Caring for and Feeding a Russian Tortoise
97Turtle or Tortoise?
First off, I want to explain a few differences between a turtle and a tortoise...
Turtles spend most of their time in water, whereas tortoises spend most of their time on land.
Turtles are more likely to adapt to an aquatic lifestyle when the weather gets cold, finding warm ground in the water by digging and making a nest area. Tortoises, on the other hand, will more than likely drown in deep waters and waters with a fast current.
Turtles' front feet are mostly fins, whereas tortoises have hard, scaly feed that are built to crawl across sharp rocks and sand. Tortoises often have front claws that help them dig burrows to nest in during hot weather.
Turtles have a flat shell, whereas tortoises have a rounded dome shell.
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Caring for Russian Tortoises
Russian tortoises are native to the continent of Asia, more specifically in the Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and parts of China.
Like with more land tortoises, they tend to live up to 100 years, so before you get a Russian tortoise, make sure that you're prepared for a life-long commitment. These guys aren't something that when you're tired of caring for the you can just throw out; these guys will more than likely live longer than you.
Russian tortoises tend to grow about an average size of 4" to 10" in length.
If you decide that you're in for the commitment of caring for a Russian tortoise, you'll want to find a reputable breeder. Before you bring home a pet tortoise, you really should do all the research that your can, so that you don't have any questions about care and diet after you've got the tortoise in your home. You want to make sure that you have the enclosure already set up and your veggies and supplements ready.
When you first get a your tortoise, you want to take it to a reputable herpetological veterinarian, so that you can make sure that the tortoise is healthy. Because most Russian tortoises are actually wild caught, you want to make sure that yours is healthy, as most wild caught specimens have parasites as well as other health illnesses, but this can be true of wild caught or captive bred.
Make sure that the vet weighs the tort and does the fecal exam.
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A Russian Tortoise Enclosure
Once you get a clean bill of health from your veterinarian, you'll need to make sure that you have the ideal cage setup ready. You can either purchase a plastic storage bin or a glass aquarium; if you use a storage bin, you'll want to leave the lid off for proper ventilation. It's ideal that if you have good climate, that you set up a pen outside. Russian Tortoises prefer to be outside and like large outdoor pens (at least 4' x 3').
If you prefer to keep the tortoise inside, you'll want to make sure that the tank or tub is large. Tortoises like to explore. As for the ideal size aquarium, you'll want at minimum a 75 gallon tank, and for a storage tub, you'll want at least a 50 gallon container. For babies, you can go a little smaller, but as for adult sized enclosure, you don't want to go any lower than a 75 gallon glass tank or a 50 gallon plastic container.
It's best that you take dark paper or tape and block off the bottom 10" or so so that the tortoise can't see out of the tank or tub (if the tub is clear); but doing this you can reduce stress because the tortoise will try and try to go to the other side of the enclosure walls if he can see to the other side. You can purchase colored storage bins so that you don't have to worry about taping up the bottom.
You may even consider using a 100 gallon plus, reptarium for a play-pen style cage.
Substrate
There are many options for you to choose from, but the best substrate that you will want to use is a 50/50 sand and garden loam. Other options include bed-a-beast (which you can find in a compressed brick form).
You don't want the substrate to be too dry, but not overly moist either. The ideal humidity is around 70%, so make sure to mist the substrate just a little to help create the ideal humidity.
You don't want to use newspaper, rabbit pellets, care fresh bedding, or alfalfa hay.
Temperature
During the day, you want to have the temperature on the hot side of the enclosure around 90-95F and the cool side around 70F.
The best and most accurate way to measure the temperature is by using a digital thermometer with a probe. Without this particular type of thermometer, you tortoise may not be getting the accurate temperatures, which can lead to health concerns.
The best way to achieve accurate temperatures is by using an under tank heater, but remember that best way to measure the temperatures is by using a digital thermometer with a probe.
Humidity
As mentioned above, the ideal humidity level needs to be right around 70%.
If your humidity is too high, substrate too wet, and temperatures too low, you can cause your tortoise to suffer scale rot. If you keep lower humidity levels, you'll want to soak your tortoise in warm water once or twice a week.
Lighting
You want to provide both UVB lighting and regular lighting. You can easily achieve this by purchasing the UV heat bulbs. T-Rex has the Active UV-Heat that works great.
