Meet My Russian Tortoise! | KristenLeannimal

A huge thanks to Repti Chip for providing me some of the best substrate out there!
❤︎ DID WE JUST BECOME BEST FRIENDS?
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* I am not a vet, nor certified in anything to do with animals. I'm just a human who loves animals more than other humans who does the absolute best she can researching, setting up enclosures etc. I am human, therefore I do make mistakes. Have a suggestion? Let me know! All I ask is that you give that suggestion as kindly as you'd want to receive one. Always do your OWN research and make up your own mind. When it comes to caring for animals, there are many ways to do things and not everyone agrees on it. Let's give our animals the absolute best life we can. Please contact your VET if your animal is sick, or surrender the animal to someone who can. I cannot cure, diagnose or help your animal.
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#kristenleanne #tortoise #russiantortoise #tortoisecare

[@KristenLeanneVlog]

Happy Sunday!! I've also got some news coming on my other IG/Channel tomorrow, turn on notifications! @kristenxleanne kzbin.info!

[@mrsb1212]

Fun fact, the name “Russian tortoise” is actually more of a nickname, they were most commonly known as the Horsefield tortoise. They got the nickname Russian tortoise during the Desert Wars. Soldiers from Russia would take tortoises they had caught during battle back home for their kids because they thought they were cute and they were also easy to transport due to their small size. And due to the sheer amount of soldiers who took them home, people just started referring to them as Russian tortoises rather than Horsefield tortoises, which is what the world called them previous to the wars. 😊 Don’t worry too much about Timothy not coming out very much. I have a little guy, he’s just under three years old now and I rarely saw him for the first two years. Like you said in the video, they are a burrowing species and spend most of their day hidden away. Especially the younger ones. They are heavily predated on in the wild because they are so teensy tiny, so they can be quite shy. But they do eventually come out of their shells. Excuse the pun 😂 I would also say they lean more to being crepuscular than truly diurnal. They tend to be out very early in the morning and early evening, preferring to hide away during the hottest time of the day. But that’s just my observation. Also they love to climb! 😂 just bare that in mind if you are housing him outside, they are great little escape artists. So a solid base is also a must or Timothy will be digging his way to Australia before you know it 😂 And did I mention how huuuuuge their poops can be 😳 huuuge I say 😂 somebody else mentioned they give their tortoise lots of baths, I do too. Humidity is especially important when these guys are still young. The older they get, the less humidity they need. Plus they do seem to enjoy baths or showers and it makes them poop. Did I mention their poop is huuuuuge??? 😂 and they love back scratches, if I scratch my little guy in just the right spot, he literally jumps forward 😂 it must tickle 😂 anyhoo, I’ve gone on enough😊 congrats on your little guy, he’s a great new edition to the family❤😊

[@mrsb1212]

Ooooo….. Kamp Kenan just posted a video today about building an outdoor baby tortoise enclosure. He utilised two old iguana enclosures. Might be worth taking a look 👀 😊

[@inevitablekaitastrophe]

Great information 😍

[@mrsb1212]

@@inevitablekaitastrophe Thank you 🤗

[@SquirrelyPop19]

I rescued a boy & a girl (from 2 different owners) , They’re so awesome & such easy pets to take care of!

[@2trickyvicky]

I have a Russian tort and he's 8 years old had him since a baby. I recommend the Tortoise Table app for what veg/salad they can eat. Also they do better in tortoise tables and require regulars soaks 😊❤

[@ericgonzalez3927]

Oh and I hear if you're worried about his beak getting too long cuttle bone is a cheap way of tricking him into filing it himself if you don't wanna have it done by a person. Also, stone slabs in the enclosure can help keep claws at a good size

[@Frenchylikeshikes]

I'm not sure waking up a hibernating tortoise is the best idea, if indeed he was hibernating. I adopted a Russian tortoise a year and a half ago, and they're actually fun to own.

[@Frostythesnowman0505]

I currently have 7 tortoises of various species and I had problems with the water dish type shown in the tank of this video. My Hermann tortoise kept entering it from the side and managed to flip upside down in the water several times. She would have drowned had we not noticed in time. I replaced the water dish with one that had lower sides.

