Do they like to sit outside and crawl around? Can you hold them and take them on a walk? I have cats, can the tortoise choke on hair. Do you give it a bath in a container or a real bath?
2007-02-23 11:33:18 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
I have two female russians. I house them in a 4'x2' box with no top. There is a 5.0 Reptisun bulb(in a fishtank light, 24", cost me 23$) above them and a basking bulb. There is also a small box that would comfortably fit three to four 4" torts for a sleeping area. I have that stuffed with Timothy hay(dont give them alfalfa, its too high in protien and causes pyrimyding). Until I can get them back outside in june, they will be bedded on a mix of timothy hay and paper towel. This is not the best but it can work.
For a water dish I have a 1 inch deep plate filled to the top. They climb in and out as needed. I feed them every other day(they munch on timothy hay a lot, and can easily get overweight). I feed them spinach(only a very little, its for Vit A), baby salad greens, collard greens, turnip greens, and occasionally kale. They love the stems of collard greens, so leave those on.
I have the room they are in between 78-85* at all times during the day. I let it fall to 70 at night. This is because all my reptiles are in this room...
To answer your questions, they like to be outisde, thats where they come from. :) Also, they cant be taken for 'walks' in the sense that you're talking. They walk slow and dont usually follow. My big female Emi follows me around the room sometimes, but thats because she's curious... The cats might pester the tort, but as long as the tort doesn't eat a cat-hair-fluff he shouldn't choke. The baths should be lukewarm(not hot but not really cold either, about 78*, or lower.) and repeated twice a week for 15-30 mins. This is very important. If you want you can give them a bath in a old long/low tupperware container! Make sure the water wil not cover their nose! Have the water level just above the lip of the bottom shell. The bathtub works well and would give them space to explore. Emi loves exploring everything. Amazingly, the only thing she has tried to eat is a red sweatshirt. She quickly learned it wasn't food....
If you need help later on, I can answer a lot of questions. Be sure to bring it to the vet within the first week to make sure its completely healthy and have fun! Good luck!
chicobo_gurl@yahoo.com
2007-02-23 13:31:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never had a Russian tortoise, but I had a desert tortoise. And here is what I know: Yes the like to sit ourside and crawl around, infac they LOVE it. If you want to hold it you will have to get it used to it. I imagine they can choke on hair if there is enough. And I would give it a bath in a container cause bathing something so small in a deep bath with shallow water would be acward
2007-02-23 19:37:34 · answer #2 · answered by jackichanrules13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be outside- they love sunshine, warmth, and big spaces with nice hiding holes.
Hold them and take them for a walk- no, they are basically afraid of humans and don't do well in a leash.
Choke on hair? It should not get enough hair in its mouth to choke.
Occasional warm soaks in a shallow tub are good.
For good info, try http://www.russiantortoise.org
2007-02-23 22:34:59 · answer #3 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try the site below
2007-02-23 19:36:21 · answer #4 · answered by shetaz5360 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WELL.... YOU SHOULD PROBABLY LEARN TO SPEAK Russian
2007-02-23 19:39:32 · answer #5 · answered by Derek The Bubbah!! 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