Russian Tortoise Pet Care
Learn how to take care of your pet Russian Tortoise.
Learn how to take care of your pet Russian Tortoise.
Russian turtles are great pets. It is great to keep them outdoors but you can also
keep them indoors.
Environment
Indoors
Russian turtles do well in a wooden or plastic cage glass cages can cause them stress
because of the heat. A 2ft by 3ft enclosure is a good sized tank for Russian turtles.
Place a ceramic bulb above the cage for heat and calcium. Use a 60-75 watt bulb. It
should be about 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit. You need to have some type of hiding
place since they like to go in logs and under brush. The hiding spot can be simple like
a cardboard box or complex like logs or other decorative structures. For substrate use
something that the Russian turtle won’t eat. Also, make sure there is a digging spot
they like to burrow in dirt. You may want to try potting soil.
Out doors
Some type of pen is best for Russian turtles. When the animal is ready for hibernating
you can take him indoors. The enclosure should have an area for the turtle to swim
along with a water bowl. Make sure there is shade for the turtle to get to. You should
add a lot of shrubs for them to hide under. Also, some turtles can’t hibernate so make
sure you know which turtle you get. Make sure the enclosure is out of reach from
anything that could hurt him a lid will help keep any hungry animal out. If you take
your Russian turtle out a little every day this mainly eliminates the need for light. Apply
a sprinkle of water since Russian turtles are used to rain and enjoy it.
Behavior
Russian turtles are most active during dawn dusk and rainy days. If they are not
active they will bury themselves in dirt in the shade. Russian turtles spend their whole
life on land. When Russian turtles are threatened they hide in their shells so only the
shell is showing.
Food
Russian turtles are omnivores. They should be fed at sunrise since they are most
active at sunrise and sunset. The main things they eat are meal worms, crickets,
worms, and dandelion green lettuce. There is a Russian turtle meat (this works very
well). Feed them meat every other day and you should veggies the in between days.
Vitamins aren't usually needed unless you don’t have vitamins in your food. Sprinkle a
little bit of calcium on each meal for proper nutrition. Only feed calcium D 3 to indoor
Russian turtles outdoor turtles can make it on their own from natural light. Watch out
too much vitamin D 3 can be harmful. A water dish should be provided so your
Russian turtle can drink and bath in it. Make sure it is easy for the box turtles to get in
the water and also make sure the water isn't too deep. Make sure you change the
water all the time so parasites and bacteria don’t develop in the water. They same
applies for cleaning the cage.
Fun Facts
Some Russian turtles can live for about 40 years.
keep them indoors.
Environment
Indoors
Russian turtles do well in a wooden or plastic cage glass cages can cause them stress
because of the heat. A 2ft by 3ft enclosure is a good sized tank for Russian turtles.
Place a ceramic bulb above the cage for heat and calcium. Use a 60-75 watt bulb. It
should be about 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit. You need to have some type of hiding
place since they like to go in logs and under brush. The hiding spot can be simple like
a cardboard box or complex like logs or other decorative structures. For substrate use
something that the Russian turtle won’t eat. Also, make sure there is a digging spot
they like to burrow in dirt. You may want to try potting soil.
Out doors
Some type of pen is best for Russian turtles. When the animal is ready for hibernating
you can take him indoors. The enclosure should have an area for the turtle to swim
along with a water bowl. Make sure there is shade for the turtle to get to. You should
add a lot of shrubs for them to hide under. Also, some turtles can’t hibernate so make
sure you know which turtle you get. Make sure the enclosure is out of reach from
anything that could hurt him a lid will help keep any hungry animal out. If you take
your Russian turtle out a little every day this mainly eliminates the need for light. Apply
a sprinkle of water since Russian turtles are used to rain and enjoy it.
Behavior
Russian turtles are most active during dawn dusk and rainy days. If they are not
active they will bury themselves in dirt in the shade. Russian turtles spend their whole
life on land. When Russian turtles are threatened they hide in their shells so only the
shell is showing.
Food
Russian turtles are omnivores. They should be fed at sunrise since they are most
active at sunrise and sunset. The main things they eat are meal worms, crickets,
worms, and dandelion green lettuce. There is a Russian turtle meat (this works very
well). Feed them meat every other day and you should veggies the in between days.
Vitamins aren't usually needed unless you don’t have vitamins in your food. Sprinkle a
little bit of calcium on each meal for proper nutrition. Only feed calcium D 3 to indoor
Russian turtles outdoor turtles can make it on their own from natural light. Watch out
too much vitamin D 3 can be harmful. A water dish should be provided so your
Russian turtle can drink and bath in it. Make sure it is easy for the box turtles to get in
the water and also make sure the water isn't too deep. Make sure you change the
water all the time so parasites and bacteria don’t develop in the water. They same
applies for cleaning the cage.
Fun Facts
Some Russian turtles can live for about 40 years.
This video
shows
russian
tortoise
behavior.
shows
russian
tortoise
behavior.