Hi, here is a picture of my 2 new russian torts,  they are just over 3 years old and the person i bought them from was keeping them in a viv and also lived in a flat so probs did not get a chance to get out much, i have now got them in a  large indoor rabbit cage with the soil and sand , i wanted to ask one is abit more lumpier on the shell than the other one, is this due to any health problem i should know, the lumpier looking ones beak (don't know correct name) is over grown a touch and hags down over his bottom lip a touch, is this some thing the vet will have to sort or will he grind it down himself, i have got cuttle fish in the cage aswell which i doubt they would have seen before either.  The picture is of them out side in the garden but still in their cage lapping up the sunshine, i place the bed area under the shade of the kids trampoline so they have a cooler spot to goto if needed, then bring the cage back in later in the day, this is just until i get their new outside enclosure sorted out as i have just got them.

thanks scott

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the pics. The one on the left especially looks like he has a big growth ring and this is due to being overfed. Horsfields are renowned pigs when it comes to food and because these two were kept in a viv where temps soar the appetite builds. You really need to be cruel to be kind and not feed them everyday, i only feed mine 5 times a week as in the wild they only spend a few months of the year active and eating and this is why wild tortoises are generally smaller then captive bred ones. As for the beak i find the males are longer and more prominent than the females, any chance you could send a pic of the beak and also the tale end so we can see if they are big enough to be sexed.

Feed them on a rock or concrete slab as these help to keep both the beak and nails trim.

Ali

Hi, thanks for the reply. Do you mean the one which looks like it has a white ring all the way round its shell.  I have tried to get picks for you but my camera is not good at close ups,   as i say i have only had them for a couple of days now and have fed them on nothing but weeds, as well as the previous owner keeping them in a viv i think they were also feed pellet food.  Any advice you can give me on feeding would be a big help - how often how much etc, This is my first time keeping tortoises and have already read so much usefull info and thats why when i got them i put them straight into a large cage instead of a viv, i want to  give them a wonderfull new home so am very gratefull for all help and advice.

thanks again

scott

Hi Scott,

Yes thats the one i meant but obviously you need to treat them both the same. You are already doing a brilliant job and its good you have done your homework regarding their husbandry needs. Weeds are the best diet and you need to feed a variety. Dandelions, Sow Thistle, Clover (both pink and white varieties), Dead Nettle, Vetch, Plantain (wide and thin leaf).

These are just off the top of my head and the ones that i tend to use as we have loads around here. You really dont need to feed them much just a couple of leaves per tortoise per feed which should only be ONCE a day as i know some people feed theirs twice. As i said in my last post i only feed mine 4-5 times a week.

Ali

Hi Scott, they are lovely torts.

An excellent site to look on for advice on tort foods, eg garden plants and weeds is www.thetortoisetable.org.uk , its specifically designed for torts!

Vivienne

Hi thanks for that i will check that site out, i need to do some more work on the food side as i am really unsure what weeds to pick and i dont want to give them something which will harm them,

i have done some checks on them to day and they are both around 11.5cm (shell lenght) and their is a difference in weight the one with the white round its shell is heaveir,  that ones is 329grams and the other is only 323grams, they are over 3 years so does the lenght and weights seem to okay to you guys, obviously the heavier one has been eating more, and i will now keep a close eye one them when feeding and weight them every week.

thanks again for your help

scott

Hi Ali thanks for yor help, what did you make of the pictures, i know they are not very clear but deos the beak look okay to you or is it overgrown, i have now put in a concrete stone which i will put their food on, and i dont suppose you could tell from the pictures what sex they are and i have no idea how you check, the person i got them from said they were male and female, but i dont think they really new what was best for them never mind how to sex them. hopefully things will be better for them now.

thanks scott

Hi Scott,

The pics are not clear enough to sex them and they still may be too small anyway. Males have a long tale that they curl up under the shell and females have short stumpy tales, as for the beak see how it goes and as long as he/she is eating ok then the concrete slab should help. Is there any chance you could send a clearer pic of both the tale ends and beak?

Ali

Hi, thanks for your reply, my goodness that is a hard picture to get, these ones are slightly better but dont know if you will be able to tell or not as they are still not great. I could not get one of the beak but he/she has been eating fine and does not seem to be causing any bother but i will keep a close eye on it.

thanks

scott

Hi Scott,

The pics arent really that clear im afraid. Are you taking them with a mobile? It might be better to send them through to my email at least that way i should be able to zoom in. Can you send them to me at ali@tortoise-protection-group.ork.uk

Ali

hi scott

If you can get a pic when there tails are out the one on the rigth looks like a male to me but very hard to tell off the pics need better pics if poss