Re: russian help please....

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Posted by Terry on February 01, 2001 at 10:59:11:

In Reply to: russian help please.... posted by Brookser on February 01, 2001 at 00:03:01:

Hi he should be eating and active, Russians don't drink much but drinking water should always be available.If he's not warm enough he won't eat.

You do need a heat lasmp, also a UV light if he's housed indoors.
Please tell us how he is housed, type of habitat, substrate etc and what you are feeding him.

A vet visit as Marissa satated is very important also.

I would get that heat lamp and create a gradient in his enclosure. Make it around 88-90 degrees in the warm side ( under the heat lamp), 75 degrees in the cooler side. You MUST have a warmer and cooler side.

Also I would soak him as he may be dehydrated.
Soak him in shallow lukewarm ( not hot) water.
The water should only come up to the bottom of his neck. Or to the point where the top shell meets the bottom shell, very shallow water. He should be able to sit comfortably in the water with his head completely above the water.
Soak him for around 10-15 minutes, changing the water as it cools. The water should only be luke warm.
Soak him every day for about 10-15 minutes for the next 3 days or until he starts eating. Then once a week after that if he starts eating.

So post again telling us how he's housed etc. Get him to a qualified vet for a check up. Don't try to deworm him yourself.

Also visit these web pages for more info:

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/horsfield_habitat.html

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/horsfield.html

http://www.turtlecafe.net/habitats.htm

And there is a great Russian Tortoise email list
I recommend joining. It's free and will put you in touch with many Russian tortoise keepers, both beginners and experts.
You'll find a link to the Russian Tortoise email list below.
Terry.

Russian Tortoise email list.

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: Hi he should be eating and active, Russians don't drink much but drinking water should always be available.If he's not warm enough he won't eat. : You do need a heat lasmp, also a UV light if he's housed indoors. : Please tell us how he is housed, type of habitat, substrate etc and what you are feeding him. : A vet visit as Marissa satated is very important also. : I would get that heat lamp and create a gradient in his enclosure. Make it around 88-90 degrees in the warm side ( under the heat lamp), 75 degrees in the cooler side. You MUST have a warmer and cooler side. : Also I would soak him as he may be dehydrated. : Soak him in shallow lukewarm ( not hot) water. : The water should only come up to the bottom of his neck. Or to the point where the top shell meets the bottom shell, very shallow water. He should be able to sit comfortably in the water with his head completely above the water. : Soak him for around 10-15 minutes, changing the water as it cools. The water should only be luke warm. : Soak him every day for about 10-15 minutes for the next 3 days or until he starts eating. Then once a week after that if he starts eating. : So post again telling us how he's housed etc. Get him to a qualified vet for a check up. Don't try to deworm him yourself. : Also visit these web pages for more info: : http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/horsfield_habitat.html : http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/horsfield.html : http://www.turtlecafe.net/habitats.htm : : And there is a great Russian Tortoise email list : I recommend joining. It's free and will put you in touch with many Russian tortoise keepers, both beginners and experts. : You'll find a link to the Russian Tortoise email list below. : Terry. :

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