Great lakes zoological society
World of discovery
Approved Care Sheet
Russian Tortoise
(Testudo horsfieldii)
Russian tortoise Background
Russian tortoises are an inquisitive, small, hardy tortoise from Russia southward through eastern Iran,
northwest Pakistan and Afghanistan. They occur naturally in steppes and dry scrubland. They burrow to help
regulate their temperature and humidity. Russian tortoises in the wild will brumate during the winter, and
aestivate during the summer to conserve energy and tolerate temperature extremes.
They belong to a group of tortoises called the Mediterranean tortoises, because of their species similarities
and range throughout the region along with the Hermann’s, Greek, marginated and Egyptian tortoise. They
have a few unique features, including being the only Mediterranean tortoise with 4 toes, earning them one of
their names, the four-toed tortoise.
Russian tortoise Size
The size of an adult Russian tortoise is 6-10" for females and 4-8" for Males.
Russian tortoise Life Span
Russian tortoises live a very long time. They can live over 50 years, and may outlive their owners, so
arrangements may need to be made for ownership later in life. Consider adopting an adult tortoise.
Russian tortoise Enclosure
Your Russian tortoise will require an enclosure with a minimum footprint of six square feet (18” X 48” 70-90
gal) and preferable of eight square feet (24” X 48” 100-120 gal). Be cautious of an “off the shelf – reptile Kit.”
Many manufacturers may be behind on modern research and are selling equipment that may not be suitable
for your pet. Many Russian tortoise individuals can be quite active and giving them a lot of space is important
for a good quality of life. Your pet will need substrate, a basking spot, a light cycle, heat sources, UVB, water,
a food bowl, and multiple hides. Figure 1 illustrates how to set up your Russian tortoise’s enclosure.
Some Russian tortoise keepers use uncovered 50 gallon rubbermade bins or a livestock water trough, set up
Great Lakes Zoological Society
World of Discovery
Approved Care Sheet
the same way an aquarium would. Advantages to this include opaque siding, ease of cleaning and cost.
Disadvantages include retaining heat and ambient humidity, and not being able to easily view your tortoise,
and the look of the enclosure.
Your Russian tortoise will require a basking spot in its enclosure that provides UVB and heat. The surface
temperature under the basking spot should be between 90-100⁰F. You can generally provide a nice basking
spot by putting a flat rock or slate under the UVB basking spotlight. Because your reptile can heat up fast but
dissipate heat slowly, it will need a temperature gradient in its enclosure. Therefore, the cool end of the
enclosure should have an ambient temperature about 75-80⁰F. Night time temps may drop a few degrees.
If not allowed to hide, many reptiles will get stressed, and this may lead to a compromised immune system. It
is important to provide your reptile with multiple hides. At least one on the cool end and one on the warm
end of the enclosure.
Figure 1. A potential Russian tortoise enclosure set-up
List of Supplies
When buying or adopting a Russian tortoise you will need to purchase an enclosure, enclosure furniture,
substrate, lighting, heating, diet supplements, food, and other items for your pet. Here is a list of items you
will need to purchase for your pet adult Russian tortoise:
Enclosure:
 At minimum an 18”D X 48”W X 18-24”H (70-90 gal) reptile terrarium, aquarium or bin.
 Preferably a 24”D X 48”W (100-120 gal) reptile terrarium, aquarium or bin.
 Alternatively, a 4’D X 6’W homemade enclosure would be ideal.
Enclosure materials and equipment:
 One 160w mercury vapor light bulb
 One 10-12” light hood rated for proper wattage
 One or two additional 60w-100w ceramic heat emitters or heat lights and two 8” light hoods rated for
proper wattage
 One CFL/ fluorescent light bulb (not a UVB bulb) plus fixture
 Two large reptile hides…commercial or homemade (large enough for your tortoise to fit into)
 One water bowl
 One salad bowl
6885 Jackson Road . Ann Arbor, MI 48103 . Ph: 734-332-1628 . Fax: 734-433-9671 . www.glzszoo.org
Great Lakes Zoological Society
World of Discovery
Approved Care Sheet
 Appropriate Substrate
Supplements:
 Multivitamin: Zoo Med’s ReptiviteTM or other brand of complete reptile multivitamin.
 Calcium with Phosphorous (2:1): The GLZS uses Fluker’s Calcium/Phosphorus (2:1)
Diet:

Salad of the following items:
o A staple of these greens:
 Dandelion greens
 Collard greens
 Turnip greens
 Endive
o Other greens added in when available:
 Carrot tops
 Beet tops
o Yellow squash
o Zucchini squash
o Beets
o Sweet potato
Russian tortoise Lighting, Temperature, and Humidity
Your Russian tortoise will need a spot light for a 90-100⁰F basking spot and essential UVB. Generally, placing a
160W mercury vapor bulb in a ceramic based hood approximately 16-20 inches above a flat basking stone or
the warm hide will provide a nice basking spot for your Russian tortoise. Adjust the height to keep the basking
site in the correct heat range.
