Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need to know what size a Russian tortoise should be at four years old and how big she should be before she can safely be hibernated. Does anyone know this, or know anyone who would know? Thanks,
Angela

I've got a group of 3 adult and 1 yearling russians.

I've had about 27 eggs laid over the last 3 years, but only one hatched and that was last year. So I'm not much of a breeder.

I've hibernated my adults for 45-90 days each of the last 3 winters. I did not hibernate my hatchling (hatched in May last year) during his first winter, but will attempt it this winter.

At about 14 months old, my hatchling is about 3.75" and 195 grams.

I don't think you can accurately state how large a 4 yr old russian will be because they vary by gender and sub-species, not to mention the large amount of invidual variation withing sub-species and gender.

I had a male russian several years ago that had the appearance of age (shell wear, etc.) but was only 4.25" long. Over the next couple years he grew maybe another 0.25". I have had one male for over two years now, and he has always been about 5.25". And his "companion" female has grown from about 5.9" to 6.25" in that same time.

I have another female that was 4" and 228 grams 3 years ago. She is now 6.9" and 1140 grams.

See www.russiantortoise.net

www.tortoisetrust.org

www.tortoisecare.co.uk/horsfields/horsfields.htm

for more info. Read articles on russians and hibernation in general. I recall seeing several recommendations to avoid hibernating hatchlings until their second winter.

My tortoise website is:

www.biostat.wustl.edu/~brad/bts/other.html

Go to the Russian Tortoise Yahoo board and ask Joe Heinden the moderator. He has had Russian's since 1991 and breeding them since 1995.

His site: www.russiantortoise.org may have some answers also.