Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
My mom asked me to help her find new homes for my brother's 2 russian tortoises. I'm more a snake and lizard person so I don't know as much about tortoises, but I told her I would help her. They are housed together in an outside pen. The darker, smaller one seems to be aggressive to the lighter, bigger one- by biting and chasing it.
Should I try to place them in separate homes since they don't seem to get along? Or is there some way they would get along better if set up differently? I don't know the sex of the tortoises or how to tell them apart either. I want to be sure they go to good homes, but I don't even know that much about them myself yet.
Also she tells me that one of them eats dirt- what does that mean (I'm thinking it's a diet issue)?
Thanks,
Janel

Dear Janel, they often are ornery to one another, especially if you have two males. Where do you live? Perhaps we can help you find homes. They are easy to sex if you look at the ventral area. See the tail, is it short and stubby or longer and curls to one side? Are they different? If the same and short, 2 females. If longer and curved, males. See photo on RussianTortoise.net site. Eating dirt? Maybe provide some Calcium source, like a cuttle bone or pile of ground oyster shell(ask for it at feed store). Good luck, I am confident you can find a good home and this and the other website I mentioned are good places to start.

Thanks- yeah I plan to take a closer look at their backsides the next time I go over there to see what they are (now that I know what to look for). I don't know if I'm better off trying to sell them or to give them away. Money is not the issue, but I want to find good homes for them. I'm in Torrance, Ca.
My brother has had them few years (he bought them at a pet shop and I think they were much smaller when he first got them) and has lost interest in them for some reason and left them at my mom's house to care for. She already has a box turtle and isn't interested in keeping the tortoises long term. So I told her I would help since she knows I'm interested in reptiles.
I'll take a picture too.

Dear Janel, since you ARE a herp person, perhaps you could keep them (I'm ducking in case you through a plate...)? Seriously, they are fun, and if you meet the basic needs, pretty easy. It's fun to have a vegtarian around, no stinky mice etc. Most people are attracted to them, and the same people may be repulsed by even the coolest snakes... We will help you with husbandry, there is an accumulative wealth of knowlege to draw upon. I am an outdoor advocate, do you have a sunny yard to work with? If so, you can get into this relatively easily.
Other alternative is to contact the California Turtle and Tortoise Club, get in touch with the adoption committee. They usually know committed and competent keepers. I would consider keeping healthy females, but I just can not use any more cantankerous males, and it sounds to me like you have atleast one of those. Feel free to E-mail me if I can help. Also, the CTTC has an informative and accurate website to assist you in caring for almost any Chelonian.

Janel,

Hello, I would still LOVE to take them. I live in Texas...you could easily overnight them to me, and there is a whole board on here dedicated to helping people ship animals. We really would love to take them...
PLEASE consider it....Let me know! THANKS! Tamara

I appreciate your interest, but I really don't want to try to ship them anywhere. I need to find someone local. Good luck finding what you're looking for.

I was tempted (for about 60 seconds) to just keep them myself. They are really cute but I know I shouldn't try to keep them. I already feel a bit overwhelmed because I have too many pets already. So I want to find someone else. I'll try checking out this group you mentioned. We checked and it is a male and a female afterall. Thanks for the friendly advice.
Janel

Janel,

I am going to the Orange County chapter meeting this week. This will be my first time going. Would you like me to inquire with them for you?

RS

i have e-mailed someone at the local chapter of the cttc and i think they are going to help me.
thanks

Thank you to those that offered help and advice. The torts went to the local chapter of the CTTC for placement in their adoption program. Hopefully they are off to happy homes.