[@fergusaur_7306]

Some staple veggies for his diet u should include are endive, radicchio, escarole, and dandelion greens. Feed a lot of dark leafy greens like collards, kale, and turnip greens, but u should always put calcium on dark leafy greens when feeding as they have some calcium binding properties in large quantities

[@kelleyrancher]

Most tortoises need to hide box you can just cut up a tissue box or some kind of little cardboard box or you can use a flower pot all mine have hide boxes even my big sulcata

[@reptiliandude5779]

I am a horsefield tortoise breeder, the reason he/she won't come out is because he/she doesn't feel safe, I would suggest and feeding your tortoise a few times a week, the pyramiting is caused by a lack of calcium and d3 supplements. Your tortoise doesn't even try to hibernate until it gets to around 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit.

[@reptiliandude5779]

You hand feed*

[@reptiliandude5779]

And make the main source of food green vegetables such as romaine lettuce or kale

[@treystewart544]

I love you Kristen 💞💞💞💞🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

[@bethanyallbee9454]

Ahhh! I’m so jealous 😂 I’ve wanted a turtle my whole life. I can’t wait to see more videos of Timothy ❤

[@anneb.tehpotato3137]

OMG I’m in love with Timothy ❤ so cute

[@michaelvacura4105]

ThankYou for sharing your Tortoise. They are "Horsefield Tortoise" and their homeland is actually Afghanistan. Russian soldiers brought so many back to Russia during their war with Afghanistan in the 70s & 80s everyone just started calling them a Russian Tortoise. Experts recommend against glass or any see through barriers for Russian Tortoise cages as they do not understand that they cannot go through the barrier but will attempt to over and over and over.

[@amandadeprey4250]

My Russian tort does the same thing and digs herself in deep and goes off food randomly (but often in the winter months or in times of stress for example each time we have moved house) and she does this despite proper heat/lighting. We got her around 6 years ago as a rescue/ rehoming. She literally came in a 30gal aquarium without substrate because we were told she was “free roamed” when she started out growing the set up they had. I am so happy we decided to save her because she really is a character! They make great pets!!! Timothy will be out and about and thriving before you know it!!!! Best of luck and congrats on the new addition!!

[@johnnypollack3243]

Love the video and keep up the great work Kristen

[@ewexotics4468]

He’s absolutely adorable 🥰 missed your videos so much! Love seeing the animals :)

[@kimberleypowell7905]

Timothy is so cute! I would love to see more of him! 😍

[@calliew311]

And YES! I DEFINITELY want more Timothy on the channel. He's absolutely adorable! Btw, I wish you would get a tarantula! I love mine and think you'd love one too.

[@mirandamurphy5576]

😍 I need all the videos on Timothy. I’ve been wanting one for a while now but I wanted to do proper research to give it the very best life possible.

[@saralou123]

Timothy is sooo cute! ❤

[@Itslunaaa332]

Omg I love tortoises! He is so precious my heart 🥹🥺 ❤ Thank you for sharing your babies with us, what joy they bring. Sadly I don’t have the space for a lot of these amazing animals but thanks to you I don’t have to miss out ❤️

[@KristenLeanneVlog]

Awe aren’t they cool?? ❤❤❤ glad you can see him on my channel and social now! He’s adorable

[@LozzaMonTozza]

If you go bigger with his enclosure it would be good to have various rock inclines because as well as burrowers they are also great climbers. If you need to wake him you could try bathing him in diluted carrot soup/baby food because they absorb nutrients through their cloacas as well as their mouths.

[@calliew311]

Wow! That's so interesting! I didn't know that, but then again, I don't have a tortoise.

