Hey, all.
Looking for some advice. I've had my russian tortoise since October. At first, he would climb into his water dish a couple times a week and was passing nitrates regularly. Over the last month, I don't think he's climbed into his water dish at all. It has been a week since he passed nitrates. I'm afraid that the only water he drinks is from his baths, and I haven't actually witnessed him drinking while in there either.
He tends to come out of his hide, eat, sit under the light for a little while, then return directly to his hide. I've tried moving the water dish around so that it is in plain site of his hide and from his food dish, but no luck. The coconut coir substrate is kept slightly moist and I add about a half gallon of water to it each week to keep humidity up.
Diet consists of mainly romaine lettuce with some green pepper mixed in and calcium powder supplement sprinkled on top. Some folks I've talked to say that his diet is supplying him with sufficient hydration, but I'm not convinced. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, even if you just tell me I'm worrying too much.
Looking for some advice. I've had my russian tortoise since October. At first, he would climb into his water dish a couple times a week and was passing nitrates regularly. Over the last month, I don't think he's climbed into his water dish at all. It has been a week since he passed nitrates. I'm afraid that the only water he drinks is from his baths, and I haven't actually witnessed him drinking while in there either.
He tends to come out of his hide, eat, sit under the light for a little while, then return directly to his hide. I've tried moving the water dish around so that it is in plain site of his hide and from his food dish, but no luck. The coconut coir substrate is kept slightly moist and I add about a half gallon of water to it each week to keep humidity up.
Diet consists of mainly romaine lettuce with some green pepper mixed in and calcium powder supplement sprinkled on top. Some folks I've talked to say that his diet is supplying him with sufficient hydration, but I'm not convinced. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, even if you just tell me I'm worrying too much.