The alternative to the T-Rex Active UV-Heat or even the Capture Sun bulbs is using a UVB tube, but because they do not put off any heat, you'll want to use a clamp light as well.
You want to keep the lighting on for about 12-14 hours each day. This can easily be achieved by a simple timer.
Foods to Avoid
- All fruit (although sometimes recommended, it can lead to parasite blooms due to the sugar content)
- All grains (to include bread, pasta, etc.)
- All human food except what's been listed as "good"
- Bok Choy
- Commercial pellet diets
- Dog and cat food
- Iceberg lettuce
- Meat
Supplements
You want to make sure that you're not only providing a proper diet, but that you're providing proper supplements. You want to lightly dust the fresh vegetables with non-phosphorus calcium with D3, especially if you house your tortoise inside. Even if you house your tortoise outside, you should still supplement calcium daily.
The problem can arise if your tortoise gets too much calcium, as your tortoise can cause a secondary deficiency such as zinc, copper, and iodine. Too much calcium can also cause mal-absorption of fatty acids, as well as the formation of bladder stones.
You can prevent secondary health concerns by still supplementing your tortoise daily. What you can do is put a cuttlebone in the enclosure so that the tortoise can regulate his own calcium intake
Russian Tortoise Diet
You need to restrict your tortoise's diet, as captive tortoises get less exercise and they can easily overeat, which can cause rapid growth and a shortened lifespan.
It's best to feed your tortoise however much he will eat in a 20 minute period and remove anything uneaten.
You want to make sure that you provide fresh foods every day. You will want to provide a wide variety of foods as well.
Some of the greens and flowers that you will want to include in your tortoises diet include.
Greens/Veggies
- Apples (the only fruit you should give your tortoise because of the high pectin content, but ONLY feed on occasion)
- Cabbage (ONLY on occasion)
- Chicory
- Endive
- Escarole
- Kale
- Mustard greens
- Radicchio
- Red and green leaf lettuce
- Romaine lettuce
- Turnip greens
Plants and Flowers
- Californian Poppy escholzia
- Chia
- Chrysanthemum flowers
- Cornflowers Plagiobothrys ssp
- Dandelion
- Dayflower Commelina diffusa (flowers and leaves)
- Forsythia (flowers and leaves)
- Hen and Chicks
- Henbit
- Hibiscus (flowers and leaves)
- Hosta
- Ice Plants
- Mallow (flowers and leaves)
- Mulberry leaves
- Plantain (not the banana fruit but the weed plantago major)
- Prickly pear flowers (fruit and pads) (burn the spines off)
- Rose (flowers and leaves)
- Sedum
You'll also want to provide a very shallow bowl of water. Make sure that the bowl is filled with fresh water daily.
Make sure that you wash the greens and veggies thoroughly, and you want to make sure that there aren't any pesticides or sprays on the veggies before you give the greens to your tortoise.
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Comments
Oh thank you! This helped a lot. I got Turk a big glass aquarium like you said and I have been getting him fresh water everyday because he likes to get under it and it gets dirt and soil in his water. I am glad apples were the first thing on your list because that is what I have been giving him.
I guess I should have read about them before I went and bought one. But I didn't know!
Thanks again. I will probably have to come back and make sure I am doing everything right. I plan to take care of him till he is 100. Very good information that I am thankful to know.
Great article, I sure didnt know the difference between them. Anyone wanting to have these for pets, should now know how to care and feed them. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you ForTheLove.
Tater2Tot, apples were the first thing that I listed because the list is in ABC order. You should only feed apples occassionaly. You should always research before you get a new pet. It ensures the health of the pet. You want to make sure that you're feeding a variety of greens other than apples and try to knock out the apples. Although a few pieces every now and then can be ok, like other fruits, the sugar level can build up.
Eileen, it can be hard to distinguish turtles and tortoises sometimes. There are other more anatomical differences, but the ones I listed are more simple differences that are more noticeable.
Very interesting. I used to have a tortoise many years ago but I don't know what kind. I'm not sure its still legal to buy and sell them in UK. I think the petshops were banned from doing it.
oh okay I gotcha. I see what you mean about the sugar, okay. I will go to the store today and pick up other things on your list.
