Re: Russian behavioral question

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Posted by Terry on May 23, 2000 at 23:09:09:

In Reply to: Russian behavioral question posted by jman on May 22, 2000 at 19:52:12:

Hi,
I too don't keep russians but here's my 2 cents!

If you haven't already a vet visit for any new tortoise is a must. Many newly imported Russians are carrying large parasite loads, if this is the case it must be treated asap. Even if the tortoise is captive bred you have no idea what conditions were like at the breders, so please take it for a vet visit including a fecal float.

If it is a wild caught tortoise, and mant russians are. Then it will need time to acclimate to captivity. When I kept my hatchling leopards in a small enclosure, they were quite inactive.
Not suprising as there's not much to do in a bare, small enclosure.
I know you said you let him out to roam the house, but then it's back to the enclosure and not much more than 4 walls to look at.
When I put them out during the day, in their own large,safe enclosure they became very active.

In the wild tortoises have to forage around for food, they come out and bask, roam around looking for food and rest in shady, sheltered areas,
If the tortoise is in a relatively small enclosure, and his food easy to obtain there is no need to forage around.

If at all possible I would provide a larger enclosure or tortoise table. As Marissa said with deeper substrate for digging.
Ad a few plants for nibbling on and hiding under.
With a larger more interesting enclosure your tortoise might become more active.
Just my 2 cents!
Terry.

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: Hi, : I too don't keep russians but here's my 2 cents! : If you haven't already a vet visit for any new tortoise is a must. Many newly imported Russians are carrying large parasite loads, if this is the case it must be treated asap. Even if the tortoise is captive bred you have no idea what conditions were like at the breders, so please take it for a vet visit including a fecal float. : If it is a wild caught tortoise, and mant russians are. Then it will need time to acclimate to captivity. When I kept my hatchling leopards in a small enclosure, they were quite inactive. : Not suprising as there's not much to do in a bare, small enclosure. : I know you said you let him out to roam the house, but then it's back to the enclosure and not much more than 4 walls to look at. : When I put them out during the day, in their own large,safe enclosure they became very active. : In the wild tortoises have to forage around for food, they come out and bask, roam around looking for food and rest in shady, sheltered areas, : If the tortoise is in a relatively small enclosure, and his food easy to obtain there is no need to forage around. : If at all possible I would provide a larger enclosure or tortoise table. As Marissa said with deeper substrate for digging. : Ad a few plants for nibbling on and hiding under. : With a larger more interesting enclosure your tortoise might become more active. : Just my 2 cents! : Terry. :

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