Orchid bark - should it be pre- soaked?

Randdawgg

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Horsfield torts are a species that need to hibernate.If they grow all year long they can develop metabolic bone disease and pyrmiding.This is tough one but it is very beneficial for the torotoise!
 

dmmj

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Grow to quickly?!?!?!?! In what way?
 

Randdawgg

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Horsfields like a number of torts need to hibernate.I have read of alot of health issues when owning a tortoise that needs to hibernate.They are wired for it and even if they have been hatched and hand raised it is not healthy for the tort.I have a african leopard tort and did as much research as I could and he is one of the dessert torts that does not hibernate.Animals first people second!!!!
 

dmmj

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I will respectfully disagree that Russian tortoises need 2 hibernate
 

Cheryl Hills

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Thanks for advice. My tort is a Russian not a Sulcata. The flood basking bulb looks a lot closer in the photo than it actually is. It has a very deep lamp cover and I have the temp under basking in a rheostat to keep it around 33- 35Celcius. The other bulb is a CHE to help keep ambient temperature at 26 Celcius. I was advised by a few other forum members to keep juvenile Russians in a humid warm environment until they reach about 2 to prevent pyramiding. Now I'm confused that you say keep on dry substrate. Is it different for sulcatas? I bath him a few times a week also and only feed weeds. I dust food with nutrobal 2 X a week and calcium powder 3 X weekly. I have a cuttlefish. The tortoise block in photo I got just to see if he liked it, but he never goes near. Thanks.
Follow the care sheets you see here for the russian torts. Moist is better. They are not desert animals.
 

Cheryl Hills

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Horsfield torts are a species that need to hibernate.If they grow all year long they can develop metabolic bone disease and pyrmiding.This is tough one but it is very beneficial for the torotoise!
That is not true. They do not get pyramiding from not hibernating. And they do not get mbd from it ether. Mbd is caused from lack of calcium and uvb light. Pyramiding is caused by being raised too dry.
 

dmmj

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the research doesn't exist, at least not credible research that's why I respectfully disagreed. But people R allowed to believe whatever they want to
 

Yvonne G

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Hi first of all cute sulcata. I notice a few stuff in your enclosure that could use some improvement 1. The heating bulb I notice is way to close to your tortoise you wanna leave move distance. 2. For me I keep the enclosure dry with pine or your choice of bedding I do that for the reasons you wanna manually soak your tortoise 2-3 times a week for 10-15 mins that's more beneficial for the sulcata than having it on a moist environment. Also your method is good but in my opinion can get a bit better and more beneficial for the sulcata. 3. Keep up the good work I appreciate you taking the time to care for it. One last thing this calcium rock for me works really good for my tortoise.
https://www.chewy.com/zoo-med-turtl...utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=f&utm_content=Zoo Med&utm_term=&gclid=CjwKCAjwiN_mBRBBEiwA9N-e_sL7nJKqSL0_ySXmLxo4XkelbdC67dlSpZ04A1NilAwuCnJoH1rHHhoCNt8QAvD_BwE
Hi Reynier: First of all, you're new here, so I'm going to assume that you haven't had a chance to read all our care sheets on Sulcatas (since you thought the Russian was a sulcata, I'm assuming (again) that you're interested in sulcatas). We have new, cutting edge information on how to raise sulcatas, and it's completely different from the information you've put forth in your post.
1. The info on the light was good
2. Pine is definitely NOT a good choice of bedding for a tortoise. Pine has aromatic oils that can be harmful to pets. My substrate of choice is fir bark. You can moisten the fir bark and it won't mold or stink, and if they accidentally eat it it is not harmful.
3. Cuttle bone is easier for the tortoises to bite.
 