Louie, yea some tortoises and turtles are illegal to have as pets in the US. I know that with many species, you have to have a permit, of course depending on the state. In my state the laws and regulations on animals are crazy and usually pretty strict.
tater2tot, that sounds good. Remember that the more you know about your tortoise, the better he will be. I would suggest taking this guide as a good starting point. But you should definitely continue your research.
We have a family of turtles living in the lake near our home, what is safe to feed them. We usually throw some bread in the water for them. Is there something better that we can give them. I'm not sure what kind of turtles they are, but the Momma turtle is quite large, and their necks are fairly long. Thank you for the great hub.
Hey Great Hub! I use to have Tortoise as a Pet, it died. I love Tortoise....anyways excellent Hub
ezinecomedaily- They should just eat the fish and plant matter in the lake. They really don't need excess feeding. Turtles don't really need bread. Aquatic turtles eat fish, but if you wanted to purchase an aquatic turtle pellet you could try it, but they probably won't eat it, as they're wild and not captive.
I don't know if you should cut turtles nails or not so can you answer that for me.
I am not 100% but you could probably trim them slightly. But, generally, I don't see why you would need to.
I have a Rusian tortoise and lately he has very very runny stools. I don't feed him fruit very often-maybe once a month so I know it is not from that. He does get romaine or a similar lettuce everyday and carrots. Could he be eating to much causing a problem with his stools? I also give him timothy hay and a pelleted food. Have you ever had problems like this?
I wouldn't think that it would be because he was eating too much. Has there been a change in the diet anywhere within the past few days? How about the temperature or any other housing arrangments?
No, there hasn't been a change in diet, or temp. etc. I'm wondering if I need to add some other type of fiber to his diet. I have heard it recommended to feed them a timothy/alfalfa hay. Could it be the carrots and romaine are not enough fiber?
It is possible. Try adding the hay to the diet, and see if that changes anything. if it doesn't, you'll want to see a vet.
o my god this helped so much i love this article thank you so much
Great posting both for content and comment follow-up; reminded me to check on my own little guy's substrate moisture content. My one sole strong disagreement is w/ the suggestion to use glass aquariums. Check every blog/site/hub run by an experienced person and you will see the same: NEVER USE them due to humidity/temp/visibility issues! (This last b/c torts don't get the glass concept & will always try to go thru it) Aquariums are a great way to compromose your tort's health or at the least make it miserable. My tort was a "rescue" & the 1st thing I learned about why he was in such bad shape was...you guessed it. Out he came; I put him into a large plastic bin w/ substrate instead & he has thrived.
I have either the aquarium or the tub. Many prefer the aquariums. There is risk when putting many reptiles in an aquarium as they can nose butt the glass. Temperature and humidity generally is not a problem with a glass tank when comparing to a tub. The problem with tubs is that you can't use UTH heaters, as they pose higher risk of fire hazard with plastic tubs than with glass tanks. As for substrate, I have listed what I have researched as the best, which is 50/50 sand and garden loam or bed-a-beast.
Not all tortoises are the same, so research for a one species will vary from the care for another.
It's good that you were able to bring the tortoise to better health.
Yes, the sand & bed-a-beast are a great combo, and UTH heaters could certainly be problematic beneath tubs! Since Russians in their native environs tend to experience broad temp fluctuations day to night, as long as owners keep the tub inside the home and use proper bulbs such as the T-Rex Active mentioned above--for the proper length of time daily--they should not have a problem. Even in my drafty 250-yr-old house during winter Pez has done well because of the proper heat light. [Well, along w/ the substrate, varied diet, ample sunlight, water source and "sunning rock" morphed from a terra cotta flowerpot bottom. And, we 'dialogue'...I talk; he blinks. I like to imagine it adds to his quality of life.]
Yes they can live in a wide temperature gradient, but slightly warmer is better for their health.
omg im so exited i just switched to bed a beast /sand and im sooo happy to hear more good things about it most of the stuff ive heard before so im glad to hear it again
I'm glad I can help.
thank u soooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have two RTs. They seems to be very healthy but they only eat lettuce. They will not touch anything else at all. I have tried most all of your list, no interest. Any thoughts?
