Question about Captive Bred and Wild Caught

Buddybenj

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I'm have been told to definitely get a captive bred tortoise. I want to get a Russian tortoise and many people on this forum suggested tortoise supply. For the adult Russian tortoises, tortoise supply says:
"Note: These adult Russians tortoises are originally wild caught and imported. We have run them through a preventative round of de-worming, but they should still be quarantined from existing collections until they are more well established in captivity."

Is this acceptable? Or do I need to buy a tortoise which was originally captive bred?
 

Yvonne G

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This is purely a personal matter. For me, I don't mind buying a wild caught animal. If I'm looking for a certain animal and can't find captive bred, I'll certainly buy wild caught if it's for sale in the pet trade. Don't be influenced by others. Does it bother you to buy wild caught? Then for sure, buy CB. It doesn't bother me.
 

Tom

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CB are generally more adaptable to captive conditions, and far less likely to be carrying any diseases or parasites. Having said that, if you get a good WC and have some luck, many of them are just fine.
 

Millerlite

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As Tom mentioned cb tortoises will be more adaptable. WC animals are not bad but some species do not adapt as well as others and parasites and dehydration can make it tough. Russians can be loaded with parasites and that warning says it all. I rescue a lot and usually they are WC animals from petshops. They do alright but seem to be a little.more shy compared to cb ones I've owned

Kyle
 

BrianWI

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CB make better pets than WC, more often than not. That's been my experience.
 

Buddybenj

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All right, thanks for your help. I guess I should play it safe and splurge on a captive bred baby (I can't find any captive bred adults except from Petco, but I have heard that I shouldn't buy tortoises from Petco). Is there any extra care involved for baby Russian tortoises?
 

Tom

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All right, thanks for your help. I guess I should play it safe and splurge on a captive bred baby (I can't find any captive bred adults except from Petco, but I have heard that I shouldn't buy tortoises from Petco). Is there any extra care involved for baby Russian tortoises?

Petco doesn't sell CB Russians. Those are wild caught, despite whit the kid selling them tells you.

CB adults are hard to come by most of the time. People who raise them tend to keep them. They don't come up for sale often.

Babies have less room for error than adults. Just don't make the common mistakes and you won't have any trouble with a baby. Read the care sheets at the top of the Russian page. Do a search for "Beginner Mistakes" and read that one too.
 

Buddybenj

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I have heard that I need to soak babies. If I have a 12" water dish which is deep enough for them to soak in, do I still need to soak them since they can just soak themselves?

Also, on the topic of water dishes, should the water dish be under or away from the heat source?
 

JoesMum

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I have heard that I need to soak babies. If I have a 12" water dish which is deep enough for them to soak in, do I still need to soak them since they can just soak themselves?

Also, on the topic of water dishes, should the water dish be under or away from the heat source?
The water dish, a terracotta plant saucer not a reptile bowl, should be away from the heat. Reptile bowls are a tipping hazard and not suitable for torts.

Your babies should be soaked daily until they are a bit older
 

Tom

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I have heard that I need to soak babies. If I have a 12" water dish which is deep enough for them to soak in, do I still need to soak them since they can just soak themselves?

Also, on the topic of water dishes, should the water dish be under or away from the heat source?

The water dish is one thing, soaking them is another. They need a shallow water dish, like a terra cotta saucer sunk into the substrate, but 12" will be much too large for a baby. I start them with 4" saucers. I don't move to 12" saucers until they are nearly adult size.

The soaking tub should be tall sided and opaque. I use dish washing tubs from Walmart. Those Walmart tubs work great as humid hides too if you flip them upside down and cut out a door hole.
 

JoesMum

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OK. What is the minimum diameter for adult Russian tortoises?
For an adult the minimum diameter depends on the size of the tort.

Ideally it needs to be wide enough for the entire tort to fit in it, but not so deep that it's a tipping or drowning risk.
 

Gillian M

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Like @Yvonne I think it is something personal that you choose. :) Good luck and please post pictures once you get the tort. Good luck!:D
 

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