questions about 2 RT'S

[kallista]

Hello, tomorrow I pick up 2 male Russian torts from a women who needs to get rid of them, due to sickness in her family. I said I would take them, since no one else wants them. I am sad to say I know nothing about Russian torts and have been reading all I can today and tonight. So I will be posting here I would think a lot asking questions if thats ok. I live in the far most north of MN.
The torts comes with a 7 inch high turtle table cage, with a water dish and food bowl. One lamp she said for getting ub rays?
I have 2 ferrets and I use a litter called, Worlds best, its corn cob base. I want to know if I can use that as well for them..
I am a huge fan of fully knowing what you get before you get it but in this case, i have one day to get all the info I can on them.
any help would be great


Also she feeds them lettuce, cabbage can green beans, carrots and tomatoes'S

 

[Josh]

hi kallista, welcome to TFO!
russians love to dig so you'll probably want to go with a soil/sand mixture and a lot of it! if you can, just pick up some organic soil and kids playsand and you should be good to go.
the UVB bulb will be important if your russians aren't able to go outside for whatever reason. make sure you provide a place for them to bask and warm up, too.
feel free to post your specific questions here or in the russian forum!

 

[kallista]

hi kallista, welcome to TFO!
russians love to dig so you'll probably want to go with a soil/sand mixture and a lot of it! if you can, just pick up some organic soil and kids playsand and you should be good to go.
the UVB bulb will be important if your russians aren't able to go outside for whatever reason. make sure you provide a place for them to bask and warm up, too.
feel free to post your specific questions here or in the Russian forum!

Thank you Josh, since i will be taking over their care, i want to do everything perfect for them, so i just don't know where to start lol. The internet is weird, some say yes do this, while others say no don't do this. I was told corn cob is good then others say bad.
I have never got another creature with out studying for months on them, this one i cant so, so any way to point me would be great.
I live in the far north, we don't have organic soil nor kids play sand, so i would have to order it.
The tort table is 7 inches high i think she said, 4 feet long and 2 feet wide, do i cover the whole area with it, what about hay? see i am lost, no one agrees with anything when i look things up.
thanks
Kalli

 

[Jacqui]

I would believe the corn cob bedding would be too dry. Can you get Bed-A-Beast type bricks at a local pet store? Those can work well instead of the soil. Are you sure you can't get the sand? Might try places like farm feed stores, that's where I get mine.

Since your on a limited time before arrival, the corn cobs would work temporarily. Giving you more time to locate other places and other bedding ideas. If I am recalling correctly, it doesn't have dust and is more like a pellet?

 

[kallista]

I found some kids play sand, and the feed and mill does have top soil but not organic soil, but the top soil doesn't have anything added to it. As for pet store, the closet one if over 100 miles away. I live in a small town 5 miles from the border here in mn. And she does carry aspen too so if i get that i can mix it.
I always try to be prepared here being a rescue, but who would have thought it a Russian tort lol.

 

[Jacqui]

Interesting that it seems she got started pretty right with caging (if the size is large enough? you never mentioned it's size) and things, but then gave them such a poor diet (especially if by lettuce your talking iceburg). Glad your there to help them out.

 

[kallista]

Interesting that it seems she got started pretty right with caging (if the size is large enough? you never mentioned it's size) and things, but then gave them such a poor diet (especially if by lettuce your talking iceburg). Glad your there to help them out.

I told the size of the tort table in post # 3

And yes i did say lettuce, but it wasn't iceberg, romaine is almost lettuce, and that is what i was referring to. Like in the other post, shes been feeding them, carrots, greens like romaine and the others but no iceberg, green beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes she did say that during the winter she does toss in some can veggies from what they were having that day too.
She said they slept 2 winters ago but not last winter, they are almost 5 years old.
She is passing away and i think she did right by making sure they will get a great home before that happens.

And this is a learning experience for me, i just wish i knew everything there is to know.

Ok so far i got kids play sand, aspen shavings, and still wondering about top soil, i did look it up and many people are using that cause they cant find organic by them.

And i will go shopping for all the veggies they both need, i have a nice list of great things for them to eat.

We got the sun lamp and a heating lamp as well too.

