Re: Russians - The short season tortoise (Read)

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Posted by Matt Hybel on August 29, 2000 at 22:10:09:

In Reply to: Russian Problem!! posted by Paco on August 28, 2000 at 21:45:27:

My reading in the literature says Russians may hibernate in the wild longer than they are active, at least in the most northerly parts of their range. It could be that in the wild they are already slowing down and heading into burrows to get ready. If you got your Russian this year, it was probably caught in the Spring when they all come out for their short and active warm period of mating and walking around eating for the winter store. I had a Russian that, when I first got him seemed to spend a lot of time trying to burrow. So, consider your area, how warm the weather has been. Here in New York the evenings are unusually cool for this time of year, and, if I still had the Russian, I would expect it to be doing what yours is. I am not sure about the limp limbs, if that is what you are experiencing. I have heard that sometimes wild caught have worms, which might be affecting your tort. A visit to the vet certainly couldn't hurt to rule out worms. You may want to bring it inside at night and keep a heat element (like Pearlco) or 60-watt red bulb to keep it warm and warmer in the sun during the day. Good luck.

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: My reading in the literature says Russians may hibernate in the wild longer than they are active, at least in the most northerly parts of their range. It could be that in the wild they are already slowing down and heading into burrows to get ready. If you got your Russian this year, it was probably caught in the Spring when they all come out for their short and active warm period of mating and walking around eating for the winter store. I had a Russian that, when I first got him seemed to spend a lot of time trying to burrow. So, consider your area, how warm the weather has been. Here in New York the evenings are unusually cool for this time of year, and, if I still had the Russian, I would expect it to be doing what yours is. I am not sure about the limp limbs, if that is what you are experiencing. I have heard that sometimes wild caught have worms, which might be affecting your tort. A visit to the vet certainly couldn't hurt to rule out worms. You may want to bring it inside at night and keep a heat element (like Pearlco) or 60-watt red bulb to keep it warm and warmer in the sun during the day. Good luck.

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