Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, thanks for looking at this message. i would really appreciatie it if you could help me out with these questions!I am going to get a Russian Tortise...
!!!NEED HELP!!!
- is it true that water soaked dry dog food is a good tortise treat?
- is fruit bad for tortises? can i give it to them for a treat? Once a week?
- Is a 75gal "fish tank" okay with proper ventilation and such?
- what is considered 'winter'?
- what is better, a indoor "fish tank"75 gal) or pen?( i am going to let thim run around outside once a day in an enclosed area.)
-i have read information on in the russian tortise, and it kinda scraes me on the shell rot. is it really that common, and is it easy to get rid of???

Sorry i have so many questions, but i would love it if they would get answered. THANKS!

Hey, thanks for looking at this message. i would really appreciatie it if you could help me out with these questions!I am going to get a Russian Tortise...
!!!NEED HELP!!!
- is it true that water soaked dry dog food is a good tortise treat?
(NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO its horible)

- is fruit bad for tortises? can i give it to them for a treat? Once a week?
(Wouldn't try it, it can lead to parasites)

- Is a 75gal "fish tank" okay with proper ventilation and such?
(Tall or wide?)( not that others will agree with me here!)

- what is considered 'winter'?
(Winter?)

- what is better, a indoor "fish tank"75 gal) or pen?( i am going to let thim run around outside once a day in an enclosed area.)
(A pen is better. I Let mine rome around once a day 2.)

-i have read information on in the russian tortise, and it kinda scraes me on the shell rot. is it really that common, and is it easy to get rid of???
(Not if u Feed it right and have proper lighting and environment.)

thanks a bunch!!! By winter i meant like hibernation.. when should they hibernate and such. i can't find much info

Dog and cat food is really not nutricious at all....probably wise not to feed it to your tort. It can also cause renal failure! Fruit is not 'bad' for torts, as long as you dont give it to them very often. Best to give it every once in a while, if at all, as a treat. And I wouldnt recommend using a fish tank for a habitat. Remember, tortoises originally roamed in the open, so they would probably prfer to be in as open a space as possible. Plus, heat inside of a fish tank can make the environment humid. A pen would be much healthier, but if it is outside, you have to watch for birds, cats, dogs, etc....And by 'winter' they might mean when temperatures drop around oct thru march(depending on where you live). In working for a vet, I have seen shell rot, and its not pretty. It actually looks very painful for the tort and is difficult to fix, depending on how bad it is. Plus the vet bills can get really high! Just make sure to take good care of your tort and you wont need to worry about it! If ya have any other questions....just post-um!

Hey again.

Umm, if i have a (at the least)-maybe bigger, (wide, not tall) with the proper ventilation and such, and i took the tort out a lot (but i watched him) so nothign would eat him. lol. or i would just take him around with me all the time. he would be in that "tank" all the time(which wouldn't be that long) and then be out otherwise. what is i had like a container thingie, and a tank, would that be okay??? i when i was there he could be in the container, and when i wasn't it could be in the tank??? and container would be inside though...

thanks again!

Hey again.

Umm, if i have a (at the least)-maybe bigger, (wide, not tall) with the proper ventilation and such, and i took the tort out a lot (but i watched him) so nothign would eat him. lol. or i would just take him around with me all the time. he would be in that "tank" all the time(which wouldn't be that long) and then be out otherwise. what is i had like a container thingie, and a tank, would that be okay??? i when i was there he could be in the container, and when i wasn't it could be in the tank??? and container would be inside though...

thanks again!

hi again! lol, umm, for my russian tortise are these the correct supplies for the animal...
(i live near SF)

-50 Gal rubbermaid tub thingie
-4-6 inch depth of 50/50 topsoil and play sand mix
-lamp thingie, "powerSun of ZooMed UV heat Lamp"
-some kind of house/hiding place.
-water bowl for drinking
- food bowl for eating

Questions:
-what is the best house/hiding place for a russian tortoise?
- i am supposed to bathe the tort every 3 days right? and what in?
-weird question, but, how often do they poop?? sorry, just curious.
-should i have alfalfa in half of the cage or not??? (on top or the mix? or not?)
- how bout a sun rock or something? not a heated one!
-shoule i have a branch or something? -that they can climb on? (reall,y thick one!)

if u can add to this list, of what i need i would greatly appreciaite it. anyone know where i should get the tort? thanks again! all of u are so smart!!!

You need to go to a good website and read it thoroughly

Try www.russiantortoise.org/care_sheet.htm

and www.chelonia.org

Also, my website: www.biostat.wustl.edu/~brad/bts/other.html

There is no need to feed a russian tortoise any fruit. Can lead to diahrrea and other problems. They do quite well on weeds and greens.

Your list of supplies looked OK.

Your other questions:

Questions:
-what is the best house/hiding place for a russian tortoise?

A cardboard box, a curved piece of bark, etc. Nothing special, just as long as it's easy for him to get in and out.

- i am supposed to bathe the tort every 3 days right? and what in?

Once or twice a week place him in a tub/bowl/whatever with about 1 inch of lukewarm water. Leave him there for maybe 15 minutes.

-weird question, but, how often do they poop?? sorry, just curious.

Usually every time you soak them. And maybe once or twice in between. Depends on how much they eat, which depends on the season and the heat, etc.

-should i have alfalfa in half of the cage or not??? (on top or the mix? or not?)

No real need. He will dig into the sand/soil mixture.

- how bout a sun rock or something? not a heated one!

A flat rock under the heat lamp is fine. Keep the temps under the lamp at around 90-100F.

-shoule i have a branch or something? -that they can climb on? (reall,y thick one!)

No need. A couple rocks or objects for them to crawl around and over will be fine. Too large a branch will just make it hard for him to move around the 50g tub.