Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This fine individual got dropped off in a bar in South Philadelphia. I dont know anything about it's true origin.

Seems healthy enough but I'm really concerned about hibernation confusion and the risk for starvation.

Please help me get started with getting this fellow creature back on his best footing.

What you have there is a Russian Tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii). They are a very common pet tortoise and there is much information out there on the web regarding their care. Though they are a tortoise who can be hibernated (both outdoors/or artificially) you may want to consider keeping this particular individual indoors this winter. You do not know the history of this animal, how long this individual was a pet, or if it was recently imported. Depending, it may or may not have parasites. A tortoise with parasites should not be hibernated. Go have it checked by a reptile vet for internal parasites. The other main reason, it is getting late in the season so the transition for this tortoise would be too quick. I would recommend getting this tortoise set up indoors in a warm environment for this winter, and then after doing your research and preparing the tortoise properly next fall, consider hibernation. Here is a link to a site fully dedicated to Russian Tortoise care, but also do your own research. There are many sites and books at least to some degree dedicated to Russian Tortoise care. Good luck, feel free to ask more questions.

www.russiantortoise.org

-JG

Thank you kindly for the help.
Murt has secluded himself for several days now.
The question now is how to bump him out of the pseudo hibernation that he appears to be in.
Should I nab/wake him and isolate him in a smaller container with a bit of water and the assortment of greens I've obtained for him?
Or should I find a local reptile vet and do things the safe way?
He does seem healthy as much as I can tell. But no food intake for about a week disturbs me.
I've checked out russiantortoise.net and am gaining some appreciation for his nature but am not sure of where I'm starting from.
Thanks again.

Do you have him set up with a proper basking light? What is the temperature of his environment?

Basking light yes. Proper? Maybe.
- 100 watt Zoo Med Repti Spotting Lamp mounted in conventional reflector about 18 inches above target area.
I also have an old heating pad that has reliable controls and that I regularly check for signs of his "burrowing" into it and electrocuting himself. He shows no signs of that.
He has used the pad at times and the lamp as well but rarely. Overall room temp is probably around 60 degrees but I have no way to control that specific room apparent from entire 2nd floor.
Overall, at this point he seems to enjoy the mobility and roaming that the room offers. He uses the pad rarely and the lamp which is on a timer rarely. The room has ample natural exposure to sunlight.
He eats on occasion, maybe every 3-4 days. He seems to prefer "hiding" which I interpret as "pseudo hibernating" or maybe just something he likes to do.
I'm reluctant to use a smaller more temperature controlled enclosure.
Thanks for any insight.