Which tortoise baby?

[Janelle Green]

Thinking of buying another Russian tortoise to add to our family . No they will not be in the same enclosures, and will quarantine 6months before there ever even near each other. Anyways we found a small local breeder babies are 10months old. I have a choice between 3 babies and I don't know which to choose ? Some have more scales than others ... The two with red Xs are already sold so choice is between the 3. Any advice on which one and advice on care of a 10month old Russian

 

[wellington]

Split scute first choice, second choice first one on left.

 

[tglazie]

Per usual, wellington is correct. Split scute is the first choice, second is the one on the left, third is the one on the right. Of course I would go for the fourth choice, get all three, but that's generally my course of action when it comes to everything. If you can't decide, choose all of the above.

T.G.

 

[Janelle Green]

So the 4th one in to the right?

 

[Janelle Green]

Per usual, wellington is correct. Split scute is the first choice, second is the one on the left, third is the one on the right. Of course I would go for the fourth choice, get all three, but that's generally my course of action when it comes to everything. If you can't decide, choose all of the above.

T.G.

I really wish I could buy all 3 lol she now has 2 left anyone in Colorado /Wyoming area needing a Russian she's the only breeder I know of in area $200 a piece I don't know if she ships or not

 

[Gillian M]

I'd choose the first on the left hand side. But they're all sweet.

 

[Tom]

I'd get the one on the left.

Here is the care info:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

There are other good breeders that start them well and can ship from anywhere. You don't have to get one of these. Have you asked lots of questions about soaking, housing and diet for these babies? Have they been started correctly?

 

[Janelle Green]

Yes I have she has a Facebook page and posts pictures of the babies all day she has them eating fresh greens , her husband built a huge tortoise table that the 5 babies are in, she has 2 that are 14months old (already spoken for ) and 3 that are 10 months old. I will have to ask her more questions , I am trying to get a female but you can't tell at that young age

 

[leigti]

You won't know for years if it's a female. They all look female at first. Baby Russians need 50 to 70% humidity, that's hard to get in an open top table. I would ask more questions about how they've been raised.

 

[Janelle Green]

Ok thank you what specific questions should I ask her? I know one of her babies that's 14months was born with an underbite and won't grow she's not selling him ...

 

[Janelle Green]

I just sent a message asking what her humidity is at for the babies enclosure so just waiting on reply

 

[leigti]

Ok thank you what specific questions should I ask her? I know one of her babies that's 14months was born with an underbite and won't grow she's not selling him ...

Not necessarily an issue unless it happens in a lot of the hatchlings. Sometimes things just go wrong in the development process.
Do you want a male and a female so that you can eventually breed them? If so getting a hatchling is going to put those plans off for many years. Inbreeding tortoises is a big time and money commitment. Especially because you live "up north" so you have to consider winter housing etc.
I love the hatchlings, they are absolutely adorable. But I am not interested in breeding tortoises. Things can go wrong, my vet has Desert tortoises. And she just lost one last year when eggs broke inside of the tortoise. This tortoise had the best care and still could not be saved. She is still heartbroken. So just know what you're getting into.

 

[Janelle Green]

I got some
Pics of the babies off her page and their enclosure

 

[Janelle Green]

No not right now at least few years maybe down the road just once for expirement,just looking for female to see different personality and their slightly bigger which I like. So If it ends up male that's totally fine to so I'm going with a unisex name lol. I would rather get into a tortoise small rescue than breeding , lots needing proper care and homes out there.

 

[Janelle Green]

We just wanted to add another tort to our family and wanted to get a CB one ,their is repticon coming up but i have no idea what to expect from one of those if it's just abunch of pet shops or is it breeders

 

[Janelle Green]

When spring comes half my back yard will be their outside enclosure super excited for spring hate winter but this weekends supposed to be 90

 

[Fredkas]

I choose left one directly. No doubt

 

[Janelle Green]

Why not one with extra scutes? Is it a bad thing to have ?

 

[Fredkas]

Not a bad thing. It just i like more symetrical things. Different people different preference. And i like the color of the left one so much.

 

[leigti]

When spring comes half my back yard will be their outside enclosure super excited for spring hate winter but this weekends supposed to be 90

Yeah, the weather is crazy there. It is going to be warmer there when I'm visiting then it's going to be here while I'm gone. I was expecting snow.