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Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
rtcw14 Oct 21, 2006 12:38 PM

Okay guys, here's my problem. I have a Russian, her name is Lucy and she's going crazy. I got her about two months ago and immediately put her in an outside enclosure (6x4) and now, since I live in Ohio and we get cold fluxuating winters, I have her inside in a 55 gallon with two heat lamps, a cave, and a UV light. She's going crazy because she wants to get out and I don't know what to do. She is nonstop in the corners ramming into the glass trying to get out. Now I put her in there, and a day later taped an 11 inch wall of paper all the way around so she cannot see her surrounding. Too late, she wants out. Now my family is going crazy and need her to be back out side. I don't know how to make it so the cold weather doesn't hurt her.

If you guys have any ideas, please tell me. Otherwise, I'll have to look on the internet for hours.

Thanks,
Rick

Replies (4)

AndrewFromSoCal Oct 21, 2006 02:13 PM

Have you made sure the paper isn't semi-see through? If your tort can sort of see through the paper, she'll still want to go through, that's what my tort was doing in his temp tank.

bradtort Oct 21, 2006 03:27 PM

>> I have her inside in a 55 gallon with two heat lamps, a cave, and a UV light. She's going crazy because she wants to get out

1) You can't put her back outside this time of year in Ohio. Temps will drop well below freezing, and only under the best circumstances would she survive. That would involve a dry area with a deep layer of soil that would allow her to dig below the frost line. I doubt you have it. I know I don't and bring my torts in usually around late Sept or October. The odds of an outdoor hibernation spot being both deep enough and adequately protected from flooding are low. If you want to hibernate her, assuming you've had her for over a year and she's healthy, the go to www.tortoisetrust.org or www.russiantortoise.org and read up on indoor hibernation using a cold spot in the house or a refrigerator.

2) As for her trying to crawl through the walls, I don't think it has anything to do with the enclosure being glass. She went from having 24 sq ft to roam and now she has about 6 sq ft. She feels cramped. Plus, you *might* be overheating her. Two heat lamps over such a small space might be too much. Make sure she has a warm spot of about 90 at one end, and down to room temps at the other end (60s to 70s). If it's all hot she'll try to find a cooler spot - thus the wall climbing. Check the temps.

Normally russians are slowing down this time of year. While you don't have to hibernate her, you can cut back on the amount of heat and light she gets. Maybe turn the lights on only 10 hours a day, and later only 8. Then bring them back up in the spring. She'll slow down a little, maybe even sleep a lot.

Be sure she is healthy to begin with. If she shows any signs of respiratory illness (runny nose) or has diahrrea, worms, etc., then you'll have to keep her warm and take her to a vet.

Good luck.

Melinda666 Oct 22, 2006 10:00 PM

excellent advice! I have 4 RT's and one of the males is a pacer. He's always the first to come running for food and always on the move. Mine were probably wild caught and used to having unlimited space to prowl. Most adult RT's are wild caught. So imagine having the whole world to prowl, and then stuck into a small enclosure.
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2.1 Albino BP
0.4 100% Het Albino
2.1 100% het Caramel Albino BP
1.0 100% Het Clown
1.0 50% het clown
2.12 Normal BP
0.0.1 Western Hognose
alot of cornsnakes
0.1.0 Dumeril Boa
3.6 Bearded Dragons
1.0.1 Sulcatta tortoise
2.0 Russian Tortoise
1.0 Cockatiel
0.1 Rottweiler
0.2 Boston Terriers
0.1 White Boxer
0.1 Paint Mare
bunch of geckos
0.1 Teenage daughter
1.0 Husband who puts up with all my critters.

tortoiseluva Jun 27, 2007 11:12 AM

Go to the vet and check if she's pregnant. Restlessness and digging burrows are signs of pregnancy.

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