Talk:Russian tortoise

Afghanistan
just wondering how is this related to Afghanistan? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.49.92.81 (talk) 04:13, 12 September 2009 (UTC)
 * It's not, other than the species can be found there. Replaced. oknazevad (talk) 22:35, 25 February 2010 (UTC)

Article Needs Major Revisions
Good Afternoon Wikipedia - I am not a regular editor nor am I a tortoise expert, so I don't really have the know-how to fix this article myself. I will say, as a amateur herpetologist and professional science writer, I have serious concerns with the quality of this article. This page reads like a how-to guide to caring for a pet tortoise. It has no information about the natural history of this animal. It also claims that pet tortoises learn to recognize their owners and "enjoy" their company. That assertion sounds ridiculous to me. The citation is a blogspot article.

Wikipedia pages about animal species do not exist to be a care guide for exotic pets, nor are they intended to personify reptiles while citing non-reputable sources. To be of a quality consistent with other wiki pages for well known species, this article needs to contain natural history information including habitat, range, diet, and reproductive information. Captive care information should be seriously toned down and perhaps outright removed.

I am not sure if there are specific standards for what is acceptable for use as a source, but the gold standard are peer reviewed articles and maybe textbooks or reviews if you're in a bind. I personally don't like seeing blogspot cited in the bibliography. Anyone can write a blogspot. I could go write a blogspot now where I make claims contradicting this article, and then cite that blogspot. If there are reputable sources within the blogspot article, fine, but then cite those sources instead.

This needs to be re-written. Failing a substantial re-write it should be largely deleted. A lack information should be preferable to ample factually incorrect information. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 152.79.15.20 (talk) 22:33, 23 March 2015 (UTC)

mustard greens, turnip greens, collards, and kale
I sincerely hope no-one is using the above as a basis for a diet for their tortoise, as such a thing would surely go down as willing animal cruelty. All of the above should be fed in small amounts only and should not make up a large portion of their diet, as they contain a high amount of glucosinolates and goitrogens, which give them long-term thyroid issues. Wikipedia is, by hosting such information, condoning the feeding of a poor and potentially dangerous diet to a captive animal, which is disgusting. I would wait for someone to change the article but someone could easily come by the article and use this potentially dangerous diet for their tortoise and that is unacceptable. I have removed the mentions to the offending food items. Before re-instating, consider the effects of the dietary information you are putting up, and the unnecessary risk you are putting captive tortoises at.

2A02:C7D:C214:1900:CDB4:42:3FEA:174 (talk) 10:45, 1 May 2017 (UTC)
 * Sincere thanks for your desire to improve the article with a large, and watchful eye for the health and welfare of Russian tortoises. Now we need to replace the current source given, which says mustard-vegetables are fine for tortoise diet, with an updated source which gives a more thorough examination of their diet guidelines.--Mr Fink (talk) 14:40, 1 May 2017 (UTC)