Hopefully, that's not iceburg lettuce. You need to offer other leafy greens. Pull out the lettuce and only offer other things, they'll get hungry enough to eat. It may sound mean, but you need to get them eating a WIDE variety of food. Also try purchasing the TNT supplement from carolina pets, as it's the best supplement for torts.
We have a Russian Tortoise living in an enclosure in the garden during the summer. Its just starting to look a little bare and we want to plant in some fresh plants for grazing, shade etc. Heather isn't mentioned anywhere so do I take it that's a no no for tortoises?
Heather? What exactlly is it? What is the full name?
i have a russian land tortoise :D i'm planing to feed her the things listed thanks :D
I am wondering if i can use a black light in my russian tortoieses encloser. one blacklight bulb should produce both UVA and UVB light correct?
No. There's no reason to use a black light. I've actually never even seen a black light that produces UV. The powersun bulbs by zoomed are a great choice to use. Most UV is produced during the day, not the night. A light/heat emitting bulb that also produced UV is optimum.
ok so black lights are a no. where can i find a powersun fluorecent bulb? and what kind of heat and light bulb should i get would a 100 watt gro incandesent gro bulb work for a basking light and a 70 watt on the other side to keep the micro climates in range.
Petsmart, Petco, and probably other pet stores. The wattage will depend on what size enclosure and what the temperature is. I use a 100 watt for a 50 gallon tote. There's really no need for two bulbs. You're still creating a hot and cold side by putting the powersun on one side of the enclosure. Most of the heat will be there and it will cool towards the other end.
ok i got a line on bulbs now should i use a ceramic heat emitter at night so it does not get to cool? should i put a small pile of timothy hay on one side of the tub for extra burrowing space and vitamins, i am getting the other vitamins and minerals in a pre made form.
There's no need for it unless the temps in your house get below recommended night temps.
I'd recommend TNT with probioticcs by carolinapetsupply as one of the best supplements. As for calcium all you need to do is put in a cuttlebone in the enclosure so that the tort can gnaw on it when he wants.
You can add a small layer of timothy hay in one corner. Just also make sure you have a hide. I have a corner of timothy hay, but I've really found it makes more of a mess than them borrowing in it. My guys like to move around and rearrange their tubs though.
Out of curiosity, how are you housing your tortoise? Enclosure and size?
Not yet im a patient and careful person when it comes to my pets. So far i have joined two 30 gallon tubs into a single large enclosure i already have a light stand, ballst and two incandescent fixtures that should handle the wattage i am going for. So i should add the TNT with probiotics along with calcium then if mt tort doesnt use the cuddle bone. What do you recomend for a hideing place my work has a small half log.
TNT should be added about every other feeding or so. There's no reason to add calcium to the food, as you can overdose them with calcium. That's why the cuttlebone is the best means to offer calcium. They can get the calcium when needed. When feeding Russians that are indoor only or mainly indoor, it's best to just feed every other day because you can overfeed them. They are grazers and when outside graze and can be fed daily because they're getting more exercise. Inside every other day is preferred.
As for a hide, the half log would work. Just make sure that it is pesticide and herbicide free. You want an all natural piece of wood. I use a square flower pot. It's the perfect size for my guys to be able to walk in turn around and walk back out. I worried about getting something that they could walk in but couldn't turn back around and had to reverse out- butt first. That was just my preference.
how big of a square pot? ok every other day i will feed my tort as for variety i have your list along with a few others but should i mix all my veggies into one big salad or just rotate between certain things as a base and other stuff on top?
OK if i feed my tort every other day should i give him the vitamins every time i feed or less often?
The one I use is maybe 10" tall and 8" wide but laid on its side. so the height is the depth. I'm not really sure how big it is. A plant came in it; I cleaned them out good to make sure the fertilizer and whatnot was washed out before using them.
Mix them in a plate. The supplements should be every other feeding or so.
What bulb do you recomend for a basking light the flukers 160 or the power sun 100 watt? i am also putting in two fluorecent Repti sun 10.0 bulbs. i think this way i should be able to provide optimum UV levels.
I've not used the flukers. I've only heard about T-Rex Active UVHeat and Zoomed PowerSun, both of which are great options. Fluker's has the heat emitting bulb and the mercury vapor that you could consider; with the heat emitting coil bulb, you're not getting the UV, to which you'd need the extra uv source, and I haven't heard good things about the mercury vapor bulbs. The T-Rex bulb is really the best, but it's hard to find them, or at least none of the pet stores I have locally (all the big chains and a few mom and pop ones) carry it.
