave it a bath in a shallow pan of warmish water. It didn't seem to like it and kept rying to crawl out. Over all it looks very clean. I have attached a picture below its underbelly and am concerned about the brownish areas there.
5. A lot of advice says if you can keep the tortoise in the warm bath long enough for it to pee that's great. My question for people who have tortoises in their homes is when a Russian tortoise wanders around the floors, does it pee and poop much?
6. I think it's toenails are just fine. They don't appear too long to me. What do you think?
7. It weighs 1 lb. 6 oz. It is about 6.5" long and 5.5" wide. Any guesses as to how old it might be?
8. It looks really healthy, eyes are clear and no sniffling. It moves around just fine. Other than a couple of Shell issues, I think it's in very good health. Should I take it to the vet to be checked out and if so? Do they give turtles any vaccinations or shots?
I have already built a portable outdoor playpen so it can go out and eat green plants, dirt and weeds and such. I'm looking for a spot along my house where it's warm to build a better cage. It is 4x4'.
It seems really tame, although it's not used to me yet. It does look up when I talk to it. When I let it out on the floor and sat down close by, it came to me twice! So I'm really happy about that!!
I know this was a long post, but I'm trying to do the best I can. Thank you in advance for your advice.
RVenece, NE illinois
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