Russian Tortoise
Origin
Russian tortoise, also known as Central Asian tortoise and Horsfield’s tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) is a land turtle of the family Testudinidae. It originates from Central Asia and can be found in the countries from the Caspian Sea to China and in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.
Characteristics and Behavior
Russian tortoises are sexually dimorphic which means that there are some differences between males and females. Adult females are about 8 to 10 inches long, while the males grow about 6 to 8 inches. The males, however, have a longer tail. The color of the shell tends to vary greatly from one tortoise to another but it is most often either brown or black and yellowish between the scutes. The head, legs and tail are yellow and brown. Russian tortoises live at least 50 years and it is not unusual for them to outlive their owners.
They like to hide in caves and dig burrows to retreat during the heat and at night. They prefer temperatures between 68 and 90 °F.
Diet
Like most other land turtles, Russian tortoise is herbivores which means that it feeds almost exclusively on plant material. They tend to be opportunistic feeders and eat a variety of different plants they find in nature. They prefer broad leafy vegetables but they will also eat flowers, fruits and insects. Grazing on grass is very uncommon for Russian tortoise.
In captivity, Russian tortoises should be fed with plants as similar to those they eat in the wild but this is unfortunately, very difficult if you do not live in Central Asia. Nevertheless, they will gladly eat a variety of plants such as lettuce, dandelion, clover, mustard, kale, and non-poisonous weeds and flowers. They will eat fruits too but fruits should be offered only in limited amounts. You should not feed your pet with animal material and grains, and make sure that it always has access to clean water. Keep in mind that Russian tortoises like to browse, so shatter the plants around the housing. All uneaten foods should be removed.
Housing
Russian tortoises can be held both indoor and outdoors, however, it is not recommendable to keep it inside your home all the time. However, keeping your pet outside is not the best idea either if you live in a region with a damp weather or if there is a risk of wild animals hurting your tortoise. If you have decided to create an indoor housing, you should take into account several factors. The most important of all is, of course, to provide your tortoise large enough enclosure. Just as important is to keep in mind that Russian tortoises like to burrow which means that you should either provide a thick layer of soil or sand on the bottom of the enclosure or a hiding place. Then you should take care for proper lightning and heating, and add some rocks, logs and similar items to mimic the natural habitat. The same counts for an outdoor enclosure which should be placed on a sunny and well-drained area. When making an outdoor enclosure, make sure that you create high and deep enough wall because Russian tortoises are masters of escape.
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