Hi could do with all the help I can get with a russian baby tortoise

[Sarahjayne1991]

I have one of the round old fashioned ones with the dial things? Are they any good or not really? Xx

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome!

 

[Sarahjayne1991]

I'm telling you guys this because no one else will understand and share my excitement.... His eyes aren't sunken in now!!!!!! They aren't how they should be but they are no longer sunken into his head!!

 

[Toddrickfl1]

I'm telling you guys this because no one else will understand and share my excitement.... His eyes aren't sunken in now!!!!!! They aren't how they should be but they are no longer sunken into his head!!

Definitely keep soaking him to get him hydrated this will help him a lot. Glad you rescued that little guy. I must warn you though, it's hard to stop at just one

 

[Bee62]

I've spent the evening reading everything you have all sent me and I feel I may be the luckiest person alive right now. I had no intention of becoming a tortoise mommy yet I have a soil substrate with none of the bits described in it that are bad for them. I have also got pretty much everything on the list, he has a water bowl/shallow pool I've fed him leafy greens all that has been suggested (aside from dampening his substrate which I have now done and a few bits and pieces) I got correct and I won't lie and say it's because I'm intelligent I have just got incredibly lucky!!! What are the odds of that happening? I come here terrified I had gotten everything wrong and it seems I've got a lot right! I have no idea how because he was an impulse buy because I saw him being tortured and looking sick in the shop! Luckily for him I have a big heart where animals are concerned so he now has his own family. I was hoping to be able to keep him in the cage I have now? Or is it too big? After reading your info I have now took the cage part off of the top (the metal panels etc) and split it so that half of it is covered up to keep it warm and damp etc. It's just such a huge spacious cage I was hoping he could keep it if I'm honest but, any advice I get here will be followed 100% I need all the help I can get so if it isn't suitable please do say. It won't be an issue I just thought it would be nice for him to have so much room.

I'm a bit worried about his eating situation? He still hasn't eaten? They only fed him on pellets in the store, odd question I know but is it possible he doesn't know what I'm giving is food? If he's only ever been on pellets? He was imported from another country and took straight to the pet shop. He has never even been outside. I asked the shop about the care they have been giving hoping to get some tips and I quickly learnt to not listen to a word they said. He had never had a bath never been fed anything but pellets wasn't being handled. He had nothing in his tank aside from fake leaves to make it look pretty to potential customers, a few pellets and a lamp. He had no water no hidey hole nothing. This is why I got him i couldn't leave him there. But I'm worried he has no idea that what I'm giving him is food? I'm probably thinking really silly thoughts I know.

I haven't joined on any other forums for tortoises but I have read some and seen a few where there has been some pretty harsh words. I joined this one because everyone seemed so friendly when reading threads! I was worried because I have constantly seen all over the internet that you shouldn't buy from pet shops etc. I also know in general online forums can be a terrifying place!

Thank you all so much for helping me with this. I'm a complete stranger from the internet and you are all trying to help its incredible to be honest. Xx

Welcome to the forum and our big tortoise family. Yes, it is a very friendly forum and I hope you will feel comfortable here with us.
Good luck for your little tortoise. Well done that you saved him.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Great news, welcome to the Forum.

Nice that you rescued this lil guy.. good on you. Many have linked and provided great info here for you, so you have plenty of good resources to follow. Nice daily soaks, coupled with proper heat, lighting, food will go a long way. Your lil guy also needs to settle into his new home and feel safe with his new house and keeper.

Keep it all up. Best of luck. Happy Torting.

 

[Tom]

I've spent the evening reading everything you have all sent me and I feel I may be the luckiest person alive right now. I had no intention of becoming a tortoise mommy yet I have a soil substrate with none of the bits described in it that are bad for them. I have also got pretty much everything on the list, he has a water bowl/shallow pool I've fed him leafy greens all that has been suggested (aside from dampening his substrate which I have now done and a few bits and pieces) I got correct and I won't lie and say it's because I'm intelligent I have just got incredibly lucky!!! What are the odds of that happening? I come here terrified I had gotten everything wrong and it seems I've got a lot right! I have no idea how because he was an impulse buy because I saw him being tortured and looking sick in the shop! Luckily for him I have a big heart where animals are concerned so he now has his own family. I was hoping to be able to keep him in the cage I have now? Or is it too big? After reading your info I have now took the cage part off of the top (the metal panels etc) and split it so that half of it is covered up to keep it warm and damp etc. It's just such a huge spacious cage I was hoping he could keep it if I'm honest but, any advice I get here will be followed 100% I need all the help I can get so if it isn't suitable please do say. It won't be an issue I just thought it would be nice for him to have so much room.

