- Joined
- May 25, 2016
- Messages
- 10
Hi, i recently acquired two Russian tortoises, i have not yet named them, but i have had them for about a month now. I got them from my AP Biology teacher at school who could no longer care for them. I built a 5x3 foot tortoise table, got substrate (coconut fiber, and play sand) and got them a couple different hides and rocks to feed them on. I have been feeding them a big variety in lettuces and they always seem to eat a lot. I have left them a water dish but they dont seem to touch it. For lights i have been using 2 x 100w heat lamps at either end of the cage, and a uvb at the main basking spot as well. I have been soaking them about 1-2 times a week for about 10 minutes each.
Attached are pictures of the two, and the tortoise table.
I have some concerns for them though, recently the larger female about 6.5 inches layed an egg earlier today. I was a little surprised at this so i asked my biology teacher what he would do when they lay an egg. He said they were both female, and so the egg would never be fertilized, so he just let them sit around a couple days then would throw out the egg. The problem with this is i am 95% sure the smaller one about 5" is a male, so the egg could possibly be fertilized. He always has his tail to the side, it is significantly longer, and his cloaca is towards the end of the tail and shaped more like a slit. It would be great is you guys could look at the pictures and help me out in anyway. He (if he is a he) has seemed more aggressive lately, running around the enclosure more, and occasionally climbing over her to get somewhere. And if the egg is fertilized ( I tried to candle it, but it was just layed so no way to tell) how do i care for it?
Thanks guys i look forward to being a member of this community.
http://imgur.com/a/eKFQd
Attached are pictures of the two, and the tortoise table.
I have some concerns for them though, recently the larger female about 6.5 inches layed an egg earlier today. I was a little surprised at this so i asked my biology teacher what he would do when they lay an egg. He said they were both female, and so the egg would never be fertilized, so he just let them sit around a couple days then would throw out the egg. The problem with this is i am 95% sure the smaller one about 5" is a male, so the egg could possibly be fertilized. He always has his tail to the side, it is significantly longer, and his cloaca is towards the end of the tail and shaped more like a slit. It would be great is you guys could look at the pictures and help me out in anyway. He (if he is a he) has seemed more aggressive lately, running around the enclosure more, and occasionally climbing over her to get somewhere. And if the egg is fertilized ( I tried to candle it, but it was just layed so no way to tell) how do i care for it?
Thanks guys i look forward to being a member of this community.
http://imgur.com/a/eKFQd