Introducing Marvin and Matilda!

Today's post brings a very important introduction to our gorgeous new editions to the family, Marvin and Matilda, our baby Russian tortoises! For years, Matthew and I have loved tortoises (and turtles) ... I just find them to be the coolest, cutest, most amazing little (or for some, not-so-little) creatures! So, after years of thinking of owning our own, Matthew decided to set about the project of creating the perfect home for them! We spent a few weeks researching and collecting all the things we'd need to give them a happy, healthy home and then a few days ago, Matthew gave me the most perfect birthday present... Marvin and Matilda! I still can't quite believe they're finally here, but they're just so special to us already, so I thought I'd introduce them to you here with a few details and photographs :)

So here are our buddies! Marvin is on the left, Matilda is on the right :) They are both Russian horsefield tortoises- and we chose this breed as they are relatively small, growing up to between 6 and 10 inches. To tell them apart, Matilda is slightly bigger than Marvin and her shell is much more bumpy... they also have pretty different personalities too! They're both just perfect though, and they seem to be settling in really well. 

PRETTY LITTLE TILDY!

Matilda is the more outgoing of the two, she will often climb onto my hand when I put it near her and she eats... ALOT! 

AWW, LITTLE MARVIN!

Marvin is a little quieter than Matilda, possibly because he's a little smaller... but he's so lovely!

This is their home! We were going to opt for a tortoise table but we figured, seeing as we were going to keep them in a bedroom it might not be the best option incase they didn't smell too nice... so we went for a 4ft vivarium. We also plan to keep them outdoors during the summer days but for now, this is where they live :) It's really spacious for them and they have been pretty active, exploring, digging and climbing on whatever they can haha. We have a UVA and a UVB bulb in there, making sure that we placed the heat bulb at one end of the viv to create a nice hot/cold side. We've been keeping the temperature between 25 and 32 degrees during the day time by using our thermostat and two thermometers. At night, it's always been above 19 degrees but during the winter, we plan to put in a concrete slab underneath the aspen bedding to make sure they stay warm and this will also help to trim their nails and beaks! As far as the decoration goes, we have a little house for them to hide in which we built a lolly-pop fence around for when we eventually have a little wooden ramp there for them to climb up onto the house as they are avid climbers/diggers! They seem to enjoy climbing over their little wooden log bridge and crawling underneath it, but for the most part they seem to be staying near the hot side, using the plant for shade when they need it :) We change their water everyday, but have decided we would like to get a bigger water bowl as they have been enjoying bathing in it as they drink. Another thing we intend to add, are some little pebbles for them to rest their heads on at night as they have been using the plant as a pillow haha. The most recent edition to their enclosure has been this little wooden tee-pee tent which they look ridiculously cute in when they sleep there! They seem really happy and have been doing really well here, but this is our first time keeping tortoises so, we're still learning and will continue to add things that they might need :)

They are little hungry munchkins haha... so we try to feed them separately just so that we can monitor that they are both eating enough. We have been feeding them on lettuce (not iceberg), watercress, red cabbage (Matilda seems to love this) and mint leaves so far, but we have a list of things they can eat so we will introduce a few other things as and when. I love to see them eating because they are pretty smart about it... holding the leaves with their feet to help them bite it properly... and you get to see their little tongue- Marvin sometimes does a little "licking his lips" motion haha :) Also, 4 times a week, we sprinkle calcium dust onto their food to ensure they are maintaining sufficient levels of calcium.

They love to be around one another and we have seen them sleep next to one another (or indeed like this haha) a few times :)

At night, they like to burrow under the aspen and sleep under it... spot the buddies? haha!

Marvin sometimes had a snooze in the bath haha

Matilda does the sweetest thing, when she eats or gets comfy she just splats here little legs out and lays there like a starfish haha!

LAPTOP TIME WITH MY LITTLE LADY

They've been so friendly, and seem to enjoy cuddling up on my tummy whilst I write blog posts! It must be my body heat that settles them because they sit really calmly there :)

BUDDIES WATCHING FRIENDS HAHA

HAVING A SNOOZE... IN MY ARMPIT HAHA

ENJOYING SOME TIME WITH THEM :)

They both seem to have settled into their new home really well, and we've loved having them! Such beautiful pets to have, and we almost feel like parents when we find ourselves thinking about them when we're out for the day haha. I've loved getting to know them both and I'm looking forward to all our adventures with them to come! :)