I'm a bit worried about his eating situation? He still hasn't eaten? They only fed him on pellets in the store, odd question I know but is it possible he doesn't know what I'm giving is food? If he's only ever been on pellets? He was imported from another country and took straight to the pet shop. He has never even been outside. I asked the shop about the care they have been giving hoping to get some tips and I quickly learnt to not listen to a word they said. He had never had a bath never been fed anything but pellets wasn't being handled. He had nothing in his tank aside from fake leaves to make it look pretty to potential customers, a few pellets and a lamp. He had no water no hidey hole nothing. This is why I got him i couldn't leave him there. But I'm worried he has no idea that what I'm giving him is food? I'm probably thinking really silly thoughts I know.

I haven't joined on any other forums for tortoises but I have read some and seen a few where there has been some pretty harsh words. I joined this one because everyone seemed so friendly when reading threads! I was worried because I have constantly seen all over the internet that you shouldn't buy from pet shops etc. I also know in general online forums can be a terrifying place!

Thank you all so much for helping me with this. I'm a complete stranger from the internet and you are all trying to help its incredible to be honest. Xx

• Those white bits in your soil are called perlite. Most tortoises eat them and they can eventually be deadly. That soil needs to be removed ASAP.
• Get some of the pellets that the pet store was feeding him and begin to slowly introduce new and better foods. It will take time.
• Your bulb should work well. Arcadia makes good stuff.
• I don't think you've told us what size cage you are using. What size is it? Most people go too small. I've never seen anyone go too large.

Keep those questions coming.

 

[Sarahjayne1991]

It's okay I have took the substrate stuff out already I didn't want to take the risk! Sadly for my bank but luckily for my animals I am a huge worrier! I have 2 cats they cost me probably over £100 a week in just food because I read horror stories about bad food *embarrased face*

I have the pellets already but he isn't touching them either. I got some when I got him to be on the safe side.

The cage is a very large rabbit cage (I had a really big rabbit who recently got so old his quality of life wasn't good and had to be pts) don't worry the cage has been sterilized and boiled cleaned a couple of times as I was originally going to sell it. Luckily for me I never got round to it. I said about it when I started this thread. Its just over 6ft long and about 3/12 foot wide. I have split it and covered half to make it hot and damp like you guys said. Xx

 

[TechnoCheese]

• Those white bits in your soil are called perlite. Most tortoises eat them and they can eventually be deadly. That soil needs to be removed ASAP.
• Get some of the pellets that the pet store was feeding him and begin to slowly introduce new and better foods. It will take time.
• Your bulb should work well. Arcadia makes good stuff.
• I don't think you've told us what size cage you are using. What size is it? Most people go too small. I've never seen anyone go too large.

Keep those questions coming.

I bought him home yesterday evening he's currently in a huge rabbit cage 6ft by 3ftish (slightly bigger not smaller)

 

[Sarahjayne1991]

Sorry I've just re-read a lot of my comments and they are pretty chatty with pointless information about my life. Sorry about that I'm a chatterbox I will try and be more to the point from here on. Sorry. Xx

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Sorry I've just re-read a lot of my comments and they are pretty chatty with pointless information about my life. Sorry about that I'm a chatterbox I will try and be more to the point from here on. Sorry. Xx

Your fine no need to apologize

 

[Sarahjayne1991]

I feel bad taking up so much time from you all but can you help me in regards to his nails? I'm guessing they have never been cut and there was no slate in his viv at the store and they are pretty long. The trouble is I don't know how long they are supposed to be or how to trim them? I do my cats nails so I'm not completely new at cutting animal claws but he's do tiny and I don't know whether I even should? Xx

 

[TechnoCheese]

I feel bad taking up so much time from you all but can you help me in regards to his nails? I'm guessing they have never been cut and there was no slate in his viv at the store and they are pretty long. The trouble is I don't know how long they are supposed to be or how to trim them? I do my cats nails so I'm not completely new at cutting animal claws but he's do tiny and I don't know whether I even should? Xx

Don’t worry, his nails are likely fine. Russians are burrowers, so they just have long nails in general.

