Another Intro Thread.

[Yakuza-Irezumi]

I just acquired a 4 1/2" -5" Russian that was a rescue by all means.Former owners had it in a 40 high  with much less than optimal conditions.
Food was left out to rot, among other things.
So hopefully I start seeing some growth in this poor beast seeing as it might get bigger.
Plastron is black and flat, are torts dimorphic in this sense like aquatic turtles?

Also, how would I be able to tell if she/he has MBD?
I have vitamins and calcium, how much how often?

I won't waste your time by asking about food, I'll look that up on here.

Just wanted some quick tips for a new acquisition.


Pics to soon follow, nothing you haven't seen tons of times though...

[Jules]

What do you mean by dimorphic?

They do not shed their scutes if that is what you mean.

MB - soon sometime this year.

[Yakuza-Irezumi]

Dimorphic.Systematic difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species.

Example, the sexually dimorphic trait in most aquatic turtles of fused and non-fused plastron variety would be the concave plastron for the male (rounded out for easier mounting) and flat for the female for she does not have to mount.


MB? You must have mistaken me...MBD, Metabolic Bone Disease.
Which is caused by lack of proper supplementation.

[mctlong]

Sexual dimorphism in Russians is apparent in size.  Females are much larger than males.  You can also distinguish males from females based on the size and shape of the tail.  Adult males develop very large tails that drag on the ground or carried folded up to the side. Females ( and young males) have short, squatty tails. If you post a pic, we'll be happy to help you determine your tort's sex. 

Metabolic bone disease is best diagnosed by a vet.  Early signs include a pyramided shell, a flattended shell, or other obvious skeletal deformities.  Since your new tort has not had optimal care, I'd recommend a visit to a qualified reptile vet.

Welcome to the forum!! 

[mctlong]

Here's a great picture showing the difference between males (left) and females (right)
http://www.tortoise.org/images/horspair.jpg

And here are some examples of advanced MBD in torts.  Sadly, you can find many more examples searching under "MBD" in google:
http://www.turtlestuff.com/mbdcdt.jpg
http://www.turtlerescues.com/images/sulcata_challenge/challenge11.jpg
http://mothernaturewildlife.org/images/jemima5.jpg

As for supplements.... Some people sprinkle a pinch of calcium on the tort's food during every feeding.  I just keep a cuttlebone in my tort's enclosure and trust him to regulate his own calcium intake.  Either method is fine. Will you be keeping the tort outdoors?  If not, make sure you have a good UVA/UVB bulb to ensure your tort's getting vitamin D.  Without the UVA/UVB bulb or sufficient natural sunlight, the tort will not be able to absorb the calcium supplement.  No other vitamin suplements are required if you feed your tort a healthy diet.  I've found this food list very helpful. http://www.russiantortoise.org/russiantortoisediet.htm

Good luck and keep us posted.   

[Yakuza-Irezumi]

I'm in the process of giving this poor thing a 6 foot enclosure so it can decide exactly what temp it wants to be.
Can I use a box with a big enough entry hole as a hide?
Or does it need to straight out burrow?
I'm picturing a nice laminated 20"x20"20" cardboard box with a nice door cut into it.
And that will be the more humid side.


Here he/she is.

[mctlong]

Its a boy. His shell looks fine. Nice and smooth.  No signs of MBD that I can see. Of course, I'd still recommend a vet visit, just to make sure he's healthy and doesn't have parasites or anything.

A six-foot enclosure is a great size.     He'll love all the space. Since Russians need to be kept on moist substrate, cardborad isn't appropriate because it'll get moldy.  You can cut a hole in a plastic box.

[moeNlily]

That is definitely a boy, handsome too! 

[Spuds mom]

The males' plastron are not concave in Russians as in other species.  They are flat like the females.

[Jules]

Dimorphic.Systematic difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species.

Example, the sexually dimorphic trait in most aquatic turtles of fused and non-fused plastron variety would be the concave plastron for the male (rounded out for easier mounting) and flat for the female for she does not have to mount.


MB? You must have mistaken me...MBD, Metabolic Bone Disease.
Which is caused by lack of proper supplementation.

Ok, dimorphic can be used many ways, I was asking what you were comparing.  sex, species, etc.

MB was a typo.  I meant MBD.  I meant If you were to see it from past problems you would see it in the year. 

As everyone one is saying your boy look good.  If you are going to keep him in good conditions, you should not see much if any MBD.

[Yakuza-Irezumi]

One week in and I SWEAR that his white ring (which is visible in these pics) has gotten bigger.
He's gotten fresh food and proper temps/UV for a week.
These guys grow slow no?And I know I'm not overfeeding him.
I can't believe such a slow grower can respond in 7 days.

Trust me, that white ring is brighter (new growth) and a tad thicker.


In short, the WC pet trade needs to come to a violent halt.
Every tort should have no less than what you folk offer.

Thanks.

[mctlong]

In short, the WC pet trade needs to come to a violent halt.

  Totally agree. 

Your tort's lucky to have you.

 

[Jules]

One week in and I SWEAR that his white ring (which is visible in these pics) has gotten bigger.
He's gotten fresh food and proper temps/UV for a week.
These guys grow slow no?And I know I'm not overfeeding him.
I can't believe such a slow grower can respond in 7 days.

Trust me, that white ring is brighter (new growth) and a tad thicker.

Hopefully that will be the only bad growth you will see from the poor conditions you got him from.  He will have a larger ring there forever, but since you are treating him properly, it can be the only one you will ever see. 

Trust me, what you are seeing is the old conditions, not what you are doing.