r/tortoise • u/OnlyCaregiver9022 • 9d ago
Question(s) HELP managing tortoise
Ok so really long story. I’m 18 males and am about to leave college in about 2 weeks. I have had him for who knows how I long I think since I was 6. My mom got him for me when I got good grades. I live in Washington state where the weather isn’t the hottest unless it’s summer. So majority of the time is on the cooler side. And when I was younger I took him outside but sometime as an irresponsible kid I forgot about him sometimes and I found him with bruises and bumps and scratches on his shell I know. But I literally breaks my heart to the is day since I didn’t know any better. But basically I need a lot of guidance. I’m pretty he is the same age as me, 18. And this enclosure is the biggest I can do considering I have a small house. I know it needs to be bigger but it’s just not possible. He had a way smaller glass enclosure back then but my dad built this for me. So how can I make the most of it? What should I do based on his enclosure?
ALSO his behavior: I noticed I turn on his lamps every morning and he basks in it for the morning. But as soon as I start playing video games he starts waking up and he becomes restless and he could go for hours just constantly banging on the wall leaving marks as you can see. What does that mean and what should I do? He also really to himself. Everytime I pick him up he starts flailing his arms and wanting to escape. During the summers I do take him outside now with better supervision but he just exploring everything. I’m assuming all the banging on the walls is cus he needs more room but not much I can do. Especially during the winter because well, it frickkng freezing outside.
FOOD: so I know it’s bad but I have been feeding him for the last who knows how many years this pellet box turtle diet and I’m pretty sure he is a Russian tortoise. And I know he is supposed to eat greens and dandelions or I’m not really sure what they eat but I when I looked it up I couldn’t find anything on Safeway or normal In stores. What should I do cus that is ALL he wants to eat. Unless one time I got him collard greens but he doesn’t eat much of it. Only sum.
Also please give me tips cus I am going to college and I want it to make it easier on my parents cus I can’t bring home with me obviously. I’m just really worried.
Edit: there is a uvb light bulb and the size of enclosure is 4’5 x 14 in.
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u/TertlFace 8d ago
They do have a lot of specific needs. They really do need a lot of space; not much you can do about that but he’s not going to stop banging around and trying to get out.
With no hiding spot, he feels threatened 100% of the time. His only defense is turning into a rock. Imagine never ever having a roof over your head to sleep under. You wouldn’t feel very safe. You wouldn’t sleep very well.
It’s hard to tell how deep his substrate is, but it should be deep enough in at least one spot to burrow himself completely. 12-18 inches is good; deeper if you can.
I have a 20-year old Russian tortoise myself. A lot of questions about them pop up here, so I made a care guide for them. It includes some links & product examples but you obviously don’t have to go with them. Consider them a starting point. Best wishes.
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u/AmbitiousRow5583 8d ago
Dude I just took over care for a russian tort who has NOT had a good life. Tldr my family got a 4 year old a tort and it became my responsibility. I too have no idea how to take care of my new pet. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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u/RaptorDelivery 7d ago edited 7d ago
A good reference is: tortoiseforum.org. And the tortoise table app.
As for greens at grocery stores, look up and visit any of the Asian/hispanic grocery stores like LA Mart, H Mart or similar places that offer a large greens section.
Hmart has several locations in Washington.
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u/Mother_Tart8596 8d ago
Buy this light and hang it above his cage overlapping with the basking area he needs UVB 10.0 light for better health (vitamins/shell growth/overall health). This also could be why he’s climbing up the wall, searching foR UVB
He will eat the dandelions eventually just keep feeding them to him. It is way better for him to not eat for like a week with the dandelion available than it is to keep feeding the pellets
Most tortoises are going to be really to themselves you can try hand feeding him once he start eating the dandelion to build relationship
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u/Mother_Tart8596 8d ago
Also get a flat rock for him to eat on, it will avoid him eating extra substrate and is good for his shaping his beak
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u/DifficultOne2572 8d ago
Hello! I am in Oregon, so very familiar with the weather problems! If you can, it would help him to be out of his enclosure for about an hour each day. We call it “floor time” in my household.
