HORSFIELD TORTOISE

• OVERVIEW

  The Horsfield tortoise, also called the Russian tortoise, is a small and tough little reptile from Central Asia. It's known for its round shell and yellow-brown color with dark spots. These tortoises do well in dry environments and are easy to care for, which makes them popular pets. They mainly eat leafy greens and grasses. With the right care, a Horsfield tortoise can live over 40 years, so they’re a great long-term companion.

  • Care level: Easy

  • Average lifespan: 50+ years

  • General nature: Gentle, slow, sweet

  • Suitable for children? Yes

• ENCLOSURE ENVIRONMENT

  Recommended readings:

  • Hot spot: 32⁰C (90⁰F)

  • Background temp: 21⁰C-26⁰C (69⁰F-79⁰F)

  • Night-time temp: 18⁰C-23⁰C (64⁰F-73⁰F)

  • Humidity: 40%-50%

  • UVI: 3-4

• SHOPPING LIST ESSENTIALS

  • Suitable housing (tortoise table or well-ventilated wooden vivarium)

  • Clamp lamp with ceramic holder

  • UV basking spot bulb

  • Beech chippings (or other substrate)

  • Water pool

  • Food dish (or piece of slate)

  • Relevant supplements

  • Decor of choice

  • Scoop for spot-cleaning

• HOUSING

  • Ideally, the Horsfield tortoise should be housed in an open-air tortoise table (like the one in our Tortoise Table Starter Kit)

  • Alternatively, it can be kept in a well-ventilated wooden vivarium

  • Min: 4ft long tortoise table or vivarium

  • Note: Glass tanks (such as fishtanks) are NOT suitable for Horsfield tortoises

• HEATING

  • Horsfield Tortoises are a diurnal species and require a suitable light and heat gradient in the enclosure to simulate a complete 24-hour period

  • Overhead UV basking lamp required

• LIGHTING

  • No additional light source required if using a UV basking lamp

• DIET & SUPPLEMENTS

  Young/Juvenile/Adult offer a varied diet daily such as:

  • A handful of fresh weeds, flowers, leafy greens, daily

  Follow a supplementation regime that involves calcium and multivitamin powders