Baglady1956
New Member
Hello all!
We inherited my granddaughter’s “female box turtle (she has had it for 9 years)” and soon discovered he is a Russian tortoise, not Box turtle. All the sites contradict each other and our ‘reptile vet’ read the brochure I brought with me to answer my questions (no help). Do I set UVB light for night or day (we take him out in am for about an hour)? Do I set heat lamp on if the the room he is in is 75-78? Should he have a dark period at night (the heat lamp is very bright and he is in a guest bedroom) and two sites state lights on for 16 hours and 8 hours dark (he had a red light on at night and a white lamp during day...they didn’t take him out much). Any help would be greatly appreciated we love Boris and the vet recommended following how he was fed and treated (can he have sun dried shrimp and occasional fruit? He was being fed spring mix, veggies, sun dried shrimp, fruit with my granddaughter) as he is healthy (vet didn’t even know it was a he...I discovered how to sexy I’m by the tail, not shell, and he has a long pointed tail that he carries under his shell on his leg) so I don’t trust what the vet said...who also said tofu and soy beans are ok. Sites have said no on both. We are feeding spring mix with bell peppers, zucchini, bell peppers...outside he loves red apple ground cover (waiting a month or so u til all systemic care for a rose tree is out of its system so I can give rose petals and leave) will try hibiscus leaves and flowers; I also have Timothy hay and other hay pellets to soak and try.
Again..this is a new experience and all help is much appreciated
We inherited my granddaughter’s “female box turtle (she has had it for 9 years)” and soon discovered he is a Russian tortoise, not Box turtle. All the sites contradict each other and our ‘reptile vet’ read the brochure I brought with me to answer my questions (no help). Do I set UVB light for night or day (we take him out in am for about an hour)? Do I set heat lamp on if the the room he is in is 75-78? Should he have a dark period at night (the heat lamp is very bright and he is in a guest bedroom) and two sites state lights on for 16 hours and 8 hours dark (he had a red light on at night and a white lamp during day...they didn’t take him out much). Any help would be greatly appreciated we love Boris and the vet recommended following how he was fed and treated (can he have sun dried shrimp and occasional fruit? He was being fed spring mix, veggies, sun dried shrimp, fruit with my granddaughter) as he is healthy (vet didn’t even know it was a he...I discovered how to sexy I’m by the tail, not shell, and he has a long pointed tail that he carries under his shell on his leg) so I don’t trust what the vet said...who also said tofu and soy beans are ok. Sites have said no on both. We are feeding spring mix with bell peppers, zucchini, bell peppers...outside he loves red apple ground cover (waiting a month or so u til all systemic care for a rose tree is out of its system so I can give rose petals and leave) will try hibiscus leaves and flowers; I also have Timothy hay and other hay pellets to soak and try.
Again..this is a new experience and all help is much appreciated