I get them both at 4 today, so i am doing research all i can..

they will have a whole room to them selves, so i can let them out on the floor with a gate up, to move around, its tiled in there.. I was thinking about adding maybe a light and some flat rocks in a corner. I have a low 1 inch 2x2 wooden frame that has a bottom on it, i am thinking about top soil and planting grass, and some nice things for them to eat, and they can help them selves when they want.

thanks for all your help

 

[kallista]

I forgot to say thank you Jacqui, your help has helped me alots... I am sure i will be bugging you more with questions, but one question, can i use top soil. not organic soil?

 

[kallista]

I forgot to say thank you Jacqui, your help has helped me alots... I am sure i will be bugging you more with questions, but one question, can i use top soil. not organic soil?

Ok got the babies

The wooden tort table is 5 feet long 26 inches wide, it has a tort hutch with two arches in it for them to go into.
Nothing lines the bottom but the pressed wood.

I got play sand, its just a tad damp from sitting in the sun at the feed store.But that should dry out fast.
But i poured it in there, i added aspen shavings, with that and then on top of that i added timothy hay. They are eating some of the hay right away.
There is a uv light and a heat lamp as well.I need to buy a bulb.
They were out of top soil, so i will have to hunt some down so this set up will have to work this set up with have to work till i find some soil.


Ok questions..

1.... can i use just top soil instead of organic soil?
2... do i need to use top soil?
3... How much timothy hay can they eat?
4....what can if any, can i line the bottom of the inside of the table with?
5...How much do i fee them till i get to know what they eat in one day?
6....I have the sand mix, about 2 inches deep , should i make it deeper for them to dig?
7...Their nails were just cut, how long before they need to be cut again?
8.. since i will wash what they eat is it ok to give it to them wet?
9.. How much water do i put into a water dish?

Its better for me to ask here cause i looked online and everyone has a diff answer.
I need to give them the best care i can, its hard not knowing much about them, besides i have read online.

thanks

 

[Jacqui]

You can use the top soil too, as long as nothing has been added to it as in chemicals, fertilizers, nor things to make it hold water...read the bag plus check the soil for little tiny balls normally white, green or yellow it seems. You could even use your own yard dirt...if you don't fertilize, use chemicals, ect..,

I personally use the bricks and sand mixture. It's a preference thing, but I like how it holds the moisture, seems natural, is easy to find for me, safe, they love burying themselves in it. Others have great luck with the aspen I have not experimented with it, so I have no advise to give), some the reptile bark stuff, ect.., Some folks divide the enclosure into areas with different substrate types, which is also a great idea.

For lining once more that's a variety from what I have read. Some start with coating the wood before the animal ever is in it. Other's use heavy plastic like sold for outdoor furniture, pool liners, linoleum, tiles, ect.., Pretty much what ever is available for you. Just remember they can dig down to it and can rip fragile things and it needs to hold water (moisture) in.

When feeding food inside, I go for about what they can eat in 20 mins. Outside free range is an all they want buffet.

Go deeper with the substrate if you can. I like atleast 6-8" myself. However, be sure that won't raise them enough they can climb out. These guys are masters at escape, be fore warned.

Normally the nails should not need to be cut. It helps, if you add in things like a flat river rock, so they naturally wear the nails down just walking on it.

Yes wet is fine, even better then fine. Gives them added moisture and usually makes it so things like the vitamins/calcium stuff sticks to the food and thus gets into the tort better. In the water dish enough water to not have to keep their head lifted up high. Usually about where their two shells meet is high enough. This is sad, am sitting where I can't see any tort and can't think how to describe the water depth. It's just such a routine thing, I don't think about how deep it is any more. These are two healthy torts, so they won't drown in the meantime and somebody will come along with a clearer head and correct me on the depth thing. Maybe it's better to say under their chin as they have it normally when held inside their shell? They don't need to be swimming, just drinking/soaking.

Also the sand should be damp. That's one of the reason you use it with the soil/brick is to help hold in the moisture.

One of the first thing you will learn with torts is there are few hard and fast answers. What works for one person may not work as well for the next. Just like somebody will soon be coming along and telling you I am wrong about this or that, do it this way. Just use common sense and try things for yourself. Replace and rearrange as you go and learn.

