Russian Tortoise – Tips For Diet & Care

Pet Care

oi-Gowri Nandini

By Nandhini Devi

Wednesday, August 3, 2011, 12:14

Russian tortoise, also known as Horsfield or Central Asian tortoise, is one of the most preferred types, when it comes to choosing a tortoise as a pet. Their social nature is yet another reason that they are chosen as pets. They are known to live up to 75 years.

Normally the males grow up to a length of 6-7 inches, while the females grow up to 8-10 inches. The shell colour is generally brown or black, yellowish between the scutes and the body has a straw-yellow or brown colour. Follow these pet care tips to help your Russian tortoise grow well in captivity.

Housing for your Russian tortoise:

1.Have a security lid installed on the cage, as this type of tortoise is adept in climbing. By having a security lid, you can ensure that the tortoise does not wander away or fall prey to predators.

2.The cage should be dry and must contain enough sand to allow the tortoise to dig. This is very important as the tortoise sometimes retreats into the burrow, to maintain it's body temparature.

3.Adjust the temperature of the outdoor shelter to about 20 degrees during the day, while it drops slightly lower during the night. If it is an indoor enclosure, have a separate hide box, so that the tortoise can take shelter there if the temperature is high.

4.Keep a water dish inside the shelter. Take care to fill it such that the tortoise can just immerse itself in it, but does not drown.

Diet for your Russian tortoise:

1.These tortoises are herbivorous and consume a wide variety of weeds and grasses. Their favourite plants are the Romaine lettuce, red or green Looseleaf cultivars and dandelions.

2.Though these tortoises love to eat fruits, avoid giving it to them, as excess of sugar makes way to bacterial blooms in the stomach.

3.Provide the tortoise with fresh and clean water to drink. Water is a very important part of the Russian Tortoise's diet.

The Russian tortoise makes an interesting pet and is fascinating to watch, as it is always moving around. As said earlier, they also build a good rapport with humans, and usually recognize the person who supplies if food. So, after a couple of days, don't be surprised if your little tortoise will come running up to you, when you go to feed it.