Re: to russian or not to russian?

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Posted by Marissa on January 01, 2001 at 16:28:31:

In Reply to: to russian or not to russian? posted by Nickole on January 01, 2001 at 16:07:18:

Hi Nickole,

Sulcatas are some of the hardiest tortoises out there...if your friend never had much luck with them, I'm convinced he/she must have been doing or not doing some major things the wrong way!

Success keeping sulcata have much to do with your climate and space availability. For instance, I could not in good faith recommend a sulcata as a good choice of tortoise to someone in Alaska for instance due to the climate.

Russians are excellent tortoises...more manageable in size and somewhat similar in personality. Russians are hibernating tortoises and require somewhat similar care/diet to sulcata as they are both grazing tortoises.

I'm not sure exactly but Russians will get to somewhere around 9" to 12" I think? Sulcatas are the largest mainland land tortoise in the world. The size difference between these two species is extraordinary.

I would say that if you are considering Russian tortoise as a pet, you should be pleased with the personality of most. Majority of Russians are wild-collected and, as such, are usually loaded with various worms/parasites. An immediate vet visit and microscopic fecal examination and culture is in order before you introduce your new friend into it's home.

Check out attached link for more info on Russians

Russian Care Guide

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: Hi Nickole, : Sulcatas are some of the hardiest tortoises out there...if your friend never had much luck with them, I'm convinced he/she must have been doing or not doing some major things the wrong way! : Success keeping sulcata have much to do with your climate and space availability. For instance, I could not in good faith recommend a sulcata as a good choice of tortoise to someone in Alaska for instance due to the climate. : Russians are excellent tortoises...more manageable in size and somewhat similar in personality. Russians are hibernating tortoises and require somewhat similar care/diet to sulcata as they are both grazing tortoises. : I'm not sure exactly but Russians will get to somewhere around 9" to 12" I think? Sulcatas are the largest mainland land tortoise in the world. The size difference between these two species is extraordinary. : I would say that if you are considering Russian tortoise as a pet, you should be pleased with the personality of most. Majority of Russians are wild-collected and, as such, are usually loaded with various worms/parasites. An immediate vet visit and microscopic fecal examination and culture is in order before you introduce your new friend into it's home. : Check out attached link for more info on Russians

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