Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Russian Tortoise in my classroom and when I brought him/her? home all he does is burrough in his bedding and sleep in his hide. I haven't seen him eat in over a week.When I try to do it by hand, he doesn't eat. Suggestions? Could I leave him outside for a few days? Would the fresh air do him good? He has a basking area in his tank and the cooler side is around 80 degrees.

Then yesterday my friend calls me as he found a turtle in his backyard. I go to his house and it is a Russian tortoise about 9 inches in diameter. It looks healthy and is very actice. Any thoughts? Someone told me of the turtle lady on Long Island, anyone have a number? Other suggestions? I also made some calls to children in the area to see if anyone lost a tortoise - I figured it escaped from a backyard or was let go very recentyl.Unfortunately I can't keep it - 6 adult corns, 15 baby corns, 4 bearded dragons, 2 leopard geckos, 1 tree frog, 1 chamleon, and 1 tortoise in the classroom equals no more room!

Thanks for any suggestions!

Brian

Dear Brian, check out:russiantortoise.org This is an informative and usually friendly site. Scan archives and get the husbandry information. I like keeping horsefieldi outside, but others are successful indoors also. Try to provide space with choices of hiding places, choices of humidity, choice of temp etc. Imitate natural conditions in a simple way. Many russians become inactive during the Summer, your situation seems common on the forums lately...my own herd has slowed down, but are still feeding and basking briefly (I am in hotter than Hades Butte County in California) Be sure your temps are appropriate and offer both cool retreat and warm basking sites. I think exposure to outside natural Sun is helpful, you might pick up a "kiddie pool" enclosure for that purpose. That 9" one sounds impressive, I wish I had her. Good luck, post again with specific questions, folks are great about answering and there is a vast resevoir of experience here. Good luck, Vic

Brian - I suggest that you purchase some honey and lemon flavored liquid colloidal minerals from New Vision International. Put some in your Russian's soak water and let him drink. Whenever I have had an animal that doesn't want to eat, I use the colloidals consistently until the animal turns around. I wish you the best of luck in getting your tortoise back on the road to health!

Janie Malsin
Upscale Reptiles