thanks Ed_...new exchange tort

[Bartman]

i got my new tort yesterday after seeing that the first tort i got from ed was injured...he gladly agreed to come all the way back to thornhill from etobikoke and give me a new male. When he came he had one female and one male but the new male and a slight chip on his shell so he offered to give me the female EVEN though they are much more rare. how nice of him eh :) anyways after one day she is already eating and enjoyin her new, kind of temporary, home. I snapped some pics with my webcam just now so enjoy and again, thanks ed :)

http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1412832/2692060/33072466.jpg

http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1412832/2692060/33072459.jpg

http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1412832/2692060/33072445.jpg

http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1412832/2692060/33072437.jpg

!PEACE!

[TheRedDragon]

She's a real cutie! That was really nice of ed to do that for you. :)

[Bartman]

he even gave me a lift home :)

[johnnym1972]

Hello Adam, that is so cool and very respectable of Ed to do that for you. He is obviously a first class seller, and he proved that through his warranty. I hope that she settles in well, and I wish you both health, prosperity, and good will.

[Bartman]

thank you very much johnny, and you too :D

[zhiv9]

Good to here things worked out for you. Though it sucks to trade in the one you were already attached to, its sounds like you made the right choice.

[Bartman]

Ye i got really attached to him but i pretty much had to give it back because i didnt want a "damaged" tort :) but im planning on buying the male back soon..maybe 2 or so months from now.

[red bootz]

I've heard that some russians can be quite aggressive especially during mating so allow for some sightline breaks and hiding spots. Anywayz, good luck. There's not alot of captive propogation done on this species since they come so inexpensively so good luck!

[Bartman]

i like your little spider man..lol. So your saying if i kept them together they would fight eachother? isnt it if ones male and ones female they dont fight..only if two males are housed together?

[Bartman]

oh and also should i stick to keeping her on towel paper or could i use sand? would i risk impaction? shes about 4 inches long.

[red bootz]

Most tortoise species are aggressive breeders by nature. Some more than others. To some extent, they will all chase, harass, nip, and hiss when their juices are flowing. This is how it is done in the wild. But in the wild the females have places to hide or run away so its not as stressfull.
The males will fight, this is not a bad thing since it gets them in the mood, so to speak. But aggression between the sexes and even between females and between juveniles is not uncommon in Russians so I would just err on the side of safety and allow for some hiding places.

[red bootz]

Oh and for a substrate for your russian, try mixing that sand of yours with some topsoil. Paper towel is good only as a temporary substrate. Its sterile and easy to clean so I would only recommend it if your turtle is suffering froma severe injury or illness.

[Bartman]

ye the tort i had before this one had the injury thats why i switched it and than i decided to leave it causs i thought it was safer but im gonna use the brick thing and playsand mix. The brick that you soak in water and it expands..dun remember what its called but the previous owner, ed, used this as his and he obviously knows his stuff

[Chelydraman]

Its coconut bark that stuff you are thinking of that expands

[Bartman]

ye i just bought a brick of it. The guy who sold me the tort said he uses that mixed with playsand and hes had great sucess for the last couple years with all his torts so im gonna use that.