Re: Settling In

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Posted by Greg_978 on October 05, 2001 at 14:20:04:

In Reply to: Settling In posted by alexis on October 05, 2001 at 12:20:18:

: I just got a pair of Russian Tortoises (captive bred) 3 days ago and I have not seen them eat, or even leave their hide spots. I'm assuming there's going to be a certain period of adjustment before start eating and being active again. How long should this take? A few more days, a week, or more? They both seem healthy and I got them from a reputable place.

: The temps range from 90 under the basking lamp to 77 on the cool side. I've been offering mixed greens, cucumbers, and even a hibiscus flower. They are both about 4 inches long and I have them in a Rubbermaid bin that is 40" long and 20" wide. Am I doing anything wrong?

: Also the substrate I'm using is Yesterday's News, a newspaper pellet litter. Is this ok or should I switch to rabbit food pellets (like I see most tortoises are kept in)? I really hate the way they smell and how dusty they are.

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Definitely a week or two for them to figure out their new surroundings. I think the temp low could be a bit lower, but otherwise it sounds good.

Another substrate that works well is cypress bark mulch, you can find it at garden centers and home improvement stores.

Here's a good site for Russian Care, check it out.

TLady's site

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: : I just got a pair of Russian Tortoises (captive bred) 3 days ago and I have not seen them eat, or even leave their hide spots. I'm assuming there's going to be a certain period of adjustment before start eating and being active again. How long should this take? A few more days, a week, or more? They both seem healthy and I got them from a reputable place. : : The temps range from 90 under the basking lamp to 77 on the cool side. I've been offering mixed greens, cucumbers, and even a hibiscus flower. They are both about 4 inches long and I have them in a Rubbermaid bin that is 40" long and 20" wide. Am I doing anything wrong? : : Also the substrate I'm using is Yesterday's News, a newspaper pellet litter. Is this ok or should I switch to rabbit food pellets (like I see most tortoises are kept in)? I really hate the way they smell and how dusty they are. : : Sounds like you are off to a good start. Definitely a week or two for them to figure out their new surroundings. I think the temp low could be a bit lower, but otherwise it sounds good. : Another substrate that works well is cypress bark mulch, you can find it at garden centers and home improvement stores. : Here's a good site for Russian Care, check it out.

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