Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yeasterday at the Manchester, NH reptile show I came across an adorable russian tortoise. Baby is female and approximately 4-5 inches long. I haven't done a strait line test yet. She looked very healthy and very affectionate. She loves her head rubbed and being with you.

The questions I have after reading a ton of care sheets is that I noticed their diet is very similar to the sulcata. That make's it easier seeing I have a sulcata. Is everything else equal to the sulcata? Health?, Diet?, or will she turn out to be a poop eating bull dozer that likes to bully large tegu's?

Looking forward to your thoughts.

bob

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Pictures\Kodak Pictures\2005-10-23

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Pictures\Kodak Pictures\2005-10-23

OK, I screwed up the pathe and I'm trying to figure out what I did wrong.

Here's a fix that will get you some photo's off of my web site.

bob

http://stano40.tripod.com/thelizardcorral/id24.html

Thanks for viewing
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If your russian is 4-5" in straight carapace length, it is an adult or sub-adult, depending on the gender and subspecies.

I've seen adult males in the 4.25 to 5.25 inch range. My adult females run about 6.25 to 7 inches. The hatchlings are about 1.5 inches.

Sulcatas eat a lot of grasses. Russians torts are more of a broad-leafed weed eating tort that will also consume some grass. Also, they are from a more temperate climate, unlike the tropical, desert-like environment of the sulcata. Russians can hibernate, sulcatas can't.

For good info on russians, go to

www.russiantortoise.net

Thanks bradtort,

That gave more info that I didn't know and/or forgot. It also explains why she doesn't touch the timothy hay. I do have some bermuda grass coming in and prickly pear pads. I'll try that out with her and see if she likes it.

Have you ever given your russian's cactus pears or prickly pear Pad (opuntia)??

bob
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I've tried giving them cactus pad. They weren't very interested. It could be that I didn't try hard enough - but the stuff is a little expensive around here and my leopards enjoy it much more.

I also tried the cactus fruits - but that it is just a big mess.

They really like dandelion flowers and leaves, clover, plantain (weed), wild strawberry leaves, wild violet leaves, and from the grocery store: endive, collards, squash, carrots.

hi bob,

they often will ignore the dried grasses when offered alone. one way to ensure that they are getting the fiber they require is to cut up the grasses and mix it in with their greens. I use orchard grass and dried timothy grass, put it in a blender or meat grinder, and mix in a 1/4 cup with every 2 cups of food.

add turnip greens to your list of good, nutritious foods. i use turnip greens and grass mix as a staple, and then add in the extras mentioned by brad. lots of fiber and variety!!

matt

Matt,

You took the thoughts right out of my head. Good ideas! Still waiting for the opuntia and bermuda grass to arrive today, when it does that's exactly what I'll do. Slice and dice time. She was getting turnip greens when she got home and my wife now bought dandelion greens and she goes bonkers for it.

bob
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Mine love the cactus and the pear! Have you tried endive? Mine go nuts! It's hilarious!
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TurtsandTorts Discussion Group
2 Russians (Harley and Marley)
2 RES (Sunny and Fatty)
2 Gerbils (Sydney and Vienna)
1 Cat (Abby)

I haven't given her any yet but I'll have my wife pick some up. I know she just loves dandelion greens. She'll trip over her feet to get to it.

That's good to know about the cactus. I'm still waiting for it to arrive today, I'll let you know how I make out with it.

Say how do you store your left-over cactus. I read somewhere that if you freeze it, it comes out mushy??

bob
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The cactus arrived and I thought that both of my torts would just stare at it.

They devoured it, like this was a long time no see treat. Boy do they love that stuff.

My son also bit a piece off and was chewing on it. said it reminded of eating nuts.

bob
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http://stano40.tripod.com/thelizardcorral/

Proud Member of:
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