P.S. Your welcome for the help. It's why we are all here to learn, share, and grow as we find the right way to care for these shelled wonders.

Just an added thought about the bulbs. You can use one bulb for both the heat and light. The UV part normally is good for about 6 months, some do better. However, if you can get these guys into outside pens or just even a good amount of time closely supervised outside, you can do without the UV part (which is where the cost comes from). Normally lights are on the same hours as the sun is out...about 12-14 hrs. No light at night, nor heat...unless you keep your home really cool? It helps them to have the more natural change of temps in their environment.

 

[kallista]

can they have celery?
I read that its a nono for tomatoes, but many gibe them to their tort. I understand cabbage now and then but the zoo saids no cabbage at all. Now you can see, why i am confused, all i have read online, 4 books in 2 days on Russian torts, and here and another forum, all say did things..
I have lots of clover outside, i have red and white, can they eat both?
So i will just keep asking here, at lease i am getting some great answers
thanks

Heres what i ordered so far... most other stuff i already have, and i order from them, they donate to my rescue, they are get people

1) CF-13901 Gauge Kit
2) CF-27564 Turtle Bones 4 pk approx 6" each
3) CF-27559 Basking Lamp 2-pk 75 Watt
4) CF-33289 Reptile-Life Veggie Plus Supplements Tortoise - 6 oz
5) CF-22673 Large 14-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 2" high Water's Edge Bath and Bowl

i got a 75 watt cause i have another 100 and i dont need it so hot in the summer here.

 

[Jacqui]

Most of the differences in diet recommendations are often based on when and from where you learned what was ok to feed. Such as tomatoes were more popular years ago. Have to admit, I used to feed tomatoes always as a rare treat, but much more often then I do today. Still I know my old Bell's Hingeback male loves them, so he gets a few bites a year.

Except for toxic foods, they can have a limited amount of any weed or greens. So yes they can eat celery, but why give it to them? It has little good food value (which is why it's a diet food). Variety is a key thing to remember. Next check out the food value and if the item blocks or binds the good from another food source. Those with low value or problem causing ones should be feed on a limited basis. Such as carrots and kale. Russians get no fruit as a rule. Weeds are some of the best things to feed them (such as dandelions). High on any list should be hibiscus flowers and leaves, also grape leaves (but not the grapes). For a starting list, I would use the one at: www.russiantortoise.org and then go from there.

Both the red and white clover is fine to feed. Just be sure no chemicals and fertilizers were used on them. Also if you have other animals, if they get meds with Ivermectin as an ingredient, don't use weeds from where they may have contaminated them.

If your not sure if a weed or flower is okay to feed just ask. If you don't know what kind a weed is, take a picture and post it in the weed ID thread. Somebody will know what you have.

 

[kallista]

Ok i made a huge 20 quart pot full of

Romaine lettuce
Red and green leaf lettuce
Collards
Endive
Escarole
Mulberry leaves
cucumbers
some shredded carrots
dandelions leaves
and green beans

Mixed with powdered calcium

and how i will be putting them into bags and freezing them

I also toss in zucchini

what about cauliflower and broc?

The reason why i asked, i understand it doesn't have any value, but they were eating it before i got them.

 

[egyptiandan]

If you freeze that you will just have mush when you thaw it to feed. Greens just can't be frozen. Cauliflower and Broccoli aren't good to feed as they are high in oaxalic acid, which binds calcium and makes it unusable to the tortoise.

Danny

 

[kallista]

If you freeze that you will just have mush when you thaw it to feed. Greens just can't be frozen. Cauliflower and Broccoli aren't good to feed as they are high in oaxalic acid, which binds calcium and makes it unusable to the tortoise.

Danny

I used freeze all the time for my other critters.. But you need to freeze it dry, and get all the air our of the bags, and they thaw out just like they went in. If you leave any water on them then freeze it will be mush. You can also chop up timothy hay too, that will draw out any moisture as well.. Dont power before hand if freezing tho.

thanks
kalli

and freeze your cucumbers carrots and other moist veggies in a diff bag. once frozen then add them to the green and freeze.