Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First of all, let me give you the low-down on the Russian. He was "given" to me by someone my neighbor knows. I now think of him as more of a rescue. The previous owner said she would give me his cage, lighting, etc., but when she brought him over, he was being kept in an under-the-bed type of Rubbermaid container. His heat lamp wasn't working, he had no place to hide or burrow and was kept on alfalfa pellets and newpaper that looked like they hadn't been changed in a very long time. He had no UVA/UVB lighting at all (and apparently had never had it) and she was feeding him all of the wrong things. Needless to say, he was in pretty bad condition when I got him. I took him to my vet immediately and she was appalled at the state he was in...he already has MBD, mostly apparent in his gait and his scutes (they are not lined up properly, but rather skewed all over his carapace - you could even see bone through one of the scutes!), he was severely dehydrated and very skittish. We gauged his age at around 5-6 years old, since the previous owner had bought him from Petco and had him for about 3 years.

After six months under my care, he's doing better - eating well, burrowing, basking and he does come to me when he feels safe.

Now, I'll admit, I'm not REALLY well educated in Russians, as my two other torts are Redfoots (and no, they and the Russian do not share the same habitat). However, it seems to me that he should not be hibernated since he is still in a bad state.

What do you think?

Thanks!
Stephanie

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Redfoots - Shellie (5 years old) and Padmé (1.5 years old)
Russian - Spanky (about 5 or 6 years old)

> Now, I'll admit, I'm not REALLY well educated in Russians

See www.russiantortoise.org

> However, it seems to me that he should not be hibernated since he is still in a bad state.

You are ABSOLUTELY **correct!!!** He should be in the best of health for at least a year before hibernation is attempted.
Many folks in the States have Russian breeding colonies that have never been hibernated.
Keep him warm with an appropriate temperature gradient and lights on 12-14 hours per day.
If he's improving from his previous, rather horrific care, keep on keeping on! You're doing great!
Best of luck to you both!
Pat

By my saying that I'm not really that educated in Russians was a bit modest. Before we got the Redfoots, we spent over a year trying to decide which type of tortoise would be the best fit for us. I know enough to of what to feed him, the gradient temps, and especially I knew enough that when I first took a look at him, I had to work quickly or he would die soon.

So, I'll not hibernate him...and cross your fingers that he really gets better!