My 1.3 creep of Russians

jsheffield

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I live with these four Russian Tortoises: Chili, Persephone, Wilhelmina, and Bertha.

PXL_20210325_181555337.jpg

I got them outside today for the first time this spring, in an outdoor enclosure made from lumber and concrete corner pieces, originally designed for a raised garden bed.

The enclosure was under snow a week ago, so it's still rough, but they seemed happy to get out in the sun, walking on grass.

All four of them are rescues, and my hope, beside improving their quality of life, is to get them operating as a breeding group.

Jamie
 

Toddrickfl1

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I live with these four Russian Tortoises: Chili, Persephone, Wilhelmina, and Bertha.

View attachment 321829

I got them outside today for the first time this spring, in an outdoor enclosure made from lumber and concrete corner pieces, originally designed for a raised garden bed.

The enclosure was under snow a week ago, so it's still rough, but they seemed happy to get out in the sun, walking on grass.

All four of them are rescues, and my hope, beside improving their quality of life, is to get them operating as a breeding group.

Jamie
Good luck man!
 

jsheffield

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PXL_20210325_180048466.jpg
Chili and Persephone. Chili will always seek her out and ignores the other two females completely, so far. Persephone was the first female to join the creep, and she always comes over for scratches when I am feeding them or cleaning the enclosure.

PXL_20210325_175535438~3.jpg
Wilhelmina is an explorer, curious and interested in the world around her.

PXL_20210325_180340188.jpg
Bertha is more timid and content to find a nice spot and do her impression of a stone.

I'm planning to give Chili some time with Wilhelmina and Bertha individually in the coming weeks because when Persephone is around, he only has eyes for her.
 

jsheffield

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I posted a few more pics of my Russians in a thread discussing the three major sub-species (I believe that I have representatives of all three sub-species in my creep), and also included a video of Chili and Persephone.


Jamie
 

Jan A

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View attachment 323798

The torts in the creep got outside today, and Chili, the male, mated with each of the females before I sequestered him in another of the outside enclosures, so the ladies and he could relax for the rest of the afternoon.

Jamie
Saturday afternoon delight!! Chili's a lucky guy. He must have a big smile on his face this evening!
 

jsheffield

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inCollage_20210610_110947010.jpg

I got the Russians out into the outside enclosure today for some sun.

Interestingly, Chili was interested in someone besides Persephone, something her never does.

In this case, he and Wilhelmina were spending some quality time; I'd love it if he got in the habit of reproducing with all three of the female Russians... easier on Persephone and a better chance of viable eggs in the long-term.

Jamie
 

TaylorTortoise

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View attachment 321864
Chili and Persephone. Chili will always seek her out and ignores the other two females completely, so far. Persephone was the first female to join the creep, and she always comes over for scratches when I am feeding them or cleaning the enclosure.

View attachment 321865
Wilhelmina is an explorer, curious and interested in the world around her.

View attachment 321866
Bertha is more timid and content to find a nice spot and do her impression of a stone.

I'm planning to give Chili some time with Wilhelmina and Bertha individually in the coming weeks because when Persephone is around, he only has eyes for her.
People say tortoises are not affectionate. But yours comes over for scratches just proves that some are!! xD
 

jsheffield

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IMG_20210709_100018.jpg
My 1.3 creep of Russian Tortoises outside, enjoying a warm and rainy day.

Going clockwise from noon you have Wilhelmina, Chili, Bertha, and Persephone.

Rain and natural nibblies stimulate all sorts of behaviors in tortoises, and I'm hoping for Chili to breed with one or more of the females besides Persephone while they're out for a few hours today.

PXL_20210709_152540529~3.jpg
Chili pitching woo to Bertha!

Wilhelmina is hiding out in one of the shelters in the enclosure; Persephone is doing her impression of a stone, hoping Chili will forget about her.

Jamie
 
Last edited:

Jan A

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View attachment 328818
My 1.3 creep of Russian Tortoises outside, enjoying a warm and rainy day.

Going clockwise from noon you have Wilhelmina, Chili, Bertha, and Persephone.

Rain and natural nibblies stimulate all sorts of behaviors in tortoises, and I'm hoping for Chili to breed with one or more of the females besides Persephone while they're out for a few hours today.

View attachment 328819
Chili pitching woo to Bertha!

Wilhelmina is hiding out in one of the shelters in the enclosure; Persephone is doing her impression of a stone, hoping Chili will forget about her.

Jamie
Priceless!! You got exactly the right angle on that shot, Jamie!! Ode to the woman who says, "I have a headache!! No way Jose!!"
 

MichaelL

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View attachment 328818
My 1.3 creep of Russian Tortoises outside, enjoying a warm and rainy day.

Going clockwise from noon you have Wilhelmina, Chili, Bertha, and Persephone.

Rain and natural nibblies stimulate all sorts of behaviors in tortoises, and I'm hoping for Chili to breed with one or more of the females besides Persephone while they're out for a few hours today.

View attachment 328819
Chili pitching woo to Bertha!

Wilhelmina is hiding out in one of the shelters in the enclosure; Persephone is doing her impression of a stone, hoping Chili will forget about her.

Jamie
Your tortoises are some of the most beautiful I've seen. Love it.
 

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