Russian behavioral question

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Posted by jman on May 22, 2000 at 19:52:12:

New to Russians of course.
First I had the tortoise in an aquarium as suggested by the pet store, but learned that that is not the correct enclosure. So i constructed a wood box about 2 and 1/2 feet by 2 feet.
Substrate is bark on one half and a mix of potting soil and sand on the other half. UV light and heat lamp. A roundy mound in which to bask. The temp is about 85 degrees on the hot side, and 75 to 80 on the other side.
Variety of foods and available water is provided. But my question is this, the tortoise seems to spend most of her time in her "cave" in the cooler corner of the box. Sometimes she comes out at night and eats a little. In the morning I switch on the lights and she comes out to bask.
I bring her out of the box and feed her broccoli and carrots, romaine lettuce and such, and she eats quite heartily. I let her roam around the house for an hour or two. But when i put her back in the box, she goes right to the cave and starts digging. The substrate is about 2 and 3 inches deep, deeper in some parts. She'll stay in the cave for a long time, til next morning (unless she comes out to feed at night). She keeps trying to dig deeper even though she is right against the box wall. Is this normal? I wonder if i should provide an environment in which she can dig much further or something. The cave is just a piece of slate ontop of a couple stones. It's just big enough to fit her body in completely.
But i am surprised by her inactivity most the time. Some days i take her outside and she gets good excersize. Some days she roams around the house with more vigour than other days. She looks healthy, no breathing problems or anything. I give her a bath twice a week.
Is it normal for her to spend so much time in the cave?

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: New to Russians of course. : First I had the tortoise in an aquarium as suggested by the pet store, but learned that that is not the correct enclosure. So i constructed a wood box about 2 and 1/2 feet by 2 feet. : Substrate is bark on one half and a mix of potting soil and sand on the other half. UV light and heat lamp. A roundy mound in which to bask. The temp is about 85 degrees on the hot side, and 75 to 80 on the other side. : Variety of foods and available water is provided. But my question is this, the tortoise seems to spend most of her time in her "cave" in the cooler corner of the box. Sometimes she comes out at night and eats a little. In the morning I switch on the lights and she comes out to bask. : I bring her out of the box and feed her broccoli and carrots, romaine lettuce and such, and she eats quite heartily. I let her roam around the house for an hour or two. But when i put her back in the box, she goes right to the cave and starts digging. The substrate is about 2 and 3 inches deep, deeper in some parts. She'll stay in the cave for a long time, til next morning (unless she comes out to feed at night). She keeps trying to dig deeper even though she is right against the box wall. Is this normal? I wonder if i should provide an environment in which she can dig much further or something. The cave is just a piece of slate ontop of a couple stones. It's just big enough to fit her body in completely. : But i am surprised by her inactivity most the time. Some days i take her outside and she gets good excersize. Some days she roams around the house with more vigour than other days. She looks healthy, no breathing problems or anything. I give her a bath twice a week. : Is it normal for her to spend so much time in the cave?

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