I don't know much so any advice

I’ve always loved tortoises and I’m finally financially in a place where I could get one! I’m JUST now starting research so it’ll be a few months; what are your recommendations for “beginner” (using that lightly) tortoises that stay on the smaller side? Love leopards and sulcatas but won’t have the yard I currently have forever.

Thought it was a female this whole time but sometimes not so sure. I never get a good shot under her she'll and took the opportunity when she was poking around some areas she's not supposed to. Any ideas?

I have had Russian tortoises for almost 30 years now. Got my first one when I was 7. I have bread them and often had up to 20 of them at the same time.

Especially when I was still a kid it used to happen that a tortoise would escape but very rarely it still happens (for example when I moved and built new enclosures and there was an enclosure malfunction the first time it was used).

The thing is - I have had dreams ever since I remember about looking for lost tortoises. The setting is always different but the theme is the same. I'm looking for tortoises and suddenly I'm finding lots and lots of them and then I'm not even sure how many I've got and I'm collecting them and there is more and more and more and I can't keep up.

I get these dreams ever once in a while even if it's been years since I last looked for a lost tortoise.

Has this happened to anyone else?

She??? Will be staying with us this summer. Hoping to ID for proper diet. So far lettuce and cucumbers and peppers, but wondering if it is lacking other nutrients or proteins. Thanks!

Can these two turtles reproduce or should I not worry about it

Sorry I don’t have a photo of him, but he is a full grown redfoot tortoise. I feed him fresh veggies, fruits, and sometimes egg whites(for protein). He does drink water with his soaks and his bowl in his table. He often eats about 1/8 a pound of fruits and veggies and i sometimes sprinkle calcium on it(he has a light for artificial sun for his health and shell). He eats every day and poops once every two days or so. He is often fairly active. Does this sound like a healthy pattern and diet? If not or so, please let me know!

This tortoise escaped from my mom's friends neighbors yard. they haven't came looking for him and they aren't in a very good financial situation nextdoor, so she might keep him if they don't look for him. Does his shell look okay? Does he look dehydrated or sick?

Just got this little guy and was wondering the exact speices and gender!

Tortoise table says yes but I have a horrible feeling it’s actually no. Jus wanted to check

My 2 girls live in a closed enclosure in my backyard and I have an ant colony I've poured water with soap in countless times but it doesn't work they don't die, anyways it's never been much of a problem because they are pretty far and because the enclosure is a bit tall I had NEVER seen one inside until today, I found a couple roaming around with them. I don't want to use any chemicals that could hurt my torts or my dog, I thought about cinnamon all around the enclosure, but I don't know if the smell from that could do something to them? Pardon my ignorance if that's ridiculous, what can I do?

She tests the perimeter for defects like the T-Rex at Jurassic Park. Quite persistent! Lol

Looking for an eastern hermann's and am researching sources. Has anyone had experience (good or bad) with Arizona Tortoise Compound, Backwater Reptiles, or Tortstork?

Edit: I'm in western WA state if anyone knows of any available local or for resuce. Only ones I can find around me are Petco..

Hello,

I've had my guy for a few weeks now and I'm concerned that he's not eating enough. He's estimated to be about 4-5 years old, is 5 inches long and weighs 13.25 ounces.

I put fresh food in with him every morning but most days he doesn't touch it at all, and when he does he eats maybe half of a leaf. Everything I've read implies that Russians are at risk for eating TOO much so something seems very off.

I've tried dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, collard greens, romaine lettuce, spinach, and these pellets. Of all those, he's eaten the most of the kale and dandelions.

I've brought him outside in my yard when it was warm out 2 weeks ago and he munched on some weeds and wild dandelion flower while out there, so I tried picking some and putting those in his indoor enclosure, but he hasn't touched that at all either.

This is his indoor enclosure, and I use a Powersun bulb for both heat and UVB. It's about 90 degrees right under the lamp and 50-60% humidity. Most of the time he just goes under his hide and burrows into the substrate. For about a week I was wondering if he was hiding so much because it was too hot, so I switched to a smaller bulb which reduced the temp to 75-80 degrees, but he didn't change behavior.

I did buy a 2nd enclosure that can attach to the first to double the total size, that will get setup later this week.

I feel like I've got a good setup for him. Originally he was housed with a female, so maybe he's just sad that he's alone now and needs time to adjust? Any other ideas?

Pics!

Edit: I appreciate all the responses! I feel much better about the whole situation and I'll just continue to monitor what he seems to like and give him the best home that I can.