[@thelittlethingsinlife239]

I own 4 species of tortoise, and Horsfields/Russians are my favourites 😊

[@fergusaur_7306]

It takes some time for a tortoise to adjust to their new home when u first get them, this especially applies for adult tortoises like the one u have. Just give him a couple weeks to get use to his new home

[@Creatureexotics]

Hi Kristen! So exciting you have a Horsefield’s tort! Just to mention if you’re open to some tips: The best bedding is pesticide-free topsoil for their burrowing, the best diet for them is a mixture of weeds and flowers (you can find safe lists online) here in the UK the minimum recommended sized enclosure is 6 foot by 3 foot indoors but bigger is better and as you say, outside is best though in the UK a lot of us bring them indoors for winter. Indoors it’s good to use a T5 UVB bulb (the strip long bulbs not the spiral bulbs or the mercury vapour bulbs) and a heat lamp (not a red one) 😊 I really recommend Arcadia bulbs if you have them where you are. I hope you have many happy years with your tort!

[@KristenLeanneVlog]

Thank you for the tips and info!!

[@markmakowski8604]

I soak my sulcata once a week in warm water to help him pass waste and clean him up ,have him on a sand soil mix

[@calliew311]

I read that in another comment too. Do they HAVE to have a bath to go potty and poop?

[@HelpMyRoommateIsAHuman]

Adorable little guy you have. Maybe I should get a turtle to keep my company.

[@ericgonzalez3927]

I got a female Russian! Also from a friend who's SON wasn't showing much interest so, she is now housed by me. She's about 5/6yrs old and her name is Lady Tinkershell-Trixie Shellby-Mishell-Tortiana i a.k.a La Torta / Trix 🐢🐢

[@Goldiehorselover]

So cute

[@calliew311]

I know this is the animal channel, but I'm in love with your eyeshadow look. It's light, but kinda smokey, and the little amount of glitter, is perfection, for me anyway. What are you wearing?!

[@dakfarm1875]

Where are you buy it ? I want to keep them too

[@alyssameyer7261]

I didn’t know they do better outside? Is it safe for them? Like bird and wildlife wise lol. I don’t have one but they’re so interesting and cute!

[@ethannewcombe7004]

If there huge species of tortoises outside they won't get preyed on also it depends on the tortoise species and where you live weather wise but it's best to provide somewhere for them to sleep in at night with a heat spot as temps drop naturally at night, also if it's really warm weather and bright sun most torts would benefit from it a lot as sun is the best uv light :) but like I said depends on what species you have... But you can also build outside enclosures what are sealed in still if that makes sense like wiring or netting for the roofs so no predators can get into them oh and if you do keep torts outside it's best to also provide cover for them still inside the outside enclosure so if they want to cool there self's of or get away from the sun they can do at anytime

[@alanastanley8501]

Ahhh so jealous I am dying for a Russian tortoise also husband is Russian so it makes sense😜 I think we know someone who needs to rehome there’s so patiently waiting but I can’t wait to have one

[@allyseshubert9740]

Ive wanted another Russian tortoise FOREVER now but I want to rescue one. Does anyone have any idea where you can rescue one in the midwest??

[@anyd4012]

I was wondering, i saw you cage switch from last week and only saw reptiles/snakes/frogs but not any furry animals. Do you still have ferrets/bunnies/sugar gliders? I would love to meet the new cats also!! And know their stories 🤍

[@KristenLeanneVlog]

I don't actually. I have no furry animals right now besides my cats and dog! I did rehome the sugar gliders and ferrets when I moved back to CA as they are illegal here and honestly I probably would have kept them completely hidden here, BUT I didn't have the space. And i finally was able to find the rabbits a wonderful home!! After ike three or four years of slowly looking! I do need to film a new meet all my animals video and introduce the kittens!

[@ericgonzalez3927]

Just realized this video is 9 months old... Lol oh well, if you didn't know, now ya do!

[@KarimaInWonderland]

I had one when I was young, a female called Tina, loved her but had to find her a new home because we had to move and there was no room for her enclosure in the new place. I was devastated 😢

[@johnamorris7379]

I have a Russian tort and it’s still a baby..not sure of the sex yet but I call him it Itsy cuz I’m not sure of sex, lol..I give I’m a bath almost everyday so he can poo and pee..I’m be glad to give you any information you need…I love 🐢! I have 4 😂

[@KristenLeanneVlog]

Oh my gosh four?! That’s so rad haha how do you have the space? How often do you soak them?? I love the name itsy!! That’s adorable

[@calliew311]

They need a bath to urinate and defecate? Wow!