RosemaryDW

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2016
Messages
4,144
Location (City and/or State)
Newport Coast, CA
The tortoise captive-bred trading market is majorly composed of for-profit and outdated care breeders.

No argument there but the OP doesn’t know that; he made a thoughtful purchase in good faith. He doesn’t see the same thing you and I do when we see the ZooMed style housing and he probably won’t for a while yet.

I'm only been answering your questions and statements word for word. My writing style has always been direct and straight to the point.

To be fair, you responded with about three times as many words as the OP. :) Your advice is spot on but a lot for a new owner to absorb, particularly after they’ve read a bunch of stuff that is completely different.

I am grateful for the excellent advice I got when I arrived, which was also very straightforward (thanks Tom, lol). I know his style better now and understand where he was coming from but it felt a bit harsh at the time. It hurt to learn how much I got wrong, especially when I couldn’t correct it immediately.

Hopefully the OP will stick around and come back for more. If he does, he’ll read your information again and understand it better than the first time.

Sorry for the thread hijack!
 

Bcrawford

New Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2018
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
Manchester
Hello. Hopefully you are just having some fun with your new pet. Tortoises are awake in the mornings and hungry. They are aware throughout the day but might just be hiding out. They will also come out around 5pm and want to eat again...but you've got one that might try to slow down because it's A lot of changes. A Russian is a lot like us humans. That's why I love them as a perfect perfect pet. You do have time to get it right for your animal. 40 to 60% humidity and bath soak. Daylight and darkness like us. My body temperature is 98.6 but if I stand in that hot of a temperature I need to cool off for a bit. I hope this helps cause they are a wonderful pet.

Thank you for the comment They are wonder, I’m just concerned about my little one because he’s sleeping ALL the time. He’s only really awake when I bath him, as soon as he goes back he goes back to sleep.

Would you say that bathing and feeding is better in the morning?
 

Cathie G

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,908
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Thank you for the comment They are wonder, I’m just concerned about my little one because he’s sleeping ALL the time. He’s only really awake when I bath him, as soon as he goes back he goes back to sleep.

Would you say that bathing and feeding is better in the morning?
It could be morning or evening. My tortoise is at least 17 years old but I still freak out if something happens that I don't understand. It's a lot of information to take in all at once. The tortoise forum has so much information and everyone wants to tell you what they've been through so you can successfully take care of your baby. It's time for a tortoise to try to hibernate but I don't let mine. Just try to set up your infant like the older members are saying but try to relax and also enjoy. Try some dark green romaine lettuce, chopped up and ready after the bath. I love Yvonne's floor tile feeding plate. It's perfect for a little tortoise. You don't even wanna know some of the hilarious stuff I've been through with my tortoise.
 

Bcrawford

New Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2018
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
Manchester
It could be morning or evening. My tortoise is at least 17 years old but I still freak out if something happens that I don't understand. It's a lot of information to take in all at once. The tortoise forum has so much information and everyone wants to tell you what they've been through so you can successfully take care of your baby. It's time for a tortoise to try to hibernate but I don't let mine. Just try to set up your infant like the older members are saying but try to relax and also enjoy. Try some dark green romaine lettuce, chopped up and ready after the bath. I love Yvonne's floor tile feeding plate. It's perfect for a little tortoise. You don't even wanna know some of the hilarious stuff I've been through with my tortoise.

Aw I can’t wait! I’ve had a bath and feeding routine in the evening since I got him because we have more time then!

Yeah I’m extremely grateful for all the advice, especially when I know so little so far. I’m learning lots everyday!

Do you keep yours indoors aswell then? And you don’t hibernate her?

When Dash is up and about he’s great, he just often goes to sleep as soon as he’s back in his table. I’ve got a full day tomorrow so going to buy some rocks to go around his water and stuff so hopefully that’ll help :)
 

Cathie G

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,908
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Aw I can’t wait! I’ve had a bath and feeding routine in the evening since I got him because we have more time then!

Yeah I’m extremely grateful for all the advice, especially when I know so little so far. I’m learning lots everyday!

Do you keep yours indoors aswell then? And you don’t hibernate her?

When Dash is up and about he’s great, he just often goes to sleep as soon as he’s back in his table. I’ve got a full day tomorrow so going to buy some rocks to go around his water and stuff so hopefully that’ll help :)
I keep him indoors in the winter but in the spring, summer,and fall he gets to go outside unless it's too hot or cold. Just get your inside enclosure correct and then you'll have time to think about an outside enclosure, and build it right the first time. I never leave him outside at night ever..unless I have a senior moment...and that makes me mad in mid February he is begging to go outside. He tries to stand up really tall and begs with his eyes but I have to wait until it's actually warm enough. It breaks my heart to tell him no. So maybe incorporate that into your outside enclosure plan.Real sunlight makes everyone thrive if It's not too much. You have time to think so just have some good funny moments with your new baby. Even when I take him outside it's only for about 6 hours. He does live in a bright sunny room.
 

Cheryl Hills

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2016
Messages
2,334
Location (City and/or State)
Youngstown, Ohio
May I suggest, if he is sleeping all the time, temps my not be right. One thing you can do is increase the temperature in his enclosure to summertime temps and lights on for 14 hours a day to simulate summertime. This my stop him from trying to hybernate. Babies Russians should be 80% f at all times and higher in the basking area. Good luck and welcome to the forum
 
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