Thanks for the info and the quick reply Brad.

The Russians seem to be very hearty and robust, kinda like the california desert tortise we had when I was a kid. I was just worried, because I have to try to force hibernation suddenly.

I think he was already heading into hibernation on his own, he's been eating sparsley the last couple of weeks and didn't eat much today. And he's been coming out late and going back early. The last couple of days we joked it was just "periscope up" because all we saw of him was his head sticking out of the substrate.

thanks again, Eric