does any one breed Russians?

[terracolson]

I would love to learn about it!

i have one fertile female, one not yet fertile, and i have a few boys..

I need to figure out how to make them happy and magic happen!

I know that i cant really do anything about it, but if there is any suggestions

I am still looking for 2 more females

 

[dmmj]

I am working on it myself.

 

[egyptiandan]

I've got T.h.horsfieldii and T.h.rustamovi figured out. I haven't though gotten my T.h.kazachstanica to lay on a consistent basis and the few eggs I have gotten haven't been fertile. So not sure what's missing or what needs doing differently to get them going. When I figure it out I'll be sure to say

Danny

 

[terracolson]

Can the subspecies inter breed? These are the boys for my, T.h.kazachstanica

I dont think these males are the same, but I was wrong last time

8 years old

pet store russian

again:
8 years

pet store

 

[dreadyA]

the non petco russian looks alot more domed. good luck with breeding!

 

[egyptiandan]

The petstore Russian is T.h.kazachstanica and the 8 year old is T.h.horsfieldii

The subspecies can interbreed, but the fertility rate will be very low.

Danny

 

[terracolson]

ok then, i have 2 female, kazachstanica and one male, kazachstanica

so i am good there...

The other males dont even tried to breed, so maybe they know?

On my petstore kazachstanica is a "bunny rabbit"

---

So if i want to breed I should look into the, T.h.horsfieldii and T.h.rustamovi ..

 

[yannick]

Hi!
Just to add to this post,I would like to share my problem...
My 2 females are around 800g and my 2 males don't seem to be able to breed them...
they are trying...biting,slamming them and everything(they are very aggressive!!!) but when they try to mount them, the females just turn suddenly and don't let them do their buisness.
I also just put them for just a while with them as they are super aggressive,bitting off scales!
and I cannot leave the two males together for too long with the females as they will kill each other!
So I'm really wondering what could be wrong here?
Anyone has an idea?
Thanks a lot!

 

[dmmj]

well from my observations of male/female tortoise mating, the male basically has to beat the female into submission. so If your males are tiny still they may not be able to hold the female yet and mount her, give it time when the boys are big enough they will be able to do their duty, it does not mean they won't stop trying though.

 

[Yvonne G]

There comes a time when the female is a little bit more receptive too. She's just not ready yet.

 

[terracolson]

Well i am keeping my together all the time and i hope it works....

I am wondering, how many tortoises that are co-ed in there enclosure DONT have babies?

Is it possible that they will never have babies?

 

[-ryan-]

well from my observations of male/female tortoise mating, the male basically has to beat the female into submission. so If your males are tiny still they may not be able to hold the female yet and mount her, give it time when the boys are big enough they will be able to do their duty, it does not mean they won't stop trying though.

I think it has more to do with persistence. Russians are not like sulcatas and other tortoises, as in the males don't 'hold' the females when they mount them. A large female is easily twice the size of an adult male and three times the weight. The male needs to be persistent and the female needs to be willing (or tired).

 

[terracolson]

well from my observations of male/female tortoise mating, the male basically has to beat the female into submission. so If your males are tiny still they may not be able to hold the female yet and mount her, give it time when the boys are big enough they will be able to do their duty, it does not mean they won't stop trying though.

I think it has more to do with persistence. Russians are not like sulcatas and other tortoises, as in the males don't 'hold' the females when they mount them. A large female is easily twice the size of an adult male and three times the weight. The male needs to be persistent and the female needs to be willing (or tired).

tired.. haha

he has been bitting lots of scales off, i have to remove him..he is getting nasty

 

[-ryan-]

Are you putting both males in at once? That might be causing some of that aggression. Plus, I noticed with mine that the male becomes less aggressive the longer he is with the females. However, I have rarely seen him take scales off. Biting, yes, but not actually removing scales.

Good luck!

 

[terracolson]

Coco is aggressive Period! He humps and bites the males as well.

The other males so no interest in the females or coco...

I have moved him to another section of the pen. My females lost her scale all down the front of her "shin" it is horrible!
Its like he grabbed one and it ripped so deep the others just peeled off...

I am seriously thinking of finding him a home with some one who only wants one russian. My others are so happy he is gone.. i mean so happy, its like they have 100% more energy

 

[-ryan-]

Coco is aggressive Period! He humps and bites the males as well.

The other males so no interest in the females or coco...

I have moved him to another section of the pen. My females lost her scale all down the front of her "shin" it is horrible!
Its like he grabbed one and it ripped so deep the others just peeled off...

I am seriously thinking of finding him a home with some one who only wants one russian. My others are so happy he is gone.. i mean so happy, its like they have 100% more energy

That is actually what I am saying. Most males become more aggressive when they are with other males (it is normal for two male russians to attack each other). It sounds like there might be some dominance issues due to there being multiple males. Usually if you want to keep multiple males in with females you need a ratio of at the very least 1 male for every 2 females, but it is better to have 1 male for every 3 or 4 females. I think that would likely cut down on the aggression.

 

[terracolson]

Dang i responded and them the internet connection was lost! i hate comcast some times...

Coco has a time out area

he is doing better now with a larger pen.

My other males are not ready to breed yet, so they dont bug my girls..

But anyway, it seems better now, he gets a time out when he acts aggressive....