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Russian tottoises (Brad?)

EJ Jan 23, 2005 02:32 PM

I'm looking for what is the smallest size of a female Russian tortoise that has produced viable eggs?

I've read that male Russians have concaved plastrons. When do they develope this concavity if at all?

What is the smallest sized male that has sired viable eggs/ offspring?

Thanks to any that help.
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Replies (4)

bradtort Jan 23, 2005 04:03 PM

Ed, I lost my computer records recently, but I'll give you what I can recall.

I'm looking for what is the smallest size of a female Russian tortoise that has produced viable eggs?

I've only had two females that produce eggs, and they were both over 6" and 950grams

I've read that male Russians have concaved plastrons. When do they develope this concavity if at all?

My only adult male is in hibernation right now, but I don't recall any concavity. Last year ('04) my first hatchling turned 2 years old in May. Earlier in the year he looked like a small female with a stubby tail. Then a couple months later he was head bobbing and chasing the adult females. And had developed the long, thick tail (tucked to the side) of a male. I did not see him mate successfully (1000 gram females just knocked him aside), but he was about 4" and over 250 grams at the time. I'd say that sexual maturity (or at least the behaviors associated with it) at 2 yrs might be way ahead of schedule.

What is the smallest sized male that has sired viable eggs/ offspring?

My lone, mature male that has sired all of the offspring is about 5.25" and ~ 600 grams. I once had another male that was 4.25"-4.5" and ~400 grams. He never showed any interest in the females, but he was also a darker, flatter variety and may have been a different sub-species. He grew maybe 0.25" in the 3 years I had him and had enough wear and tear to look like an adult. All of my adults are more yellow and domed.

carrottopsup Jan 24, 2005 01:20 PM

Interesting! I have two large yellow domed female russians and I also have a small male russian that is the flatter, darker kind like you mention here. My male has never shown any interest in my yellow domed females either, although he does fan hisself for anyone to see in the spring who might just happen to be looking his way. He is an older male, I got him 5 years ago and he was mature then, I have no idea just how old he is.
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Judy

carrottopsup Jan 24, 2005 01:25 PM

BTW...my male russian's shell is not concaved either, it is flat.
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Judy

ecoman Feb 02, 2005 04:46 AM

did any of you "Russian" people aware of another darker, almost olive green strain of horsefieldii which came ashored about 4-5 years back? some claims that they are (rare?) and more tolerate to lower digit than the popular yellow and blond types.

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