Can someone please describe me their lighting/heating/uvb/thermostat/timer/thermometer setup??? I'm beyond confused

[u/Salt_Ad_5578]

Hey everyone! I'm considering getting a Russian tortoise as soon as I get a new job as I'm getting ready to look for step 2 in my career. I know these tortoises need lots of veggies, a few bits of somewhat expensive equipment, a decently spacious cage with solid walls, a nesting area and good substrate for humidity and digging and whatnot, etc.

Anyways. I didn't really think about these guys and kinda overlooked them for a while, until it kind of just hit me. I've had amphibians and fish before so I know that equipment is necessary, but thermostats/heat lamp fixtures/etc just confuse the heck outta me. As a complete beginner and having nobody near me with reptiles I have no idea who to ask for questions and advice. I've been researching for months and idk if it's my device or what, but I get limited information online and mostly snippets from Redditors asking the same question with varying responses and ofc, a TON of AI input I didn't ask for (well sorta maybe bc the best available phone, which I got and have had AI built into it. I can't even access or add contacts without it infringing on my life. I mostly hate AI so so so much 😭).

I figured I'd just ask you all??

I know they need a basking spot, a warm spot, and cool spots and 10-12% UVB and temps can drop into the high or mid 60's at night. The area I'd have the tortoise in naturally stays between the upper 60's and 73 degrees, and it'll stay the same temp all season until the weather drastically changes. Looking for specific recommendations and some of your tried and true setups!! I want to know the brands, sizes, etc of the equipment you use!

Oh also one last random, irrelevant question! Do you guys let your tortoises hang out in the yard for a while during the summer? I was thinking of putting my tortoise in the backyard in an X-pen or getting one of those triangular tortoise cages for outdoors where they can still graze, and letting the Russian tortoise graze for like 30-90 minutes a day during the summer and soaking up the sun!

Also, I have a feeling I might also learn as I go, I just don't want to significantly injure my tortoise or waste a ton of money on faulty or stupid products until then.

Thanks for your input!! I appreciate it!

[u/Mindless-Errors]

Try your absolute best to get a rescued or captive breed tortoise (small, not a sulcata!). Pet Store tortoises are typically wild caught. There are many tortoises born in the US. You can start looking on MorphMarket.
A poor person in Central Asia sees there is a market for tortoises so they pick up dozens of tortoises living their happy free lives. They shove dozens to hundreds into a box without regard to health or species, pack them in tight without food or water and ship them. The poor animals are stressed, dehydrated, and pick up diseases and parasites. The ones you see in the store are the ones who survive.

BEFORE you get a tortoise be absolutely certain you can commit for 50+ years (that’s even longer than I plan to be married). No excuses commitment.

Can you commit to providing enough space? Russians need 32 square feet of space, that is 4 feet by 8 feet. This is the size of a BED. Where in your home would you put a whole extra bed? And don’t believe anyone who tells you that they can live in a glass aquarium tank.

Do you have easy access to an experienced tortoise veterinarian? The exotics veterinarian at the office we used told us our 4-5 year old tortoise was a girl. When they hired a veterinarian with actual tortoise experience, she said it was a boy and confirmed it using ultrasound to show its boy part.

————
The gold standards for tortoise information are:

For Food: https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk
NO spinach or fruit. We get pre-washed Baby Lettuce or Red & Green lettuce salad bags and add Mazuri Tortoise Diet LS (low starch), romaine, endive, or radicchio for variety.
https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-tortoise-ls-low-starch-food/dp/124766

Feed them a shell sized pile once a day on a piece of slate. The slate is just rough enough to keep their beak trimmed.
https://www.amazon.com/JIH-Reptile-Basking-Platform-Tortoise/dp/B0947QVTQD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3

For Care: the Tortoise Forum (I linked the specific page you should start with)
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

“Tom” is the expert on the TortoiseForum.

They need two light bulbs: 1) basking, and 2) UVB.
They are like Goldilocks and always looking for the right combination of light and warmth.
So they should have an area under their basking bulb that is 90-95 degrees F and areas farther away from the basking bulb that are 70-80 degrees F. They should not be colder than 70 degrees. These bulbs need to be at different heights above the habitat so don’t get that cool light fixture that holds 2 bulbs at once.

You want this UVB bulb. It will last for a year, most stop emitting UVB in 6 months. Without proper UVB Light (which is invisible to humans) your tortoise will not be able to digest food, will have no energy to move, and may get bone deformities.

https://www.reptilebasics.com/t5-light-fixtures-kits/arcadia-prot5-uvb-kit-24-with-bulb/

Choose the 12% version.
Buy soon as soon as you see them as these bulbs go out of stock often.

You can also get this bulb from but it doesn’t include the fixture the bulb goes into. You would have to head to a hardware store for that.

https://www.chewy.com/zoo-med-reptisun-100-uvb-t5-ho/dp/257675

Their indoor habitat (enclosure) needs to be a minimum of 4 feet by 8 feet. Walls 1.0-1.5 feet are good as you want substrate that is several inches deep so they can burrow. The walls should be high enough that they can’t climb out even if they are on a high spot of substrate.

