Russian Tortoise Care Guide

Russian Tortoise Care Guide
The Russian tortoise, also known as Afghan tortoise or central Asian tortoise is a popular pet among exotic pet owners due to its small size and hardy survival adaptation. They grow to only about 4-8 inches with a lifespan of around 50 years. Wild caught Russian tortoise can survive well in captivity, as long as you provide them with adequate shelter and proper nutrition. Their diet consists mainly of grasses, weeds, flowers of non-poisonous plants and leafy greens. You can feed them with dandelion greens, flowering maples, English daisy, wild rosemary, Bermuda grass, hay, timothy, kale, romaine lettuce, fennel, chicory, California thistle and Canadian thistle. Do not feed them with fruits, grains or animal protein.
Outdoor temperatures should be at mid 80°F (20°C or higher) with a drop at night. Build an enclosure that can protect them from possible predators such as large pet dogs. The Russian tortoise likes to burrow so sink the fence into the ground to prevent them from escaping under it. Your pet cannot tolerate damp weather, so provide them with a dry shelter. They also need a shallow dish of water for wallowing. As much as possible, keep your Russian tortoise outdoors. However, if you have to put them indoors give them enough living space. You may use sand or soil as substrate.

Make sure it is deep enough for burrowing. Keep temperatures at 70°F (21°C) with humidity at 60%, and a basking spot at 90-95°F (32-35°C). Also provide a hide box for your pet tortoise at the cooler end of the temperature gradient.