Russian Tortoise Enclosure

Russian Tortoise Enclosure

Baby Russians can exist in something as small as a 24×12″ sweater box.  Keeping humidity high is key, so these work.  Using a fish tank is not recommended but also can work if set up properly.  You will want to cover the sides so that the tort cannot see out, as that will cause he or she to become anxious and constantly try to escape via the clear see-thru side(s).  We like to use the 24″x15″x48″long PVC style single glass front reptile cages available at reptilebasics.  For UVB fitting them out with a 36″ T5 10.0 fixture is easy.

Russian Tortoise Care

Caring for a Russian tortoise for sale is reasonably easy, so long as you invest the time to learn.  Russians are fairly small tortoises and therefore only require a small habitat, at full maturity of say 2×4′, though larger is always better.  Multiple female Russian tortoises may be housed together in groups of up to 6, but size should be 4 cubic feet larger per female.  Using a tortoise table, or tortoise house kit will work, just pay close attention to temperature and humidity.  A baby tortoise, in general, will need a higher humidity as the main variable for success.

Our biologist has compiled a fantastic russian tortoise care guide.  Please be sure to view all aspects of russian tortoise care at the pages below:

  • Russian tortoise care

    Russian tortoise for sale – temperature

    Baby Russian tortoises should be kept with an ambient temperature of 86 degrees.  A cold spot of 80 is fine and a warm spot of 95 is also nice, however, the ambient temp remains the most important.  Here at Turtle store, our main concern is the ambient temp and not getting too cold.  We focus more on this than the temperature gradient that is so widely talked about.  Finding that the tortoises’ theme to thrive with a median temperature of 86, we now maintain this throughout our daytime enclosure temperatures.  Evening temps are allowed to drop into the high 70s, however with very slow moving, humid air, it seems a tad warmer and “muggier” for the tortoises.

    Russian tortoise UVB lighting

    UVB light exposure is extremely important for all tortoises, including baby Russian tortoises.  We recommend a Reptisun UVB 10.0 lamp, T5 (tube style).  Screw in lamps like the cheap spirals are not recommended and really do not have much of a radius of coverage.   Think about the tortoise being outside, getting constant UVB and UVA from every angle.  Now, think about the exposure they will get in their habitat inside or outside your home, and try to make them similar.  Not easy, is it?  Using a T5 high output lamp will give you the best scenario.  Using the 10% lamp is good, however for distances 15-24″ above the tortoise, a 12% lamp is recommended.  Arcadia UVB lamps are the best in our opinion, though a tad more pricey, they also last twice as long.

  • Russian Tortoise Substrate

  • For substrate, we recommend a nice mixture of 50:50 potting soil and potting mix (organic).  Be sure there are no additives or fertilizers included as that could kill your tort.  Baby Russian tortoises do burrow so providing 4″ of substrate is recommended and spraying it down with a pressure sprayer daily is great.  Spraying the soil and your tort(s) in the morning to simulate a morning dew so to speak works create.  One added but important benefit of doing this is creating a super humid microclimate for your tortoise should they choose to burrow.  It is in these microclimates in which baby tortoise exists in the wild.  Remember not to call the Russian tort a Russian turtle or Russian turtle for sale, it’s a tortoise!  If you are interested in a Baby Russian, we recommend also checking out the baby Eastern Hermann’s tortoise.  The Hermann’s tortoise for sale is small like the Russian, a bit friendlier, and more colorful.  Turtle store actually favors the Hermann tortoise for sale over the Russian.

  • Russian tortoises and humidity

    Humidity is important with all baby tortoise species, including the Testudo tortoise family.  Baby Russian tortoises require humidity in the area of 75%.  When kept indoors, the habitats tend to be on the dryer side and therefore will require some work to increase the humidity where need be.  Using a lid, or some type of closed system will help tremendously.

    Here at the Turtle store, we raise all of our baby Testudo family torts (Russians, Greeks, Egyptians, Marginated, etc) in closed systems with high humidity and LOW air movement.  From years of breeding Russian tortoises, we now have mastered the art of raising these beautiful Russian tortoise hatchlings.

    Russian Tortoise Lifespan

Russian Tortoises live a long time. It is important to consider that they can live anywhere from 50 years to 100 years before making your purchase of a baby Russian tortoise.

Russian tortoise Size

Russian tortoises are on the relatively small side as they reach just about 7 inches on average at full maturity. Most range from 5-8 inches in length.

Russian tortoise water

Giving your baby Russian access to water is preferred, and soaking daily is required.  Soak your baby tortoise in a shallow soaking dish with opaque sides so the tortoise cannot see out.  Soak for 10 minutes in 85-88 degree warm water once daily.  Typically soaking your tortoise and then placing them directly atop their pile of greens and Mazuri is best each morning.  Establishing a daily routine when possible will benefit your tortoise a great deal.

Russian tort diet

Variety is key when talking about what to feed your new Russian tortoise.  It isn’t really about one thing, it is about feeding a wide variety of high-quality greens and veggies.  By feeding a variety you will ensure not to “overdose” your tortoise on certain things.  For example, spinach is bad.  If you feed spring mix that contains spinach as one of 15 ingredients, it will not be too much where you need to worry about spinach.  If all that you ever feed is spring mix, then you have a problem.  Turtle store uses a mixture we chop daily of Romaine, Kale, Dandelion, Spring Mix, Endive, Collard, Mustard, and Beet Greens.  In addition, we soak our mazuri tortoise chow in water mixed with a 50:50 ratio of calcium with D3 AND Vionate (a multi-vitamin and mineral powder).

Horsefield Tortoise Breeder

When purchasing a Russian baby tortoise it is imperative that you buy from an experienced tortoise breeder and keeper. Our Russian Tortoises are top notch and ready to ship to you via FedEx Overnight in heated or cooled insulated shipping containers and come with our live arrival and full 7-day health guarantee. One shipping charge covers up to 3 tortoises.

As with all of our baby tortoises for sale, adult tortoise for sale and turtles for sale online, our Eastern Hermann’s tortoise are guaranteed to arrive alive, well and healthy! All reptiles for sale available at the Turtle store come with a full health guarantee.  With a REAL biologist on-site you are gonna say this is my turtle store of choice, and mean it!

More than just baby Russian Tortoises for sale

The turtle store is your source for the largest selection of captive bred baby tortoise for sale and adult tortoise for sale.  All of our captive bred baby tortoises come with our full live arrival and health guarantee.  Here at the turtle store, we work with over 25 species of turtles for sale including baby turtles for sale and captive bred tortoises.  The turtle store guarantees you the largest selection of healthy, captive bred turtles and tortoise for sale anywhere in the USA.

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Russian tortoise