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  1. M

    mulch or topsoil

    Hello, I currently have a Russian tortoise living in a large, indoor enclosure with a cypress mulch substrate. I was thinking of switching her substrate to topsoil, mainly on the grounds that it would be easier for her to dig into, and perhaps more pleasant on her feet. (Also I could...
  2. M

    dimmers revisited

    The UV tube is a high output variety ("Reptisun" is the maker, if I'm not mistaken). I'm not sure about its spectral characteristics, though. As for the 65 watt floods -- those are incandescent? (i.e., not LED, so they throw off heat?) Thanks for all of the advice! Last question: how do you...
  3. M

    dimmers revisited

    Thanks for that! That's good to know about the red lights. (I also think the red looks a bit strange, and I don't have to live under them). I'll replace them. Also good to know about the timing for the lights. Thank you! As long as we're on the topic, I've always wondered: is there a better way...
  4. M

    dimmers revisited

    The lights are two inrafred bulbs (for heat) and a fairly large LED (for visible light). There's also a UV tube at the other end of the enclosure, but it's on a separate timer -- my understanding is that it's not possible to dim a UV tube (though I'd be happy to be told otherwise)
  5. M

    dimmers revisited

    A question for the forum: I currently have the lights and infrared heaters in Daphne (russian tortoise's) enclosure on a timer. They click on every morning at 6:30 and turn off at 11:30. There's a CHE that's not hooked up to the timer, so it's on all the time to provide heat without light at...
  6. M

    Calocephalus for Russian Tortoise?

    Thank you for this! (and apologies for the slow reply)
  7. M

    Calocephalus for Russian Tortoise?

    A friend recently gave me a calocephalus -- also called "cushion bush" and "silver sand" and a member of the Aster family, according to the internet. Does anyone know if russian tortoises can eat this? I couldn't find it on the tortoise table, but I'd like to put it in our tortoise's enclosure...
  8. M

    Suddenly Sleepy Russian

    Hello, all Quick tortoise health question: over the past few days, Daphne (Russian tortoise) has suddenly adopted strange sleeping habits. Whereas she used to sleep in one of her hides, or burrow into her substrate to sleep, now she frequently just sort of plunks down and goes to sleep right out...
  9. M

    lighting for a russian tortoise

    Hello, All: I have a tortoise lighting question that I believe hasn't been addressed on previous threads (apologies if I missed it). the question: do tortoises need diffuse light for indoor lighting? That is, does it hurt their eyes to have bright bulbs over their tanks? The practical source...
  10. M

    the peril of pebbles

    Ok sorry... last question: are the leaves on the ground safe for her to eat? I think they're from maple trees. She was outside yesterday without showing any interest in them, but today I caught her noshing one.
  11. M

    the peril of pebbles

    Thank you! this is very helpful.
  12. M

    the peril of pebbles

    hello, and thanks for all of your replies! Here is the garden -- as you can see, pretty bare right now, though that can change. As for food, she eats about 50/50 weedy stuff from the back garden (dandelions, geraniums, things like that) and grocery store food (kale, arugula, bok choy). I'd like...
  13. M

    the peril of pebbles

    We recently moved into a new house with an enclosed front garden -- brick walls on three sides, a wooden fence that goes about 6" into the ground on the 4th. The previous owners did to develop the garden, and as a result it's mostly just bare soil, some flagstones, a couple of small trees, and a...
  14. M

    indoor/outdoor tortoise life

    Thank you for these responses! They are really helpful (and Daphne the tortoise will benefit greatly). Ok, last question - the backyard (where her enclosure is) is shady at certain times of day. Still ok to have her out? Or does she need a spot of direct sun on cool days to keep warm? (I assume...
  15. M

    indoor/outdoor tortoise life

    A question for those experienced with care of Horsfield's tortoises: I live in Chicago and have a 3-year old Horsfield's that I inherited two months ago. Currently, she spends her nights inside the house, in a terrarium (about 2x4'). We also built her an outdoor enclosure in the garden (maybe...
  16. M

    Introduction and Question about Russian Tortoise diet

    Thank you! Yes - indeed, strawberries and kale also seem unlikely foods for a desert-based creature, but she does seem to savor them. What else can you recommend that would be nourishing for her? We want to take the best care possible of her (with the admittedly weird restriction that Chicago...
  17. M

    Introduction and Question about Russian Tortoise diet

    Hello! I'm writing to introduce myself and Daphne, a 3 year old Russian tortoise. We live in Chicago, where it's currently warm and sunny. I recently inherited Daphne from a friend of my daughter's. My question is this: as far as I understand, Daphne's former human caretakers fed her a diet...
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