The tortoise looks reasonably healthy (as much as one can tell from a photo), but it is getting some pyramiding, so somethings that you are doing is not right. Probably it is not getting enough humidity. I will leave that for others to discuss with you if you wish to post pictures of his enclosure and its lighting, substrate, etc.I’ve had a Russian tortoise for 6 months now, he’s about a year old and is called Panzer, just want to check with you guys if he looks healthy or notView attachment 307492
The tortoise looks reasonably healthy (as much as one can tell from a photo), but it is getting some pyramiding, so somethings that you are doing is not right. Probably it is not getting enough humidity. I will leave that for others to discuss with you if you wish to post pictures of his enclosure and its lighting, substrate, etc.
For me, it's difficult to tell with him being so far away, and not brightly lit.
He might have a bit of pyramiding, but that could be seen from a side view.
Is there a reason you think he might not be healthy?
The enclosure is too dry and the light is probably not correct either. As I said once others see this photo, they will begin helping you to correct the issues which need to be changed. The diet you are feeding needs a lot more variety also.View attachment 307500
His enclosure is rather dry, the light is on for about 12 hours a day. The enclosure itself it’s about 1.5x3.5 feat, but I do plan to get him a bigger one soon. The substrate is coco fibre and a tiny bit of Sandy soil. I give him Romaine lettuce most days with bindweed leafs and dandelion.
So I’ve watered the enclosure down a bit, the temperature in the basking spot is around 33-38C and the box hut thing is around 21C. I’ll start soaking him everyday now instead of once a week and a varied diet will start right away!The enclosure is too dry and the light is probably not correct either. As I said once others see this photo, they will begin helping you to correct the issues which need to be changed. The diet you are feeding needs a lot more variety also.
@KarenSoCal , @Tom can you give us the link for how to properly raise a Temperate/Russian Tortoise, please?
My parents let me get him, but they are not the most helpful at getting anything for him, everything thing must come out of my pocket, and since I’m 14 buying online is almost never going to happen. I love my tortoise, and I’ll do everything I can to help him thrive, I just don’t know how long I can do that...
Hi - For about $30 I got some pine 1x2s from Lowes, plus two shower curtains, and built a cover with a hinged door on top of my tortoise table. Picture below.
I live in the U.K. and there are Lidl’s everywhere, they sell plastic greenhouses for about £15, would I need the greenhouse to keep humidity and heat? Even if I can’t get a green house, my grandpa was a joiner and the worlds biggest hoarder, so I think he would probably make something upHi there,
There are different ways you can go about this. I ended making something more complicated than what Karen showed.
- For about $30 I got some pine 1x2s from Lowes, plus two shower curtains, and built a cover with a hinged door on top of my tortoise table. Picture below. Now that might be a bit complicated depending on how handy you are and what you have at your disposal.
The triangle shape Karen showed was what I originally was going to make, it would work and be an easier build, and use less materials.
- Some people have been adding mini greenhouses on top of their set-ups. They can easily be found on Amazon or ebay and require no building.
They usually cost between $35 and $45 or so.
Here’s an example : https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/new-cover-for-table-top-enclosure.186369/#post-1875733
- If you were to get a little money, you could get a grow tent. Many here have done that, the results are very nice.
- Or there’s the large plastic tote bin/christmas tree bin.
You’ll have to do searches for these two last options bc I don’t have examples in mind.
Perhaps you can nudge your parents by printing things out and showing them how much you are learning, researching and taking things seriously.
If you can’t go online to buy anything, or don’t have the funds, can you look around for what you have in your house or garage that you might be able to use? Large pieces of plastic, wood, etc... Maybe you can work something out. I’m happy to help.
Good luck.
Show your grandpa the pictures in the link I posted in post # 9, "Hi! I'm new here". It sounds like he would have what you need to make a cover for your enclosure.I live in the U.K. and there are Lidl’s everywhere, they sell plastic greenhouses for about £15, would I need the greenhouse to keep humidity and heat? Even if I can’t get a green house, my grandpa was a joiner and the worlds biggest hoarder, so I think he would probably make something up
Will do, and I’ve changed his diet today, it’s got thistle, bindweed, romaine lettuce, geranium and bramble leafs. The portions are obviously small for him. Should that be enough verity? I may be able to sway my parents to get me seeds toShow your grandpa the pictures in the link I posted in post # 9, "Hi! I'm new here". It sounds like he would have what you need to make a cover for your enclosure.
Just remember that whatever you make has to have a bar of some kind above the middle of the enclosure to hang lights from.
Romaine lettuce has very little nutrition in it. Look around your neighborhood and see if you can find any of the plants listed in that long list I posted. Or at the grocery store, look for some of the items like endive, escarole, radicchio, mustard greens, dandelion, bok choy, anything on the list.Will do, and I’ve changed his diet today, it’s got thistle, bindweed, romaine lettuce, geranium and bramble leafs. The portions are obviously small for him. Should that be enough verity? I may be able to sway my parents to get me seeds to
grow over the winter for him.