Eel989
New Member
Hi all new to the forum but not new to Reptile/Amphibian/fish care. My roommate and I take in rescues have experience in all sorts of reptiles amphibians and fish but this is our first tortoise. She’s a 6 year old Russian who was given to us in pretty bad shape. She has an overgrown beak, from being fed on plastic tub lids, is overweight from only being fed romaine lettuce, has a little bit of shell rot and clogged pores. I’ve had her for almost a week after the first day I set up a 75 gallon enclosure from her previous 30 gallon. The first few hours she seemed happy was super active and loved that she could finally climb. I’ve offered her a mix of butter lettuce, red dandelion greens, dandelions and carrot tops. She has yet to eat any of it. After that first night she has spent her whole time burrowed and sleeping, aside from me waking her up to try and get her to eat. Lighting and heat are the correct parameters. And because of the clogged pores I’ve been giving her an iodine bath every other day, she actually does not seem to mind the bath she just sits there, she is super fussy the two times I e tried to trim her beak back. Any tips or tricks as a new tortoise owner? Especially about the not eating or sleeping all day? I’m sure she’s been spoiled with the romaine diet so I’m assuming it’s gonna take her time to warm up to greens. Thanks in advance!