You don't need the additional UV bulbs because the Powersun and UV-Heat both emit heat and UV. Those tubes can be expensive to replace every 4-6 months when they run out of UV; they'll still light but no UV after 6 months. When the bulbs last longer and emit the heat and UV you need, there's really no need to spend the extra money on the tube and replacing it pretty regularly. Imagine for 40+ years having to buy a new UV tube every 4 months, that's 3 a year, 120 for 40 years, times however much you pay for it, equals a lot of un-necessary spending. IMO.
yeah it might cost a bit but i found this site called LLL reptile&supplies that has some huge discounts on bulbs and everything you need, for example a T- Rex active heat cost around 70 or 80 bucks on this site there on sale for 37.99 check it out i already ordered the two tubes and the flukers sun spot plus a digital humidity / temp guage with probes for about 105 bucks all together. i am going all out with this i might not be able to get my tort outside that often but i will get it the UV it needs to thrive one way or another.
Yes, Trex bulbs are easier to find online. Carolinapetsupply carries them as well; LLL is a great source for reptile supplies. I've used them many times.
They are expensive but they are the best. You don't need the tubes if you purchased the trex active heat bulb. You're really wasting money. Did you notice how much you'll spend over the tortoises lifetime on the UV tubes when you don't need them if you have a proper uv emiting heat bulb? The uv from the trex active heat bulb is sufficient to supply all the UV that the tort needs. It's up to you, but you're wasting the money on the tubes.
I've been thinking about the 2 30 gallon tubs, and you may want to consider a real 50 gallon tub, as they're bigger and probably safer than having the two sealed together.
i checked on the single 50 gallon it is a little longer then the system i made but i think it is way to narrow thats why i thought up combineing tubs and it is actually bigger eventually i will by two 50 gallon tubs and combine those for my tort but at the size he is now this will be perfect. as for sealing them i used a hot glue gun and made sure that there was no glue exposed in the tubs im sure it will be safe .i washed it out a few times just to be safe. How do i upload photos on here i will show you. What vitamin mineral supplument do you use for your torts?
What do you think of the tortoise dust by T-Rex compared to the TNT with probiotics?
if i am supposed to feed my tort every other day and supply vitamins every other feeding then do i still put a few fresh veggies in his cage everyday or no?
how do i become a member with the caroline pet web site so i can order the TNT ?????
the overall size of the 50 is just more efficient. There's no need for teo 50s. You could just consider an outdoor enclosure for summer and spring. It's even better.
TNT is seen as the best. Press the register button for carolina pet supply. Like you would for any site when making an order. Or just put the items in you cart and upon checkout make an account, again pretty much like every site you can order from.
supplements only twice a week.you'll feed about 4 times a week on average. Fresh food every other day. Supplements every other feeding.
Ok i think i got it now on the whole feeding and supplementaion. But what if i take my standard cuttle bone mist it with water and dust it with calcium D3 powder and left it in my tortoises cage for him to nibble on. that way along with the TNT with probiotics and a varied diet my tortoise should be in perfect health right?
Just remember that there's no one way that is the only right way. This is what I've seen as most recommended as a Russian diet. You don't need to mist the cuttlebone; just leave it in there as is. There's no need to add D3 to it. You're really trying to overdose the tort on D3.
Diet alone isn't going to give the tort perfect health. It's just one factor towards a healthy tortoise.
Having too much UV and D3 isn't going to help your tortoise. Please keep that in mind. You can do too much.
Ok i feel you on the overdoseing part in regards to the supplements i will just leave the plain cuttle bone for it to nibble on and stick to your schedule for vitamins. as for varietys on food i have gone to about three or four different sites for listings of food includeing this site. As for the lighting i havent herd of any thing that can compare to the suns overall power in a bulb or even small combinations of lights cant compare to the sun as long as i can adjust the hight of the bulb from the surface of the enclosure i should be fine with 12hrs of light and 12 hours of dark my tort should be good on the UVA and UVB absorption and as recomened i will have a large habba hut for a hide on one side of its enclosure and deep substrate for it to dig into.