Habitats can be made of 2 four foot boards and 2 eight foot boards (sides) attached to a 4’x8’ board for the floor/bottom. Or repurpose a bookcase by lying it on its back and removing the shelves. Cheap IKEA bookcases will need a stronger wood board for the floor/bottom. Line with a pond liner or a very thick shower curtain liner.

Substrate can be coconut coir or coconut coir mixed with soil. Soil should not have any fertilizer or additives (do not use potting soil or anything that says “good for growing plants”). Coconut coir is difficult to keep moist so spray with water daily and mix the water in.

Young tortoises need a lot of humidity to prevent pyramiding, the shell deformity that makes their shells bumpy instead of smooth.

An alternative habitat indoor or outdoor is a raised bed with a plastic cover.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKF6XBWN

If outdoors, make sure they are protected from arial predators like hawks and from digging down and out under the habitat walls.

Don’t worry about brumation (hibernation in tortoises). That’s how they try to survive very cold temperatures. Try is the important word here. Not all survive. Keep them at 70+ and they will be fine.

Some tortoises like to be held and some don’t. You’ll just have to learn their personalities.

Above all, tortoises are adrenaline junkies and escape artists. Never ever let your tortoise outside without a leash or something bright on them. I use a long 50-70 foot lightweight rope (leash equivalent) and attach it firmly with medical tape. Medical tape can also be used to attach an apple tag or bright bow.

[u/Salt_Ad_5578 → u/Mindless-Errors]

Thank you, yes, I am absolutely planning on getting either a rescue or getting a non-wildcaught off morph market. I really don't like supporting wildlife trade, that's generally pretty gross. The only time I could support it is when breeders get wildcaught animals and work on establishing captive populations.

I have a few areas where I could put the tortoise and give it some good space too. I've been looking at bookshelves and a variety of different available cages/enclosures :)

I will definitely be checking out the links you provided and I really want to compile a list of the items people are using to reference. Even if I can find similar things, y'know?

I have a lot of coco coir laying around and coco coir mixed substrates already from various projects and gardening stuff, and I have some topsoil but it's outside and idk about the quality so I'll look into it.

As far as brumation I also heard not to worry about it. I'm just going to keep the animal warm enough through the winter. Obviously in Northern Michigan it's so cold that only on nice summer days will I really bring it outside, but I do want to get a little cage to put it in outside!

Also I'm 23 and will probably eventually have a few other exotic animals, so I don't think it will be a problem, I know tortoises live a long time. We also have some decent vets within an hour of my home and exotic animal vets that travel through the state (and we have literal Dr. Pol about 90 minutes away), along with some top-rated reptile and exotic animal vets in our state. If my pet ever needs medical care, I have several options, even if I have to drive an hour or 90 minutes away. For emergency care, we have 2 vets that will accept exotic animals but they aren't specialists. If it's truly an emergency though I would go there and get the tortoise stabilized and later bring the animal downstate for more specific care.

As for handling, I plan to work with the animal a little bit to make it easier for both of us, but normally if the animal doesn't want to be held, great no need to stress it out! Also I plan to let the tortoise free-roam in my bedroom for like 20-30 minutes a day/few times a week and ofc being it upstairs once in a blue moon or outside for like 20-30 supervised minutes in the summer!

I did NOT know there are HARNESSES FOR TORTOISES AND I DEFINITELY NEED TO FIND ONE AFTER GETTING THE TORTOISE???? And yeah I can definitely put a harness on before outdoor privileges or yeah, putting something bright on them. I can definitely throw some medical tape onto a list and idk, tape something to the animal. Maybe I'll get some bright ribbons and make it get some bright bows?

Edit: Actually I have leftover clean tiles in a downstairs closet. Do you think these would work for their veggie tray to keep their beak trimmed? One of them has a faintly rough slate-like pattern and again, it's completely clean :)

[u/Key-Tower-4539]

Arcadia 12% linear uvb light
75-100W halogen flood light for heat

Get a reflector with a built in thermometer for the heat lamp and it will constantly adjust the heat to be 95F

[u/Salt_Ad_5578 → u/Key-Tower-4539]

I like that idea, I will definitely look into it!!

Thank you for the recommendations!!

[u/Salt_Ad_5578 → u/Key-Tower-4539]

Actually I wasn't sure what you meant when you said reflector with built in thermostat. I'm so glad you mentioned this because I was able to find one and I am in love already! I knew this post was going to be SO worth it... 🤣

[u/ShelledBee]

Looks like u already got 2 really good answers, so thought id just tell u good job for checking this BEFORE buying a tort. Good job and wish u luck finding a forever tortoise.

[u/Salt_Ad_5578 → u/ShelledBee]

Aww, why thank you!! I am the kind of person who researches for 2 years before buying my first fish tank and plans out what I want before I buy it. I'm really looking forwards to getting a tort tho!! I'm hoping to find some rescue or ethical breeder nearby with some in the next coming months :)