Hello! I've been utilizing these forums in the background- I've only posted once but am grateful to have such a knowledgeable resource. Today I have some questions that I just can't find the answers to in old posts. I just got a russian tortoise from a friend of friend of friend. I don't think he's in the worst shape but compared to the Hermann's I've had for the last almost 2 years he's not in the best of shape. The only time I posted was about thinking about getting a hermanns and I listened to the responses and read re-read and read some more held off for a little while so I could make better choices and because I did I have a wonderful 2 year old that eats everything I buy and grow for it. She has no white urates- she is still on daily or almost daily bath she likes them, I like the opportunity to interact with her. Has a pretty smooth shell - not 100 percent smooth but it's very slight. It is just about 700 grams, just turned 2 in May and is pretty darn personable. I think it's a she but It's not known for sure and her name is Tortellini. Other than getting ready to move out of the big xmas tree tote and in to a proper table - I followed everything this forum recommends.
So, someone gave me a russian tortoise because they didn't have time for it any more and I'm thinking - so weird I don't really have to "spend time" on mine per say. Just you know- feeding it and making sure it's doing what it's supposed to do. We don't hang out or anything- it's not a dog that demands the company of humans. So I took him. His name is Franklin. They said he was 9 but I don't know how that was arrived at. This person only had him for the last 3 years. He came in a small open tub with some weird bedding that was like pellets. His beak hangs quite a bit over his bottom jaw- they said it was just trimmed. (Tortellini's is flush. She almost looks like an old man) His claws are Edward scissor hands so long I think it affects the way he walks. He had a spot light on a clamp not even remotely pointed in the right direction. No UVB- they took him outside. (I don't know what they did for the other 8 months Chicago is too cold for going outside) I was told his favourite things to eat is Romaine, cherry tomatoes and watermelon and they weren't kidding. He hasn't been very interested in real greens and we got all kinds from store bought to home grown weeds. I wait a couple days and then give in giving him the romaine. (NO tomato or watermelon) he won't eat mazuri LS (Tortellini would sell her soul for mazuri LS she gets up early on the 2 days a week she gets them). They claimed he used a mineral block but He won't. He won't eat cuttle bone either. His shell is very round and smooth but looks a but weathered. Not damaged but some weird seams and marks. He sits weird twith all 4 of his legs splayed out. Instead of being tucked in I'm not sure if His nails have something to do with that. His poop is messy not really solid - from the Romaine? it's all water.
So first things I changed the bedding- coir and bark, added uvb tube, swapped the spot with a 65 flood off the clamp and on screen facing down so he actually gets heat and it won't set my place on fire. At the end of this week His larger tote will come in- same xmas tree storage. I've been giving him baths he seems to enjoy them. He poops weird lettuce flakes out.
So these are my concerns:
Are his limbs normal? I don't think he had good footing on the weird pellet bedding it just gave under him could that be causing the splaying? Is this MBD or is this what Russian Tortoises look like? He also looks too big for his shell- can they get over weight? Is the beak thing ok? He's using a terracotta dish now and I have flagstone for the new place when it all comes together. Will that go down on it's own or maybe this what Russians look like? The quicks in his nails look long can his nails even be cut? How do I get him to start eating better? Will the poop get better when he eats better?
Lastly- he's an adult- when the larger tub comes in should I utilize the lid and close the tub or at least partially close it? In Tortellini set up we use the lid- one side has her hide, LED lights and a 40w radiant heat panel set for 80 on a thermostat all closed in for humidity. The other side has her basking 75 w flood and a uvb tube on chicken wire so there is a heat gradient. These are all in timers to go off and cool down to room temp at night. When she was younger I closed it up fully to keep that 80 percent humidity all around. She was in a tank for a few months when she was tiny tiny. She spends equal amounts of time roaming. She has live plants though it's hard to keep up with replacing them as she continuously destroys them. The coir and bark are frequently sprayed and watered to stay damp and she has a terracotta saucer for water and eats off a piece unglazed tile. I'm in a suburb North of Chicago very close to the lake and the river so when the radiators aren't on the humidity is at about 50-60 in the room. Winter is harder- heat is high so it's warm cause I have no control over a radiator but they suck the moisture out so it's like 30-40 percent.
Should I mimic the set up for Franklin or is fully open ok?
Anything else I should know about that is different for Russians? they seem like they don't need as much humidity but overall they run very close to hermanns needs. They couldn't be more opposite in behavior and personality. Franklin is set in his bad habits. Tortellini is set in her ways but she has much better ways. Thanks to this forum actually.
