Is calcium sand okay for tortoises?
Obviously sand can’t be digested, and if ingested it can sit in the gut of the tortoise. Repeated compaction of sand in the gut can be fatal, so it is best avoided. Sand is also sometimes mixed with a more moist substrate such as a loam compost to try and provide the balance between being too dry or too moist.
Is sand bad for Russian tortoises?
Wild Russian tortoises also graze on low-growing vegetation; they don’t eat directly off the substrate as they often do in captivity. Sand and gravel impaction kills many pet tortoises, usually when they’re living on loose sand or dirt indoors.
Can you put sand in a tortoise enclosure?
Straight sand by itself is NOT recommended. The traditional indoor substrate formula is to mix plain soil with a small amount of play sand. This mix has worked well with burrowing species like Greeks. Popular indoor substrates for tortoises include coconut coir, soil & coconut coir mix, organic soil, and peat moss.
Do Russian tortoises need calcium powder?
Calcium: Russian tortoises require additional calcium supplementation. Calcium powder is manufactured by many different brands on the market (Fluker’s, Exo-Terra, Rep-Cal, etc); whatever brand you choose, select a product that does not contain phosphorous or vitamin D3.
When is the best time to keep a Russian tortoise?
Keeping any tortoise on an outdoor patio or anything aboveground when it’s over 100 degrees is too hot for them. Russian tortoises are most active when temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees, but they remain active during the cooler parts of the day in midsummer, or they sleep underground in a burrow.
What should I do if my Russian tortoise wont shrink?
For minor treatment at home, you’ll need to soak the tortoise in a saline solution or lukewarm sugar water. Do not push the tissues back in place, but if they don’t shrink, you’ll need to make an appointment as soon as possible.
Can a Russian tortoise live in shallow water?
When Russian tortoises are housed indoors, I prefer not to have standing water in the bowls because they tend to defecate in them while soaking. In shallow water, the tortoises usually begin drinking immediately and flush their systems at the same time.
Can a Russian tortoise be sold as an adult?
You should assume that most adult or subadult Russian tortoises for sale are wild-caught (imported). Captive-bred babies are rarely raised to adult size and sold at the low prices that these imported Russian tortoises sell for. Russian tortoise hatchling.
Keeping any tortoise on an outdoor patio or anything aboveground when it’s over 100 degrees is too hot for them. Russian tortoises are most active when temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees, but they remain active during the cooler parts of the day in midsummer, or they sleep underground in a burrow.
Is the Russian tortoise on a bad diet?
There is a real concern among tortoise lovers about abnormal growth and poor health from improper diets. There are also certain “anti-nutrients” in plants that if given in sufficient quantities , have a negative impact on the health of or animals.
You should assume that most adult or subadult Russian tortoises for sale are wild-caught (imported). Captive-bred babies are rarely raised to adult size and sold at the low prices that these imported Russian tortoises sell for. Russian tortoise hatchling.
How often should I soak my Russian tortoise?
Russian tortoise are no exception to the rule. Being an arid species , much of the water can be extracted from their food. However they do need a regular source. I keep a shallow bowel of water in the pens. Indoors I prefer to soak them for 20 minutes in chin deep “baby warm” water every 2-3 days.