Randdawgg

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Pyramiding is still up in the air as far as the research goes.One of the speculations is that if the tort does not hibernate it continues to grow at a rate that it was not genetically designed to do which the speculation is pyramiding.Its also stressful for the tortoise to not hibernate and can shorten their lives!
 

dmmj

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Pyramiding is still up in the air as far as the research goes.One of the speculations is that if the tort does not hibernate it continues to grow at a rate that it was not genetically designed to do which the speculation is pyramiding.Its also stressful for the tortoise to not hibernate and can shorten their lives!
Mmmmm nooooo
 

Clementine's Keeper

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It's great to know there's someone else in UK with a Russian around the same age as mines who has knowledge and is as enthusiastic about torts as me, to chat to and get advice. Thanks very much. Good luck with your outdoor enclosure. Looking forward to seeing it's progress. I'm excited about getting something outside for ours, but it's so blinking cold here!

Hi! I'm from England but currently living in Texas where i have my 2 year old Russian happily set up in an outdoor enclosure but, even here, she has to come inside for a couple of mouths in the winter (i haven't dared try hibernation yet! ). I hope you stay active on the forum because one day soon we'll be relocating back to the uk and I'm not looking forward to trying to build a heated outdoor enclosed for her!
 

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dmmj

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Hi! I'm from England but currently living in Texas where i have my 2 year old Russian happily set up in an outdoor enclosure but, even here, she has to come inside for a couple of mouths in the winter (i haven't dared try hibernation yet! ). I hope you stay active on the forum because one day soon we'll be relocating back to the uk and I'm not looking forward to trying to build a heated outdoor enclosed for her!
I'm not trying to be mean but you're going to have a hell of a time getting that tortoise back to the UK
 

Clementine's Keeper

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I did speak to someone in uk customs and was told that provided i had a vet's certificate there were no restrictions on import because they don't carry disease. I just have to put her in a box with other pets in hold.
 

dmmj

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I did speak to someone in uk customs and was told that provided i had a vet's certificate there were no restrictions on import because they don't carry disease. I just have to put her in a box with other pets in hold.
We've had other members who had to jump through hoop after hoop after hoop, but I wish you the best of luck
 

Donna Albu

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I'm just a bit silly. And I've never ventured to America. Would love to - maybe one day. In my part of the world it's pretty wonderful really. You think of Scottish mountains and rocky coastline and you've got it. I couldn't wish to live in a more beautiful country. Go for a walk where I live and not see another person for the whole time - bliss! The weather could be better, and there's terrible Scottish midges, but you can't have it all. I imagine where you live as really hot, lovely beaches, sharks, palm trees, hurricanes! Flat long dusty roads and palm trees and parakeets for some reason[emoji38]
All of those things that you described are in America, just not in the same place! We are very much larger than Scotland! We also have mountains (some old, worn and gentle, the Appalachians in the east, and large and rugged - the Rockies in the west). We have lots of coastline,, and depending on where you're standing, those vary also. It's impossible to experience it all unless you come on a really long vacation. But if you get the chance, come visit us, and we'll help you plan your trip so that you can see the spots you'd most like to see, and then you can come back again and again ti see more!
 

lymcBoris

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Hi! I'm from England but currently living in Texas where i have my 2 year old Russian happily set up in an outdoor enclosure but, even here, she has to come inside for a couple of mouths in the winter (i haven't dared try hibernation yet! ). I hope you stay active on the forum because one day soon we'll be relocating back to the uk and I'm not looking forward to trying to build a heated outdoor enclosed for her!
Hello. Nice to hear from another fellow Brit Russian tort owner and living in Texas - Wow! Must be amazing. I'll definitely stay on the forum for chats. I'm sure you have good advice I could learn from also. I hope you get on ok with the move and I love your outdoor enclosure. Thanks for message. Lynne.
 

lymcBoris

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All of those things that you described are in America, just not in the same place! We are very much larger than Scotland! We also have mountains (some old, worn and gentle, the Appalachians in the east, and large and rugged - the Rockies in the west). We have lots of coastline,, and depending on where you're standing, those vary also. It's impossible to experience it all unless you come on a really long vacation. But if you get the chance, come visit us, and we'll help you plan your trip so that you can see the spots you'd most like to see, and then you can come back again and again ti see more!
Hi there. I wouldn't have a clue where to visit first in USA. I'd like to see a bit of everything, just not the bustling cities! I'd have a total panic in amongst so many people and traffic. I'd be so shell shocked. Thanks for offering your tourist info services for my future trip to America [emoji6]
 

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