Testudo horsfieldii
Russian Tortoise
Russian tortoises are hardy, personable and inexpensive to feed, but they need far more floor space and a much longer commitment than most buyers expect.
TestudinidaeLifespan 40–75 yearsCare complexity 4/5Not a beginner animal
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Testudo horsfieldii
- Family
- Testudinidae
- Origin
- Central Asian steppe
- Lifespan
- 40–75 years
- Adult size
- 15–25 cm
- Weight
- 1–2 kg
- Temperament
- Bold, active and food-focused
- Activity level
- Diurnal and surprisingly determined diggers
- Social needs
- Solitary; males fight and harass females
- Intelligence
- Learns feeding times and navigates mazes in studies
- Noise
- Silent
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Minimum 2.4 x 1.2 m tortoise table or outdoor pen with a dig-proof perimeter
- Space requirement
- Large ground area; vivariums are generally too small and too humid
- Temperature
- Basking 35°C, ambient 24–29°C, cooler at night
- Humidity
- 30–50%
- Exercise
- Daily roaming in a large enclosure or safe outdoor pen
- Grooming
- Occasional soaks for hydration; monitor beak and nail growth
Diet and feeding
High-fibre weeds and leafy greens; no fruit, no grains, no dog or cat food
Behaviour and compatibility
Digging, grazing, brumating for several months in winter
- With children
- A good observational pet; limit handling
- With other animals
- House alone
- Training difficulty
- Not applicable
Health
- Metabolic bone disease
- Shell pyramiding from poor diet
- Respiratory infection
- Bladder stones
- Parasites in wild-caught animals
Reptile vet required; brumation should be supervised with pre-checks and weight monitoring
Special care requirements
A tortoise may outlive you; include it in long-term family planning