Some worrying stool samples...

EvilBosco

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Hello,

I have attached images of stool from my young russian tortoise, I'm concerned as they are different from previous stools after bathing them.

120260924_815518019184954_4671556978186619610_n.jpg120190283_1051065598653348_5313316047534098811_n.jpg
 

EvilBosco

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I was soaking them every second day, now I am soaking them every day as one of them is sleeping a lot. I am feeding them a salad mix - Spinach, Bulls Blood, Baby Kale with Calcium on top made by habistat.

I also haven't changed much to the enclosure except add more soil which is designed for tortoise and add a half log for their damp hide.
 

method89

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Is the purple fabric in the enclosure?
 

Blackdog1714

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The kale and the bulls blood are high in oxcalic and the spinach is high in calcium. So feeding a haigh calcium diet you may adding too much calcium with the supplements. Are you able to get access to weeds- dandelions, honeysuckle, plantain weed, hibiscus, grape leaves, mulberry leaves. A Russian needs a diet with variety and this is a good quick guide to help identify these foods
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EvilBosco

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I was given a sheet with saying that stuff was okay, Yeah I can go hiking every few days and pick those plants with fields that aren't sprayed or walked on much.

Thanks.
 

Blackdog1714

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peppers are a real no due to the sugar content and could easily have caused that. What you are feeding now is fine if it is varied maybe like once a week. My russian loves Plantain weed. Good Luck
 

EvilBosco

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Not all of those plants are readily available in the wild in Ireland but I will try my best to find them all.
 

EvilBosco

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After watching her today quite a lot I have noticed she is rarely moving but always in the basking area. When I bathe her she takes a while to open her eyes, a few minutes at most. I just weighed her and she weighs 28 grams.
 

Blackdog1714

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Okay need photos of your setup and what are the following:
1. Lights- sources and types
2. Heat-Ambient/Basking/NIght Time/Hide
3. Humidity- Overall/Hide
4. Substrate- type and depth
5. Age and where you got your Russian from
6. Soaking-Frequency and Temp
 

EvilBosco

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Lighting - I have a 10% UVB Desert long bulb from Arcadia with a IP64 controller. It is in the middle of the tank.
I also have a 40W basking bulb 11 inches from the substrate.

Heating

- Hot end / 90f

- Basking temp / 100f

- Humidity / I don't have a measurement for humidity

- Substrate / Habistat Tortoise Bedding

- Age / They were born in 2019, I was told this in the shop but no exact age.

I got them from Davys Pets in Carlow in Ireland.

- Soaking / I am soaking them daily now but before that, it was every second day. The temperature is between 84f to 90f.

I have attached images of their enclosure.
 

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Blackdog1714

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This is the thread for the Russian Care Sheet https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/ but a few updates like NO Moss.
1. Lights- Is the tube light the UVB light and is the other light an MVB (MVB and no good)
2. Heat-90 for a max temp daily is okay but could cool into the high 70's for overnight a 50 watt CHE (Ceramic Heat Emitter) is the best option to use if your screw in light fixture has a cermamic base
3. Humidity- for babies humidity is critical for good shell formation the substrate change will help with this
4. Substrate- Please change out the substrate ASAP as it has sand in it a known impaction risk for younger torts. If you get Coco Coir (rehydrate) then cover with Reptibark (Fine Fir Bark) it would be a much safer option. I suggested to cover the Coco Choir with the Reptibark because per sqaure foot it is cheaper than Reptibark by itself and works together almost the same. Depth 6"
5. Age - so they claim they are captive born because they do look fairly young at least size wise
6. Soaking-soak daily in 85-90 degree water. I found leaving the tub in the enclosure maintains the temp best

Lastly and I am sorry to say this, but Russians are terribly solitary torts. There are sad threads on here of attacks on enclosure mates that end very badly. A second enclosure is neccessary and you should see a change almost immediately in the eating/weight gain areas. I am montoring so reply with any questions
 
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EvilBosco

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I really thank you for your help. I spoke to the shop I bought them from and I cannot return the tortoise for whatever reason and I cannot build another enclosure at the moment. However, they are both females so I hope that will help?

I will go to the shop tomorrow and buy a new substrate. Thanks for that tip.

I will also get a meter for humidity.

Should I soak them just once a day or is more too much?

The tube light is UVB and the basking bulb is a round bulb.
 

EvilBosco

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Should I bring them to the vet? I have a local vet that is supposedly qualified in treating reptiles.
 

Blackdog1714

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Should I bring them to the vet? I have a local vet that is supposedly qualified in treating reptiles.
1. Even if it is a tote bin please seprate them. If you read the care thread it show you how to use a bin. At least until you can rehome or get to a tortoise rescue.
2. Soaking once a day is plenty
3. The other bulb is an MVB and those are real bad for the shell
The pet store there is like almost every pet store elsewhere a temporary holder of animals until they are sold giving new owners a sales pitch more than a what is best guide. You are playing catch up like so many others and that fact that you came her shows you want what is right for your tort. Lastly if they are eating regulary with good poops and clear urates then you do not have to take them to the Vet, but if you see worms or just want to be sure you could take a poop sample to the VEt for exam. NO need to worry about which tort the poop goes since they shared an enclosure then if one has it the other will so they both just get treated for it.
 

EvilBosco

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Thanks very much, I'm going to work on making them a proper humid hide tonight.

I read that you can use that moss, but isn't it bad if they eat it?
 

Blackdog1714

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Thanks very much, I'm going to work on making them a proper humid hide tonight.

I read that you can use that moss, but isn't it bad if they eat it?
Yeah that is a No No. Russians like to burrow and here on the East Coast Cypress mulch is readily available and I buy Reptibark to cover it for my Leopard. For my russian its straight cypress mulch and he digs down every night to sleep.
 

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