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  1. biochemnerd808

    Leopard tortoise 3 yr old female 2000g+

    This is the last of the leopard tortoise babies I raised, and my favorite. Has always been the biggest! She is 9.5" SCL and weighs a little over 2000g, with new growth showing at the seams. Going to be huge, her Mama is over 20" SCL. Hatched Dec 2020, got her Jan 2021. I raised her in a closed...
  2. biochemnerd808

    Well started Russian tortoise babies

    I have several well-started CB2 (2nd gen captive bred!) 2023 Russian tortoise babies available. I have raised these horsfields tortoises to 100g+ to ensure they are thriving. They are ready to ship, temperatures permitting. Fed a varied diet of weeds and garden-grown tortoise-safe greens...
  3. biochemnerd808

    Testudo Horsfieldii Incubator temperatures

    This Inkbird thermostat is what I use to run my hibernation (brumation) fridge. It will work well for an incubator, but honestly it is kind of hard to program. (There is a YouTube video I think that I followed). If you can find something more like this one: JumpStart Jump Start MTPRTC UL...
  4. biochemnerd808

    Xray post!

    Those are excellent foods for a Russian tortoise. I bet there are some others, too, but those are a great start. :)
  5. biochemnerd808

    New hatchlings

    You've gotten good advice. Separate them! There is a sticky article I wrote (Why not to keep 2 tortoises together) that will explain why this is so important. The egg that was dumped on the surface probably hadn't been fertilized. But clearly some are, hence the little ones. If you want them...
  6. biochemnerd808

    Tortoise lived without UVB

    Building an escape proof, predator proof outdoor habitat for summertime is a great idea. Natural sun (not filtered by glass or anything else) is SO beneficial. And you can grow weeds in there that you can feed for much of the year!
  7. biochemnerd808

    Xray post!

    Why can't you find weeds to feed them? I understand that it's winter, so that may be the issue... but during the growing season (Spring, Summer, Fall), you should be able to.
  8. biochemnerd808

    Testudo Horsfieldii Incubator temperatures

    I read your original post. A few things: I personally know 2 people who have that incubator and it overheated. Get a secondary thermostat, like the Jump Start heating mat one on Amazon, plug the incubator into that, put the probe in by the eggs. This adds an extra layer of safety. Occasionally...
  9. biochemnerd808

    Testudo Horsfieldii Incubator temperatures

    @DaanV, covering the incubator will definitely help. I got tired of how (heat-)leaky the hovabator is and ended up building my own incubator from a broken wine fridge. It has much better insulation! I set it up in my walk in closet, where there is very little temp fluctuation. Don't trust the...
  10. biochemnerd808

    Xray post!

    They ingest rocks and pebbles in thebwild, the important difference is that they eat higher fiber foods and are able to poop them out. I find pebbles in my tortoises' feces sometimes, surrounded by long fibers. E.g. they eat plantain weed and dead nettle and other high fiber weeds, even if they...
  11. biochemnerd808

    Need Solutions for 11 Baby Torts

    Wow, best of luck to you with these little ones! One thing I might suggest, to prevent an ever growing yard population: look which adult(s) is male, and place them back out into nature away from the community. Since they were originally wild, they should be OK. Maybe not this Fall, but once it...
  12. biochemnerd808

    At what temps do you bring your Russian inside (or turn on night box heater)?

    I don't do anything as long as night temps are above 50°F. We still have warm afternoons that warm to 85-90°F. The Russian tortoises are more active with cooler nights like this than they have been all Summer. Eating, drinking, walking around. This doesn't work in all climates, but for us, they...
  13. biochemnerd808

    Found hingeback in Houston, TX

    Not my posting. Someone in a FB group I'm in has found a hingeback (Kinyxis) in their yard. https://www.facebook.com/groups/738523053904299/permalink/982974132792522/?mibextid=Nif5oz
  14. biochemnerd808

    Pure SPP leopard tortoise, 18 months old

    This beautiful 1.5 year old, 550g pure SPP leopard tortoise needs a new home. Known parents feom a reputable breeder. I raised it from 1 week old, and it's smooth and perfect. It spent the first year in a closed chamber, high humidity habitat. Daily soaks, natural UV during warm season...
  15. biochemnerd808

    17 month old mixed genetics leopard SPP/SPB

    In an effort to simplify my life, I've decided to sell this well started, smooth, beautiful, extra dark mixed genetics leopard tortoise hatched by Byron Pitre. It's father is pure SPP, mother is SPB/SPP mix. Should be a pet, not a breeder, in the interest of keeping the gene pool orderly...
  16. biochemnerd808

    Dark dark dark leopard!

    Does the outdoor Redfoot habitat have enough hiding opportunities? Tortoises don't like feeling exposed. I plant lots of things (rosemary, lavender, grass bushels, small bushes like rose of sharon) in addition to the weeds and flowers I seed. And I lean logs up against rocks so there are areas...
  17. biochemnerd808

    Heya 🐢

    Heya 🐢
  18. biochemnerd808

    Baby Russian Tortoise

    Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you are doing your research. Several baby RT care sheets are pinned at the top of this section. They will help you set up the habitat with proper lighting, substrate, and hot humid hide. My friend @BeeZee1 has several baby tortoises available, you should contact...
  19. biochemnerd808

    My Leos

    Beautiful tortoises! I'm so glad you were able to transition them to eating healthy food. It's rewarding to see them thrive!
  20. biochemnerd808

    Dark dark dark leopard!

    Excellent question. It's SCL is 5". In many climates (dry climates) I would absolutely agree with you. However, we live in humid (so humid! 95% on many days) Central Arkansas where you can practically swim through our air. As long as night temps are over 75, there is no reason not to have it...
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