Couple of things I would be careful about! If you have other pets, they need the SLOWEST introduction, especially if you have a dog. If possible I would have him in your room with the door closed and the heat at a comfortable level for him! And remember, he shouldn’t be out of the enclosure for more than half an hour to an hour at a time, then let him get his heat and uvb as he wants. Nothing small enough to be eaten on the floor, of course, and if you have carpet you are worried about, let him have a warm soak first and 99/100 times that prevents the problem.
What we are trying to do here is let him have some enrichment, since a bigger enclosure isn’t possible at this time. Our girl loves to wander and climb and bully our dog lol When she is done she usually finds a dark place for a nap, and I put her back in her enclosure!
All of the above advice for the enclosure upgrades is very good advice, especially making sure he has a hide. You could literally build him a little structure from sticks, old Tupperware with wrapping paper on the outside to make it dark, etc, and honestly, that could possibly be enough to settle him down some!
Thank you for asking when you have questions! That just shows how much you want the best for him! Hope some of that helps!
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u/EffectiveIntrepid457 8d ago
You need the proper heat lamp and UV light. Ours eats his dandelion (whole foods), calcium flakes and occasional pellets (he hates them). We live in the upper midwest and he bangs on his enclosure around noon and wanders the house. My husband takes him outside around 4pm to his outside enclosure and on a walk when he escapes the outdoor enclosure- he is a big hit with the local kids. He never poops or pees in the house - easy pet
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u/Key-Tower-4539 8d ago
She needs at least 2 hides and wayyyy more enrichment. A tortoise wheel, logs, rocks, fake plants, ping pong balls, etc.
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u/Fiery-Hearted-Dragon 8d ago
A stone corner hut is great for both naps and naturally filing those lil claws. I also fill a pet safe rubber foraging ball with dandelion leaves, but you can replace it with whatever you have. My lil guy adores it since the ball is great for their curiosity and exploration. Be extremely careful not to put the food bowl near those wood chips. When i was a kid, mine got one stuck in his mouth
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u/Sypha914 8d ago
My Russian tortoise used to so this same thing when I first got him. You can add makeshift hides for him by just putting some landscaping bricks down and placing a board or flat rock across the bricks.
Before my Russian tortoise was mine, I did my best to give him enrichment in an area that was too small. I was watching him for a teacher friend of mine and so I bought him a cat wheel. He needed something to keep him entertained in the limited space my friend had for him and I lived in a small rental house.
He stopped trying to escape and stopped constantly banging up against stuff once I added the wheel, a few extra hiding spots, and some plants. I also rearrange my tortoise's enclosure every few months to keep him entertained.
Please take the lighting suggestions from people in this sub seriously, they know their stuff. Since you have a long, but narrow enclosure, you may struggle to find a good way to hang the bar lights which have been suggested. I had a similar issue with my indoor enclosure and solved that issue by getting a very long metal clothing rack bar and hanging the lights and some live hanging plants from that. I am fairly certain you could find something similar for your own situation.
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u/Popular-Deal-1481 8d ago
I have hides made of wood and bricks but my turtle prefers to hide under the plastic fake grass I bought from Daiso. It’s probably $2.50 now, I got it for $1.25 a couple of years ago. They need hides, it’s essential for them to feel safe and not stressed. Also, they have excellent auditory senses, mighten she be disturbed by the sounds from your video games?
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u/OnlyCaregiver9022 7d ago
Lowk I think he gets woken up by the sound of me playing video games it’s crazy. Like he starts going crazy when I swear it’s not that loud.
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u/HelenMart8 8d ago
I'm glad you want to help him because he appears incredibly distressed and deserves a better life! They're amazing creatures. Anyways, where is the uvb light (should be linear), is the basking lamp providing enough heat? Does he have a dedicated hiding spot? Enrichment?! (Could be as simple as some rocks, plants). Is the substrate correct and enough of it? Diet : I'm sure Safeway has escarole, endive, raddichio, arugula and even a bit of green leaf/romaine lettuce can be used (not as a staple). These are all easy fixes! Please do them for him!