But if you think that the two Repti sun 10.0 are to much then i guess i will take one of my other bulbs and tape it so that there will only be the one Repti sun 10.0 bulb and i will save the other Repti sun bulb for when my one is dead in six months i have a replacement on hand i value the expertiec of someone who knows what to use.
two repti suns and the active sun T-Rex bulb is WAY too much. Why are you taping anything? Tape and heat from a bulb isn't going go over well; the tape will dry out real quick-like and the bulb will fall. Even one bulb and the active sun is too much. I'm not sure why you're wanting so much.
You are right that nothing compares to the sun, but when it comes to artificial, there's no reason to have 2 or three sources of UV bulbs/tubes. You just don't need it. Plus in some cases, UV can actually fry out the eyes of torts, especially younger ones; Russians aren't quite that bad, but they don't need 3 or even 2 sources of artificial UV.
im talking about haveing one of the two sockets on my fluorecent fixture working with the one Rpti sun suspeneded about four feet from the surface and the spot light about the same distance should not over do it but be plenty of UV. Plus i already bought the bulbs.
I suggested you not buy them before you bought them. Buying them was your own choice, and in my opinion waste of money (which I also voiced before you bought them). I still think it's too much. Ih ave inquired to more experienced keepers. I'll let you know what they say.
By the way, UV tubes like ReptiSuns need to be much closer than 4 feet to do any good. You're wasting your money and energy using them 4 feet above where the tort will even be. They have to be within 12 inches. The tort isn't getting any of the UV. You wasted the money buying them if you're planning on putting them 4 feet away, much less because you don't need them (IMO). With the bulbs 4 feet away, the tort is only going to get the UV from the active bulb, not the reptisuns.
I got the response. The trex bulb supplies all the uv your tort needs. The reptisuns produce very little uv that it's not worth it.
the quote was, "the one t-rex is really enough uv source, unless he likes to support his local power company. The output of th 10.0 is actually quite low so not likely to cause any harm having the extra bulb but why have the extra expense when it's not necessary."
I have an adjustable light stand so i can move it closer if needed. at about 18 to 20 inches from the surface the bulbs UV should reach the tort and the tape isnt going to hold anthing up it will just block one bulb from emitting light i have some old tubes that were cheap that i will tape up. im trying to get as close to sun light as possible without danger if i really absoulutley dont need them i can always return them.
looks like we were typing at the same time. You'll see the usefulness of the reptisuns above. There not. Your decision to use them, but the guy I quoted has been breeding and raising russians for a long time, one of the more knowledgeable in the species.
Ok i got you i will just use one uv tube and a spot light untill the two uv bulbs are useless in a yr and i simply wont buy any more of those. Your expertiec is much appreciated. can you tell of some good places to get the tort its food and maybe a few more sites that might give me a more examples of what to feed a tort. Just to keep a varied diet.
Make sure that your t-rex bulb is less than 3 feet from the tort, as over 3 feet there's no UV reaching the tort. They added that in as well in another post. Good tortoise diets are fresh foods, NEVER commercial, if that's what you're looking for. Stick with a varied diet of green greens and weeds.
Why not just return the bulbs and get your money back?
The bulb is lower than 3 ft. i will try my best to keep my torts diet varied as for the comercial pellet diets do you use them at all? what if i gave my tort a little bit of the pellet diet once a month just to keep things varied along with the fresh veggies. i did return the two reptisun bulbs my ballast could not operate them anyways. With that money i will gather the rest of the supplies i need and within 2 weeks i will bring my tort home. The coolest it gets in the tank at night right now is 65 degrees F .is that cool enough? The basking spot gets to about 92 degrees is that warm enough?
What do you think a good name for a female tortoise would be?? i cant waith to bring my little buddy home but i want to make sure i have everything i need though. Where is a good place to buy fresh veggies for my tort???
No, I don't use commercial diets. There's not reason to offer commercial diets if your diet of fresh foods is varied enough and you properly supplement. Get the temps as clse to 95, if the hottest side right now is 92, you should be alright.
Names will be your decision.
Veggies can be purchased at the grocery store. Live plants the nursery, just don't give them anything that has been grown in fertilizer, which is anything at a nursery or home department store. You'll ahve to wash the roots and replant in non-fertilized dirt for about 3 months before offereing.
