Russian Tortoise - Waiting List

The male Russian has been adopted, but if you'd like to be put on a waiting list for the next one that needs a new home, please contact us to fill out an application in advance, then we'll contact you when one needs a home. We're asked to place a dozen or so Russian tortoises a year, more males than females.<br/><br/>We occasionally have adult Russian tortoises (4.5" - 7") in the Gaithersburg or Baltimore area area, with transport available to York and Harrisburg, PA, weekly, and to Reston, VA, monthly. <br/><br/>Male Russian tortoises stay relatively small, about 5-6" full grown, but they still need at least eight square feet of space (more if outside for temperature regulations). They are vegetarians eating cactus pads, grass, edible weeds and flowers, store-bought greens, and occasionally water-soaked Mazuri tortoise LS pellets. <br/><br/>Please note, the tortoises in the pictures are NOT the one currently for adoption, but they are representative of most male Russians.<br/><br/>MATTS gets about a dozen Russian tortoises a year for adoption, most of them male, but we do get an occasional female. Tortoises DO NOT need a "friend" to be happy. In fact, in most captive situations, males fight other males and harass lone females to the point of illness. The only time that Russians should be kept with others is if you have a LARGE outdoor enclosure with at least three Russians and several hide spots and visual barriers. Males still may not be able to be kept together due to their aggressive nature with other tortoises.<br/><br/>If you'd like to adopt a Russian, please contact matts_adoptons@hotmail.com and include your CITY and STATE in the email. Please remember that MATTS is in Maryland and we can't always ship, but shipping is possible to some areas.<br/><br/>Visit www.russiantortoise.net to learn more about keeping Russians and to see if one is for you. A good Facebook group for Russians is https://www.facebook.com/groups/russiantortoiseowners/?fref=nf<br/><br/>I am an adult male Russian tortoise for adoption in the Baltimore area. I was purchased from a chain pet store, but after a few years my family didn't have time for me any more. Russians do best with a backyard enclosure, screened-in to keep out raccoons and other predators. An indoor enclosure, a.k.a. "tortoise table", needs to be at least 8 square feet - Russians can make a lot of noise if we don't have room to roam and dig in mulch or a mixture of plain top soil and/or sphagnum peat moss and/or play sand. NEVER keep a tortoise on just sand. We can hibernate outdoors in PA & MD or be kept indoors in the winter. Russians only get about 6-10 inches long, but we need a larger enclosure than most people realize, and we love to dig. We are vegetarians, eating a wide varieties of edible weeds, grasses, cactus, greens, and other vegetables. Russian tortoises SHOULD NOT have fruit or animal protein.<br/>Request an adoption application from matts_adoptions@hotmail.com Please include your CITY AND STATE and in which animal your interested when sending an e-mail.<br/><br/>Adopters must explain how they will house and care for a Russian tortoise in an adoption application. There is a $35 adoption fee for Russian tortoises.<br/><br/>We do not have a shelter. All animals are in foster homes, so we meet adopters in central public areas such as Baltimore and Timonium, MD, and York, PA. PLEASE HELP OTHER Russian tortoises by spreading the word - most of us in pet stores (even the big pet stores) or for sale from "dealers" are wild-caught imports if our shell is 4" or larger.<br/><br/>Like turtles but can't have one? Want to help? <br/> <br/>1) You can share my profile on social media and share www.matts-turtles.org so people can take better care of their turtles and help wild turtles stay wild.<br/><br/>2) MATTS has educational fliers (photos) to share on social media if you email matts_adoptions@hotmail.com to request them or visit https://www.facebook.com/MATTSTurtles/ or https://www.instagram.com/mattsturtlesandtortoises/<br/><br/>3) Share our "Monster You Made" video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_935eZl84k on social media.<br/><br/>4) Donate to your local wildlife rehabilitators. They rely on donations only. They do NOT received any state or federal grants.<br/><br/>5) MATTS also accepts tax-deductible donations at MATTS, P.O. Box 341, Highland, MD 20777, or through PayPal at http://www.matts-turtles.org/support.html<br/>Our organization including the adoption program is funded by donations only, and we find homes for over 100 animals a year.<br/><br/>Thank you!

The male Russian has been adopted, but if you'd like to be put on a waiting list for the next one that needs a new home, please contact us to fill out an application in advance, then we'll contact you when one needs a home. We're asked to place a dozen or so Russian tortoises a year, more males than females.

We occasionally have adult Russian tortoises (4.5" - 7") in the Gaithersburg or Baltimore area area, with transport available to York and Harrisburg, PA, weekly, and to Reston, VA, monthly.

Male Russian tortoises stay relatively small, about 5-6" full grown, but they still need at least eight square feet of space (more if outside for temperature regulations). They are vegetarians eating cactus pads, grass, edible weeds and flowers, store-bought greens, and occasionally water-soaked Mazuri tortoise LS pellets.

Please note, the tortoises in the pictures are NOT the one currently for adoption, but they are representative of most male Russians.

MATTS gets about a dozen Russian tortois

The male Russian has been adopted, but if you'd like to be put on a waiting list for the next one that needs a new home, please contact us to fill out an application in advance, then we'll contact you when one needs a home. We're asked to place a dozen or so Russian tortoises a year, more males than females.

We occasionally have adult Russian tortoises (4.5" - 7") in the Gaithersburg or Baltimore area area, with transport available to York and Harrisburg, PA, weekly, and to Reston, VA, monthly.

Male Russian tortoises stay relatively small, about 5-6" full grown, but they still need at least eight square feet of space (more if outside for temperature regulations). They are vegetarians eating cactus pads, grass, edible weeds and flowers, store-bought greens, and occasionally water-soaked Mazuri tortoise LS pellets.

Please note, the tortoises in the pictures are NOT the one currently for adoption, but they are representative of most male Russians.

MATTS gets about a dozen Russian tortoises a year for adoption, most of them male, but we do get an occasional female. Tortoises DO NOT need a "friend" to be happy. In fact, in most captive situations, males fight other males and harass lone females to the point of illness. The only time that Russians should be kept with others is if you have a LARGE outdoor enclosure with at least three Russians and several hide spots and visual barri