UVB is absolutely imperative to produce vitamin D3 in the body. Vitamin D3 allows the body to metabolize
calcium, which is imperative for proper bone growth and to minimize metabolic bone disease. Since the
Mercury vapor light may not be satisfactory to supply enough daylight, you may wish to supplement with a
non-UV fluorescent light fixture as shown in figure 1. The daylight and UVB basking lights should be plugged
into a timer and the timer should be set to be on for 13-14 hours during the eight or nine summer months and
for 10-12 hours during the three or four winter months.
You will need additional heat in the form of ceramic heat emitters or heat lights to keep the ambient
temperature in the cool end of the enclosure at 75-80⁰F. These should be plugged into a thermostat set at 7580⁰F so that the enclosure does not overheat. Night time temps can drop a few degrees.
Humidity in the tortoise’s enclosure should be between 50-70%. This is best achieved by using a substrate that
can be kept moist with a drier surface. The tortoise will burrow to reach higher levels of humidity, often up to
80%, but the surface will allow them to dry out while they bask and help prevent infections from constant
moist contact.
6885 Jackson Road . Ann Arbor, MI 48103 . Ph: 734-332-1628 . Fax: 734-433-9671 . www.glzszoo.org
Great Lakes Zoological Society
World of Discovery
Approved Care Sheet
Russian tortoise Substrate
There are many substrates available, and there is no one best choice. You want your substrate to allow for the
tortoise to dig, and be able to hold moisture, but not get too compacted or wet. We use a deep layer of dirt
with a layer of dry mulch over top. Avoid anything that is too dusty, or would mold when wet.
Possible substrates: Large woodchips/mulch over dirt, eco-substrate, dirt or coir - sand mixture.
Substrates to avoid: Easily ingested small particles, crushed walnut shell, small woodchips, carefresh bedding,
shredded paper, wood shavings, ground corn cob, gravel, pine/cedar products, paper towels, pellet bedding.
Russian tortoise Food & Supplements
Russian tortoises are herbivores, and should be provided with a fresh salad daily, and may be given edible
flowers as treats. We supply our adult Russian tortoises with a mixed salad daily. The salad is finely chopped
or food processed does not pick out its favorite items leaving out key nutritional items. When processing
salad, be sure not to make soup… it will spoil quickly. Our salad consists of at least three types of nutritional
greens…collard greens, dandelion greens, and turnip greens or endive; yellow squash; zucchini squash; sweet
potato; and beet. Sometimes other greens like beet greens and mustard greens are added or substituted.
You may sprinkle dry Russian tortoise pellets on the salad as a supplement. We never feed commercial diets
as a staple, but only use them as a supplement.
We recommend that your tortoises salad be dusted lightly with calcium/phosphorous (2:1 three times a week
and dusted with a multivitamin once a week. Calcium is imperative for proper bone growth and to minimize
metabolic bone disease.
Russian tortoise Water
Always have fresh, clean water available for your Russian tortoise. If your pet soils the water, replace it
immediately. A bowl that is large enough for the tortoise to soak in and allows the tortoise to easily climb out
and in is best. Special ramp-sided bowls or shallow water dishes are commercially available.
Russian tortoise Handling and Temperament
Many reptiles prefer not to be handled, and some only tolerate being handled. Russian tortoises tend to
tolerate handling fairly well. If you feel you have to handle your reptile, then a Russian tortoise is a good
choice of reptile pet. Some Russian tortoises will remain calm when handled, while others will flail their legs
attempting to flee and may scratch you. Russian tortoises can have very sharp claws. To minimize flailing and
stress on your pet, be sure to support your whole body and legs while being prepared for it to flee.
Enclosure Cleaning
It is important to clean your Russian tortoise’s enclosure on a daily basis. Remove any fecal matter, any
urates, and any uneaten salad. If the animal has soiled any furniture items in the enclosure remove, wash,
disinfect, and replace them.
Other Factors to Consider
6885 Jackson Road . Ann Arbor, MI 48103 . Ph: 734-332-1628 . Fax: 734-433-9671 . www.glzszoo.org
Great Lakes Zoological Society
World of Discovery
Approved Care Sheet
1. A Russian tortoise is not an “easy” pet to care for…it requires daily care and daily attention to its
enclosure and equipment.
2. A Russian tortoise can live 50 years. Before buying or adopting one, be sure you are willing to make
the commitment, and have a plan for later if you become unable to care for it.
3. Keeping multiple tortoises: It is best to keep multiple animals in separate enclosures. Never keep
reptiles of different species together in the same enclosure, because both species will likely become
stressed.
4. Although you may think it would be cool to breed your Russian tortoise, there are more than rescues
can keep up with.
5. Consider adopting a reptile. There are many healthy and friendly Russian tortoise’s looking for homes.
References
1
Joe Heinen, DC. “The Russian Tortoise Care Sheet” http://russiantortoise.net/
2
Long Island Turtle Rescue. “Russian Tortoise Basic Care and some insight” http://www.turtlerescues.com
3
Drs Foster and Smith. “Russian Tortoise Habitats, How to Create” http://www.drsfostersmith.com/
6885 Jackson Road . Ann Arbor, MI 48103 . Ph: 734-332-1628 . Fax: 734-433-9671 . www.glzszoo.org