You can consider the grass mix on carolina pet supply as a good source of grases and weeds that you could grow indoors and snip off a few inches for each meal. It's the russian mix.
All i can find on that site is the seed mix for tortoises do we grow the seeds or just feed them to them.
Yes you have to grow the seeds, that's why I said you could GROW them inside. It's the grazing tortoise mix that I was areferring to. The other seeds and mixes are good as well. That on just has the most variety. They grow well inside, although of coulrse do better outside, but you could grow a container of the seeds and snip a an inch or so for extra variety
Ok i got it. i will start growing the seeds as soon as i get them, but as for the mean time untill they are grown what store should i go too to aquire some of the things on your list?
can sum1 help me. My uv light needs replacing, but i cant get to the pet shop till saturday! Will my 2yr old hermann be ok till then? I can give him an hour outside each day as its not to cold here in portugal. Please let me know. Thanks
Steve, like I said the grocery store will sell the greens. The rest are greenery plants that you can purchase at a nursery; you don't want to offer them as food until you can replant them in non-fertilized soil for about 3 months. It's easiest to purchase a bag of spring mix from the grocery store as a staple and add to that. That salad mix includes a few different types of greens that are all good for torts.
daz, if you can offer outside time, that's better than artificial lighting.
Ok i gotcha ya i will buy the spring mix and start finding the other plants at my local nursery, i will make sure to replant those plants in fresh non fertilizing soil for three months b4 i feed my tortoise. i will also buy the grazeing tortoise mix and start growing those ASAP.
I know how what i have read and what you have told me about comercial diets but what do you think about useing a little of the Mazuri tortoise diet in moderation with fresh greens as the primary food?
There's no reason to offer the Mazuri or any commercial diet. You really are over thinking this.
ok then as long as i have a good variety of fresh veggies i wont need the Mazuri or any of the comercial diets awesome thanks for clearing that up. Sorry i have a tendency to over think things when it comes to reptiles. i always think things are more complicated than they really are when it comes to reptiles.
No offense, but I'd be surprised if you don't over think things other than just reptile care. Yes, if you have a varied diet, you won't need commercial foods.
Ok but what if i can only find your list and maybe a few other things will that be varied enough? or are there other sites that have a larger list of things for these critters to eat?
You'll find that this is a pretty comprehensive list of common greens, but If you're looking for a list of plants and greenery that you can plant outside, I can find a larger list. You'll find though, that these plants/flowers are the most common and easist to find.
Ok so your list should be varied enough then? where else can i find lists of recommended foods for russian tortoises? I want to keep my torts diet varied with as many different things as possible.
Recommended foods are pretty much all listed above. The only thing I can do is offer a lengthy list of edible plants that you can plant and grow.
Ok sounds like a plan but back on the subject of substrates you said a 50/50 mix of bed a beast and sand i have the bed a beast coconut fiber but what kind of sand do you use there are so many different kinds of sands for reptiles.
If you bought reptile sand you'd be spending an arm and a leg. Playsand can be purchased at a home department store like lowes for about $5 for 50 pounds or so. You'll want more than one block of bed a beast. I use about 3-4 blocks and the sand, which only gives about 3 inches of substrate give or take.
Here's a listing of edible plants:
thanx that saves me big time. good thing you told me about useing 3 or 4 blocks i bought a three pack so i will get another bick or two just to make sure i got a deep enough beding for this little critter.
Yea they like to burrow, so one block in a 50 gallon tub won't cover the entire floor and will barely cover it with the sand blended in. You may have gotten about a quarter of an inch in some spots though. Like I said I use about 3-4 and sand, but I'd still like more. I need to add a little more playsand.
You can purchase organic topsoil and use that. Just make sure NO FERTILIZERS. It's much cheaper to purchase one 40 pound bag of natural topsoil versus say 5 blocks of bed a beast. I use the bed a beast bc I bought a case of it since I use it with gecko lay boxes and frog enclosures. I'll definitely be using the organic topsoil when I start runing low on bed a beast blocks.
ok i got 2 bags of fertilizer free topsoil and and play sand. you say to use a 50/50 mix by weight or volume?
ForTheLove says:
16 months ago
Excellent hub! You give a very clear guide here and provide great sources to get the needed supplies, too. Thanks for adding value to Hubpages :)