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I'm moving to Denver this weekend from S. Florida and I need to find a warm weather home for my 8 year old Russian. I wish I could keep him but I'll be in an extended stay for a few months while I find a house and then there's still too many uncertainties about accommodations for him. I'm...

With temperatures dropping significantly this week, I'm concerned about my Russian Tortoise living outside. I live in South Florida and rarely see temperatures in the 40s but this week it's forecast to drop to 40, 38, and 43 the next 3 nights with highs of 60 and 62. I'm wondering if my tortoise...

I just discovered a what I think is a very engorged dog tick on my Russian tortoise. His vet and the next closest exotic vet are out of town for the weekend. The 3rd closest exotic vet is fully booked. I'm reluctant to try to remove this myself. Is it critical that it be removed? Not sure what...

A cattle egret has been frequenting my backyard recently. He occasionally eats anoles and drinks ftom my pool. Has anyone known egrets to go after smaller torts? I have a 4 yr old Russian that sometimes roams around back there. Thanks! Patrick Del Pizzo Cooper City, FL

I noticed a wide growth line circling the shell of my Russian this morning. Does this look normal?

I just moved into a new apartment in Miami and realized that my north facing balcony gets no direct sun (at least this time of year). My small Russian was living happily in an outdoor enclosure on my sunny balcony in San Diego and I had hoped to have the same set up here in Miami. I assume...

I came across this 35 gallon pond liner at homedepot today. It's 38 inches across at the top (exterior) and 31 inches across at the interior midpoint. At $30 it seems like a great enclosure option. Patrick http://www.homedepot.com/buy/beckett-35-gal-plastic-patio-pond-pp1035.html#.UH3FgMXA98s

I recently drove my tortoises from San Diego to our new home in Miami. Can anyone recommend a good tortoise vet in the Miami area based on personal experience? Thanks! Patrick

I will be moving from San Diego to Miami later this month and driving my 2 Russian tortoises across the country. I'm guessing it will take me about 5 days. I've read that it's best to enclose them in a small dark container, maybe twice the size of the tortoise? Is this accurate? Will I need some...

I've posted before about my Russian tortoise Juca who was bullied and as a result has had several health and overall wellness issues. I've had her outside in her own balcony enclosure for about 2 weeks now. The lows have been in the 60s with highs in the 70s, though ground temps range from 70s...

Can anyone suggest a decent wireless webcam I could use to monitor my balcony enclosure? Its only 2'x3' so a wider angle would probably be best. Thanks!

I posted this in the general forum with minimal response so I figured I'd take a shot here as well. You may have read my other threads about my small Russian tortoise that was bullied by its larger companion. It's 2 years old and only weighs about 90 grams. I think it's on a track to better...

You may have read my other threads about my small Russian tortoise that was bullied by its larger companion. It's 2 years old and only weighs about 90 grams. I think it's on a track to better health but I'm wondering if you can help me determine gender. I had been thinking it was a male because...

So, It was a long time coming but I finally built this balcony enclosure for my smaller Russian tortoise. I bought a cedar planter box and painted it red. Then I stained some pieces of redwood for the cage top and added vinyl coated hardware cloth. I also put a hinged lid with a latch on each of...

I sprouted clover seeds in miracle grow soil and then transplanted into organic soil. Can I assume that by the time they are mature enough for consumption they will be safe to eat? Patrick Del Pizzo San Diego

What is the ideal minimum nighttime temperature for a Russian tortoise living outdoors? Thanks! Patrick Del Pizzo San Diego

I've had 2 russian torts for about 2 years and one of them has definitely not been thriving. They were both very young when I bought them, weighing about 45 grams. Now one is 308 grams and a picture of good health while the other is 90 grams and very lethargic. The smaller tortoise has had...

I'm currently working on establishing an outdoor balcony garden/grazing area for my Russian tortoises. I've planted some grasses and a mix of other things in a planter box but due to what I'm assuming is a drainage issue, there have been very small white mushrooms popping up (maybe about 1/8...

I noticed my russian tortoise was passing a long string of coconut coir this morning. It was probably about 2 inches long (almost 2/3 the length of his shell). I'm assuming it was accidentally consumed with normal food but is this something to be concerned about? Has anyone else experienced...

In an effort to get my two russian torts more exposure to sun light, as well as a periodic break from each other, I recently bought a 36" x 24" raised garden box to go on my 2nd story balcony. It's a wooden planter box on legs and is about 24" high. My plan is to use this as a tortoise food...