Re: Information on Russian Tortoises

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Posted by Diane on August 11, 2000 at 15:20:04:

In Reply to: Re: Information on Russian Tortoises posted by Mike on May 07, 1999 at 14:28:03:

Hello out there. I recently bought a russian
tortoise and she has been doing very well for about a month and my family and I really like her.
However I've heard a rumor that some diseases that
tortoises carry may be contagious to humans. I have a hard time believing it, but since I have 3
children ages 6, 3, and 2, I want to be absolutley
sure that my babies can't get sick from handling our tortoise. Can anyone tell me where I can get a DEFINATE answer? Help!!!!

: Russian torts (aka Horsfield's Tortoise) rock! Very friendly in a reptilian sort of way. They live in desert or steppe climates (so keep the humidity low), they grow to be about 20 cm. long. Feed them high calcium greens (kale, endives, chicory) along with dandelion (leaves and flowers), clovers, any sort of flower, grasses, that sort of thing. All tortoises are hard to breed in captivity, but it can be done if done right. It also helps if you hibernate them, but you don't have to. They usually start eating a lot less in the fall. Buy a book called "General Care and Maintenance of Popular Tortoises" by Philippe de Vosjoli (ISBN 1-882770-37-4). It's relativly cheap and is very accurate on keeping these guys. Don't just rely on the internet. The more books you read the better.

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Re: Information on Russian Tortoises Ruth Dixon 05/21/01 (0)

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: Hello out there. I recently bought a russian : tortoise and she has been doing very well for about a month and my family and I really like her. : However I've heard a rumor that some diseases that : tortoises carry may be contagious to humans. I have a hard time believing it, but since I have 3 : children ages 6, 3, and 2, I want to be absolutley : sure that my babies can't get sick from handling our tortoise. Can anyone tell me where I can get a DEFINATE answer? Help!!!! : : : Russian torts (aka Horsfield's Tortoise) rock! Very friendly in a reptilian sort of way. They live in desert or steppe climates (so keep the humidity low), they grow to be about 20 cm. long. Feed them high calcium greens (kale, endives, chicory) along with dandelion (leaves and flowers), clovers, any sort of flower, grasses, that sort of thing. All tortoises are hard to breed in captivity, but it can be done if done right. It also helps if you hibernate them, but you don't have to. They usually start eating a lot less in the fall. Buy a book called "General Care and Maintenance of Popular Tortoises" by Philippe de Vosjoli (ISBN 1-882770-37-4). It's relativly cheap and is very accurate on keeping these guys. Don't just rely on the internet. The more books you read the better.

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