Hey GB, having problems with the fact that if you ask a question to 30 members here, you will get 30 different answers. Hypothetical question; if you were from a pure white area with pure white foods in their grocery stores, what would be your best guess as to what to feed your Russian tortoises...
Yeah, it's hard when you have no reliable info, look for it on the forum, and everyone has contradictory opinions. For some one like me who wants to get it right, this is maddening. You read an entry that seems to give good advice and instantly someone contradicts it. With such guidance it will...
I live in Michigan and I brought them in early September when the nights became cold, greens during the summer(mustard, turnip, collard).
My concern is that improper brumation will weaken the RTs and leave them susceptible to other diseases.
I will start heating soon. Once the...
I have not tried this before.
The ones that were walking around had been buried for a week before that. They walked around a day and went back to ground, have been buried the last 4 days or so.
Temperatures are approximately 50-60 degrees during the day, low to mid 40s to upper 30s at...
I was going to refrigerate/hibernate my four Russians, but they have gone to ground in my inside enclosure already.(about 6 inches deep, sand, cypress mulch, organic potting soil & coconut). What should I do? Dig them up? The last couple of days 2 of them have been emerging, walking about, and...
I planning on refrigerator hibernating my four Russians. Before I could, they all went to ground.(Organic potting soil, sand & coconut with layer of cypress mulch).
I noticed 2 of my females get up and tool around while everyone else stays buried. What is this? Are they getting ready to...
Yeah, sorry but I don't have pic taking abilities and only have computer access occasionally. Basically the outer layer of tan and black were scraped off.
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Emysemys, thanks. I wondered if the previous MBD made the outer layer of chitin weak. I was worried if this would become a vector for...
I have a Russian tortoise recovering from MBD. She scraped off part of her shell trying to dig under a log, the very upper layer. I am looking for suggestions as to how to treat this. Would silvadene be the correct approach and where would I go to get some? Any advice is appreciated.
RE: Hibernating Russians dos and donts
Are there any concerns with lack of oxygen in a refrigerator, or will the daily openings for food items be sufficient? Will these openings disturb brumation? Maybe a temperature between 35 and 40? I am leaning toward this as Michigan winters have become...
Thanks for the advice everyone. I am leery about letting them brumate(thanks for the new vocab) outside, Michigan is weird when it comes to winter. I have a back room that I don't heat, so it's that or the fridge. With the mild winter we had last season, I am expecting a nice severe Michigan...
Hi, I'm from Michigan and am interested in hiberbating my four Russians. Michigan winters range from -20 and lower to 50. Is there an optimum temperature? I heat with wood, so I could put them into a variety of temperatures from room to room. Cardboard & newspaper seem to be the popular choices...
Tortoise is doing fine health wise, MBD has stopped, shell rot on bottom has receded. She did her daily trek accross lawn, eating weeds. Adminstered supplements today. She and the others get sunlight from 10:00 to 7:00, come in at night until we get 70 degree nights.
I will definitely get a...
I'm in Saginaw, so not much here. I planned on using washed play sand and coconut, but then I hear about impaction, heard the coconut by itself may promote shell rot(which is coming along nicely. Go Lotrimin), organic soil, aspen bark and so forth. Thought the play sand might pass though as...
Shell rot on the bottom, suggestions for that would be great. Vet scheduled for Monday just to be sure. Here are pics.
Scutes 2&3 are concave, like they were furrowed. Spot of shell rot on the top, more concerning are the scutes that seem to be shrinking leaving white areas. Unfortunately...
OK, sorry about no pics, as I am still stuck in the 1900s, no picture phone and no camera. But I will try and get it on here, thanks so much for your help. RT also has a scute that seems to be drawing back, leaving white marks, no discharge. Dry shell rot, treat with iodine? RT is still eating...