Welcome to TFO, Rob and Flash! Here are a couple of good reads to start you off
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
O.M.G., I totally know what you went through with the moss. I put it in Squirtle's tank (wasn't able to start on building a new home so still using the same thing), just to get her out of the sand and give her something to dig into, and OMG, the mess!!! First thing she did was walk her little...
I love how you made it look! All of that green is so gorgeous! Would that work for Russians, also? I saw a few packages of that "frog moss" for sale at PetSmart, but I didn't know what it was, and see mention about it so I left it alone. It does look really nice, though.
Thanks, Tom. Squirtle hasn’t given any attention to what’s on the outside of her play area, but I’ll be sure to attach something to block the bottom 6” of the pen.
Also, I did manage to find some orchid bark and pear moss. My mom came by, and we found them at Orchard. I also picked up a...
Thanks, Mark! Not much luck in the cypress mulch department at HD, either. I explained to the gardening department employee, with whom I spoke yesterday, that I intended to use the medium for Squirtle, and she advised against using anything they had in the store because all of it had some kind...
Tom,
Just wondering where you buy your orchid bark and cypress mulch. The orchid bark at the Home Depot here has fertilizer stuff added to it. In fact, according to the gardening dept, everything they carry has some kind of something added to it (even the stuff marked “natural” and...
Hey Tom, just thought I'd share with you that I bought a puppy pen to use as an enclosure for Squirtle while she's outside. It's pretty cool because I can wrap it around her mallow bush. The sides are 30" tall so I just push it into the ground about 6", then lay a piece of cardboard across...
Thanks again, Tom, and thank you too, Rosemary. Today's bath was much, MUCH more chill, and it didn't happen until 4PM. I made her bath water A LOT warmer this time, and set up her bath in a sunny spot next to the deck. When put her into her bath today, she just sat in one place, then she...
Thank you so much for explaining that, Jay Baylee, and thank you too, TechnoCheese, for confirming! I feel a little better knowing that someone else has experienced this, and it's not just me making Squirtle feel like I'm trying to kill her :(
Hi there,
After reading some posts that recommend soaking, I've tried soaking Squirtle in a bath for 20-30 mins. The thing is I don't think she likes it, and she may even hate it. She keeps trying to climb out, she bangs her nose against the side of the soaking pan, she bobs her head up and...