Don’t worry, you’re not wasting our time! We have all the time in the world to help new tortoise owners

 

[Sarahjayne1991]

Thank you so much. You know you said earlier they are addictive I think I've just found out why. I haven't really been holding him as I want him to settle in. He still haven't eaten so I thought I'd try hand feeding. He has climbed up me sprawled out and fell asleep underneath my neck!!!! I honestly can't believe it. As far as I know he wasn't handled in the shop so I don't know why he's done this? I've been laying here for quite some time now I'm going a bit stiff! Xx

 

[Ray--Opo]

Opo

Thank you so much. You know you said earlier they are addictive I think I've just found out why. I haven't really been holding him as I want him to settle in. He still haven't eaten so I thought I'd try hand feeding. He has climbed up me sprawled out and fell asleep underneath my neck!!!! I honestly can't believe it. As far as I know he wasn't handled in the shop so I don't know why he's done this? I've been laying here for quite some time now I'm going a bit stiff! Xx

Opo did the same thing. When I was still recovering my wife would bring Opo in to see me when I was having a bad day and bed ridden. Opo climbed right up there and went to sleep. Opo did it many times. Even slept thru my snoring. LOL

 

[Sarahjayne1991]

That's incredible! I'm not afraid to admit when im wrong and I clearly was. I didn't think reptiles were capable of things like that? Emotionally I mean.

I know I sound as mad as the hatter but I can't help but feel like he knows I'm trying to help him. It sounds strange I know, but he was not socialised at all he was terrified when I got him home. I have looked after him the best I can considering I'm not knowledgeable on them.

Its so odd because I was starting to feel guilty about bringing him home. I felt like I was wrong and I should of let someone more experienced take him I felt that I had been unfair to him and I'd let my human emotion take over instead of think practically and in his best interests then last night just felt like he was saying thank you and it was at just the right time.

I spoke to my mum about it all and she reminded me that any could of got him it may not of been someone more experienced than me and he may of ended up chucked in a cage being neglected. Especially as it's common knowledge to not buy from a pet shop. Anyone who had knowledge about then would know that. It made me feel a little better but I could do with the truth and honesty from people who do know what they are talking about even if it's harsh. Have I done the wrong thing here? Was I selfish to get him? Because he is still not eating and I feel like I'm failing him and thanks to me taking him from that shop he will die. Sorry for such an emotional post but I really do need to talk about this. I suffer with depression and anxiety and I can't seem to think logically on this one. X

 

[daniellenc]

Your neck is warm and secure. He’s leeching heat off of you though it’s cute! Keep mixing his pellets with greens and eventually he’ll eat. May take a week or two but no worries!

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Seems like your doing all you can and he's definitely got it better than he had, no worries. He'll eat soon enough, he's just got to get settled in. Try feeding him immediately after you soak him. If you can get Mazuri tortoise food over there try that, most torts can't resist it.

 

[Bee62]

I feel bad taking up so much time from you all but can you help me in regards to his nails? I'm guessing they have never been cut and there was no slate in his viv at the store and they are pretty long. The trouble is I don't know how long they are supposed to be or how to trim them? I do my cats nails so I'm not completely new at cutting animal claws but he's do tiny and I don't know whether I even should? Xx

You are taking not our time. When someone ( like me now ) answers in a thread he or she has the time for answering and is glad for being able to help a new owner.
All is okay when you have questions.

 

[Ray--Opo]

Try some romaine lettuce. Try tearing it up in smaller pieces. Make sure the feeding dish has low sides or flat. A small terracotta dish works great. I went through some trying times with Opo eating. I would give Opo spring mix and Opo would only eat the lettuce. Again I said trying times. (Most was caused by me worrying) Your tort will eat. After reading it here enough times I finally applied some tough love. When Opo is grazing. One day Opo will eat a certain weed like it is candy and then for a few days Opo will walk right over it like it doesn't exist. Just don't fall into the trap (like I did) of finding a food you're tort likes and only give that. Make sure your tort is warm enough. Needs to have a basking spot and sooner or later will figure out what to do. Opo wakes up basks and then eats. It will all come together just do what you're doing.