Get to Know the Russian Tortoise

The Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) is a small, tough tortoise from the dry grasslands and deserts of Central Asia. It is one of the most popular pet tortoises because it stays fairly small, is full of personality, and can live for decades with good care.

Russian tortoise Quick Facts

Common name	Russian tortoise
Scientific name	Testudo horsfieldii
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Testudines
Family	Testudinidae
Genus	Testudo
Conservation status	Vulnerable
Type	Reptile (small tortoise)
Diet	Clover, grasses and plants high in calcium and fibre
Habitat	Dry habitats; likes to burrow
Size	Females 8–10 in; males 6–8 in
Colours	Tan, olive and yellow-green shell
Special feature	Sleeps through the winter in dormancy

What Does a Russian Tortoise Look Like?

Russian tortoises are compact and round. Adults usually measure about 5 to 8 inches (13 to 20 cm) long, and females grow a little bigger than males, sometimes reaching around 9 or 10 inches. Their shells are a mix of tan, olive, brown and yellowish green, often with darker markings on each scute.

The underside of the shell, called the plastron, is usually dark brown or black with lighter edges. They have strong, flattened front legs with four claws on each foot, perfect for digging. That four-toed foot gives them another name: the four-toed tortoise.

Where They Live in the Wild

Wild Russian tortoises live in countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Summers there are hot and dry, and winters can be freezing. To survive, these tortoises dig burrows several feet long and spend much of the year underground, resting through the hottest and coldest months.

Russian Tortoise Lifespan

With proper care, a Russian tortoise can live 40 years or more, and some may reach 50 or beyond. That is a big commitment, so a pet tortoise may stay with a family for most of a child’s life.

Many Russian tortoises sold in pet stores were caught in the wild. Whenever possible, choose a captive-bred tortoise. Either way, take your new pet to a reptile vet soon after you bring it home to check for parasites and other hidden health problems.

Russian Tortoise Habitat and Housing

The Russian tortoise does best in a habitat that copies its dry, grassy home. In warm, dry climates, a secure outdoor pen is ideal for much of the year. The walls should be at least a foot high and buried below the ground, because these tortoises are expert diggers and escape artists. Provide shade, a shelter, and protection from predators like raccoons and dogs.

Indoors, a large open-topped “tortoise table” works better than a small glass tank, because it allows better airflow and more room to walk. A single adult needs a space of at least about 2 by 4 feet, and bigger is better.

Give your tortoise a deep layer of substrate, such as a mix of plain topsoil and coconut coir, so it can dig and burrow. Add hiding spots, a few rocks and some hay or dry grass.

A shallow, sturdy water dish is important for drinking and soaking. Keep it shallow enough that the tortoise can easily climb in and out. Tortoises are not good swimmers and can drown in deep water. Many keepers also give their tortoise a warm, shallow soak once or twice a week.

Russian Tortoise Temperature and Lighting

Indoor tortoises need a basking spot of about 90 to 95 degrees F (32 to 35 C) under a heat lamp, with the rest of the enclosure in the 70s F (21 to 26 C). They also need a UVB light for 12 hours or so each day, which helps their bodies use calcium to build strong shells and bones.

Russian Tortoise Diet

Russian tortoises are herbivores, which means they eat plants. In the wild, they graze on tough, leafy plants. At home, offer a varied diet that is high in fiber and calcium and low in protein:

• Weeds such as dandelion, clover, plantain and mallow
• Leafy greens such as romaine, endive, escarole and spring mix
• Grasses and hay
• A calcium supplement sprinkled on food a few times a week

Fruit is high in sugar and can upset a tortoise’s stomach, so it should be a rare treat or left out completely. Never feed meat, dog food or bread.

Winter Rest

In the wild, Russian tortoises brumate, which is a reptile version of hibernation. Some keepers let healthy adult tortoises brumate at home, but it must be done carefully, at the right temperatures, and only with a tortoise that is healthy and well fed. Talk to a reptile vet first.

Russian Tortoises and Salmonella

Tortoises and turtles often carry Salmonella bacteria, even when they look perfectly healthy. Always wash your hands with soap and water after touching your tortoise, its food or anything in its enclosure.

Health experts advise that children under 5 should not handle reptiles. Older kids can help care for a tortoise, as long as an adult supervises and everyone washes their hands afterward. Don’t kiss your tortoise, and keep it out of kitchens and away from food. With good habits like these, a Russian tortoise can be a safe and charming pet for many years.

Russian tortoise FAQs