Sand and Russian Tortoises?

Question

HI everyone! I am the proud new owner of a 5-inch Russian tortoise. He is beautiful, very active and has a good appetite. I have him in a 54-gal rubbermaid container with a 100 watt heat lamp that keeps his basking spot at 95 F, rest of cage is about 80 because it's a hot room.--no UV yet as I'm building him an outside enclosure in my garden so he can soak up the sun. I have a dish of water, I'm feeding various grass, mixed field greens, carrot and mushrooms today. He had a flowerpot to hide in.

Here's what's worrying me: I've got a substrate of sand and organic compost. He's quite the digger and he shoves his face right down in his projects--and comes up with sand all over his face. I'm worried that it's going to irritate his eyes. I've been rinsing it off when he does that but he just goes right back. Is this going to hurt him? What should I do? He also tends to walk right across his food dish and drag all sand and dirt into his food. I don't want him to get impacted! Any ideas?

Answer 1

http://www.russiantortoise.org/care_shee... this site shows you how to make an enclosure out of a rubber maid tube, which might be of some use to you, as for the sand and soil it is ok for the tortoise and will pose no threat, i have sand in my torotise enclosure for them to dig in and they have never had any problem, i use a forest bed instead of soil as it sems to be better for them i think you call it bed a beast, it comes in a brick and you soak it it turns into the most wonderful soil and my tortoises love it, russian totoises do like to dig and yours sounds like he really like the pen you have made for him,  don't worry about tyour tortoise swollowing the sand impaction happens when large quantities are comsumed, if it helps my tortoises walk through the sand but i have never had a problem, just make sure the sand you use is for reptiles or play sand and all should be ok. i feed my tortoises food on a plate so most of the dirt falls to the bottom of the plate and  food stays clean, the basking temp is great for your tortoise but you do need to lower the rest of the cage so it is in the 70's as the temp at the moment is a little high, you have a good diet going so all should be fine don't forget to get the UV lighting

Answer 2

Russian Tortoises have been digging for millenium, and they've survived unharmed.  Don't worry about it.

Keeping food clean is always a challenge with ground dwelling reptiles.  Try putting the food dish in a corner.  There's less access and the shell may help in keeping him off the food.  (You can't get a round shell into a square corner)

Also, get on a strict feeding schedule.  Feed at the same times every day.  Leave the food out 20 minutes, then pick it up.  He'll learn to eat while the food is out, and that it's not for swimming.  LOL!

This will also prevent bugs from being attracted to the food and staying to "bug" your pet.

Answer 3

I too am the proud owner of a Russian, (or Horsefield) tortoise named Avra, and I too have the same problem. However, I tend to let her carry on with her business. If you keep rinsing his eyes, you might be doing more harm than good, as you could be making the dirt rub even more. Your tortoise will attempt to shake off the dirt herself. One way of getting her clean is to put a medium depth water bowl in his enclosure, then, he will sit in the water and dip his head in, thus cleaning himself, (this works for mine anyway).

With his food, you shouldn't change it as soon as it gets dirt on it. The tortoise won't get ill at all. If you're still unsure, try hand feeding your tortoise. This way, you can make sure that the food is clean, and you will gain trust from your friend over time. It worked for me!

Hope these tips will help you. Good luck fellow Russian - Tortoise owner x*x

Answer 4

only feed him collard greens, mustard greens, and dandalions if you dont spray. carrots have vitamin a which is harmful to reptiles.  i would use crushed walnut shell for a substrate.  take the water dish out.  they can drown in it.  they will get enough water if you feed what i said.  they like to be dry.