Attached is the set up, pics of Franklin and the last is Tortellini.
I want to note that I understand BOTH need larger enclosures for the long term. That will happen in the next year or two as I work toward purchasing a permanent home. As a renter I move often and I can't accommodate moving giant table- now two giant tables.
Sorry this has been so long- please let me know if there's any more info needed and thanks for all the advice!
So, someone gave me a russian tortoise because they didn't have time for it any more and I'm thinking - so weird I don't really have to "spend time" on mine per say. Just you know- feeding it and making sure it's doing what it's supposed to do. We don't hang out or anything- it's not a dog that demands the company of humans. So I took him. His name is Franklin. They said he was 9 but I don't know how that was arrived at. This person only had him for the last 3 years. He came in a small open tub with some weird bedding that was like pellets. His beak hangs quite a bit over his bottom jaw- they said it was just trimmed. (Tortellini's is flush. She almost looks like an old man) His claws are Edward scissor hands so long I think it affects the way he walks. He had a spot light on a clamp not even remotely pointed in the right direction. No UVB- they took him outside. (I don't know what they did for the other 8 months Chicago is too cold for going outside) I was told his favourite things to eat is Romaine, cherry tomatoes and watermelon and they weren't kidding. He hasn't been very interested in real greens and we got all kinds from store bought to home grown weeds. I wait a couple days and then give in giving him the romaine. (NO tomato or watermelon) he won't eat mazuri LS (Tortellini would sell her soul for mazuri LS she gets up early on the 2 days a week she gets them). They claimed he used a mineral block but He won't. He won't eat cuttle bone either. His shell is very round and smooth but looks a but weathered. Not damaged but some weird seams and marks. He sits weird twith all 4 of his legs splayed out. Instead of being tucked in I'm not sure if His nails have something to do with that. His poop is messy not really solid - from the Romaine? it's all water.
So first things I changed the bedding- coir and bark, added uvb tube, swapped the spot with a 65 flood off the clamp and on screen facing down so he actually gets heat and it won't set my place on fire. At the end of this week His larger tote will come in- same xmas tree storage. I've been giving him baths he seems to enjoy them. He poops weird lettuce flakes out.
So these are my concerns:
Are his limbs normal? I don't think he had good footing on the weird pellet bedding it just gave under him could that be causing the splaying? Is this MBD or is this what Russian Tortoises look like? He also looks too big for his shell- can they get over weight? Is the beak thing ok? He's using a terracotta dish now and I have flagstone for the new place when it all comes together. Will that go down on it's own or maybe this what Russians look like? The quicks in his nails look long can his nails even be cut? How do I get him to start eating better? Will the poop get better when he eats better?
Lastly- he's an adult- when the larger tub comes in should I utilize the lid and close the tub or at least partially close it? In Tortellini set up we use the lid- one side has her hide, LED lights and a 40w radiant heat panel set for 80 on a thermostat all closed in for humidity. The other side has her basking 75 w flood and a uvb tube on chicken wire so there is a heat gradient. These are all in timers to go off and cool down to room temp at night. When she was younger I closed it up fully to keep that 80 percent humidity all around. She was in a tank for a few months when she was tiny tiny. She spends equal amounts of time roaming. She has live plants though it's hard to keep up with replacing them as she continuously destroys them. The coir and bark are frequently sprayed and watered to stay damp and she has a terracotta saucer for water and eats off a piece unglazed tile. I'm in a suburb North of Chicago very close to the lake and the river so when the radiators aren't on the humidity is at about 50-60 in the room. Winter is harder- heat is high so it's warm cause I have no control over a radiator but they suck the moisture out so it's like 30-40 percent.
Should I mimic the set up for Franklin or is fully open ok?
Anything else I should know about that is different for Russians? they seem like they don't need as much humidity but overall they run very close to hermanns needs. They couldn't be more opposite in behavior and personality. Franklin is set in his bad habits. Tortellini is set in her ways but she has much better ways. Thanks to this forum actually.
Attached is the set up, pics of Franklin and the last is Tortellini.
I want to note that I understand BOTH need larger enclosures for the long term. That will happen in the next year or two as I work toward purchasing a permanent home. As a renter I move often and I can't accommodate moving giant table- now two giant tables.
Sorry this has been so long- please let me know if there's any more info needed and thanks for all the advice!