Proper Russian Tortoise Housing

Question
I have been trying to research a proper way to set up indoor housing for my Russian Tortoise for abut 2 months now, and simply can't get a straight answer. Right now he is in a 50 gal tank with a low water dish and coconut bark substrate. He eats a varied diet as suggested by many websites. I would like to go to a more natural bedding for him. When I come home from my tour in Iraq, I will be creating an outdoor habitat for him. Until then, I would like the best possible indoor habitat. His shell is about 5 inches (head to tail). Money is no object, and pictures and a list of products would help. Anything will help at this point... thank you so much for your time.

Answer
Sorry for the delay. A 50 gallon is ok for now, but they obviously do better in an outdoor habitat. Products for indoor habitats are wide ranging and some vary by preference. Coconut bark is good. I like reptibark myself, but there's nothing wrong with coconut bark except that it tends to get in the eyes, like other small particle substrates. Their advantages are that they pose a smaller impaction hazard. There are some things you are going to need, like UVB lighting and basking heat, and others you may or may not need, such as undertank heating. Then there are things of personal preference, such as decor, dishes, bowls, cave hides, and substrates.

In order to not make this answer unnecessarily long, as if it were a shopping list or complete magazine article on the subject, it would probably be better if you told me more about what you are using now, and what exactly you are feeding as "varied diet". Then I can comment from there.

http://russiantortoise.org
http://anapsid.org/mainchelonians.html