Lucy!

[JClarke]

My name is Janelle and my little lady's name is Lucy! She is a 4 year old russian tortoise. She currently resides in a 5ft by 3ft tortoise table, as it is below 30 degrees outside. In the summer months she will be moved to a larger, outdoor enclosure. She's a very picky eater who loves not-so-nutritious romaine lettuce. I supplement with a grassland pellets and calcium for added nutrition. She also eats carrots, bell pepper, grapes and occasionally kale. Food suggestions are more than welcomed!

 

[Jodie]

Welcome to the forum. Here is a link to a great care guide and diet information.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Janelle, and welcome to the forum!

 

[bouaboua]

Hello and Welcome! ! ! !

 

[the_newzie]

Welcome!

 

[JClarke]

Thank you for the Welcomes and the link! I purchased some seeds and some cacti pads already : )

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome to TFO!

 

[gingerbee]

Welcome!

 

[mike taylor]

Welcome!

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

You have a great enclosure there and it looks like you've gotten mostly good advice. I see a couple of causes of concern. 1. Those water bowls are literally death traps. I would recommend swapping that out for a terra cotta plant saucer sunk into the substrate ASAP. 2. I'll bet you are running one of the coil type cfl UV bulbs in one of those hoods. Those can sometimes burn reptile eyes. I recommend using a long florescent tube or a mercury vapor bulb instead.

Here are some more threads with tips:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

And some food suggestions:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Janelle welcome to the TFO from AZ. Have a great tort day . Russians Rule !

 

[christinaland128]

welcome!!!

 

[pam]

Welcome Russians are awesome

 

[JClarke]

Hi Tom,
Thank you for all of the advice! The water bowl has just about of inch and a half of water in it. I've sunk it down so the sides come up a little less than an inch from the ground. I've filled the inside with flat river rocks to further decrease steepness/depth. Do you feel as though this is still unsafe? I can swap out for a terra cotta dish in the am.
I have ordered the testudo seed mix, as well as some prickly pear cacti (can I just place a whole pad in the enclosure, or break it up?).She eats Zoo Meds Grassland, but isn't a huge fan of it :/

 

[Yvonne G]

It's actually the inside straight up and down sides you have to worry about. The baby tries to climb out and over-balances, tipping over backwards into the water.

 

[JClarke]

I swapped it for a small terracotta dish.

 

[JClarke]

The original water dish was a ramp, but did have slightly tall sides.

 

[Yvonne G]

Much better.

 

[JClarke]

I do not have coil lights, I had read the damage that they may cause while researching breeds.

 

[leigti]

You have a nice enclosure there. It is nice and deep so you could make some varied to rain for your tortoise. Hills, more plants etc.