Caring For Your Russian Tortoise

Caring For Your
Russian Tortoise
A Beginner’s Guide
By Jeff Molnar
Table of Contents
iii
Table of Contents
Contents
Cover .............................................................................................................. 1
Table of Contents ........................................................................................... iii
Introduction .................................................................................................... v
Turtle or Tortoise? ........................................................................................ v
Make it a Russian ....................................................................................... vi
Russian Tortoise Cheat Sheet ...................................................................... vi
Prepare for the Long Haul ........................................................................... vi
Preparing the Habitat ...................................................................................... 3
Make Your Tortoise Comfortable................................................................... 3
Avoid Aquariums! ......................................................................................... 3
Assemble the Perfect Environment ............................................................... 4
Take This Seriously! ..................................................................................... 5
Habitat Shopping Checklist: ......................................................................... 5
Diet................................................................................................................. 9
Feed Your Tortoise Greens ........................................................................... 9
Variety is the Spice of Life ............................................................................ 9
Stock Up On These Grocery Story Greens ................................................... 10
Tortoises Love Weed ................................................................................... 10
Don’t Let This Happen to Your Tortoise… ................................................... 11
Keeping Your Tortoise Healthy ...................................................................... 15
It’s Simple: Have Your Tortoise Checked Out .............................................. 15
Conclusion.................................................................................................... 17
Enjoy Your New Companion ....................................................................... 17
Index ............................................................................................................ 19
Introduction
v
Introduction
Raising a tortoise can be a fun and rewarding experience. Tortoises are an
excellent choice for first-time pet owners as they require extremely little
maintenance once their habitats have been adequately prepared. Tortoises are
generally nonaggressive and are one of the few reptiles that can safely be
handled by children.
Turtle or Tortoise?
It is important to first understand the difference between a turtle and a
tortoise. Turtles are found in both land-based and aquatic habitats, while
tortoises are only found on solid ground. Turtles are also typically omnivorous,
with roughly 60% of their diet coming from other animals. Tortoises, on the
other hand, are strictly herbivores. Tortoises are generally considered to be
much easier to care for than turtles.
vi
Caring For Your Russian Tortoise
Make it a Russian
This book was written with the novice tortoise handler in mind. Several factors
make the Russian tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldii) the optimal choice for
beginners. Russian tortoises can consume a wide variety of readily available
plants and have only a handful of requirements for preparing a sufficient
habitat. In the right conditions, they can even be kept outdoors! However,
outdoor habitats are complicated and should only be constructed by
experienced tortoise owners. As such, they will not be covered in this book.
Russian Tortoise Cheat Sheet
Adult size
7 to 10 inches long
Adult weight
Approximately 20 pounds
Years to maturity
3 to 4 years under ideal conditions
Life span
50+ years with proper care
Diet
Strict vegetarian
Scientific name
Agrionemys horsfieldii
Prepare for the Long Haul
Russian tortoises are friendly reptiles and may even become affectionate
towards humans with gentle handling over time. Speaking of time, expect for
your tortoise to be around a while -- Russian tortoises typically live to be 50-80
years old, with some captive specimens living past 100! It is extremely likely
that your tortoise will outlive you, so please make sure they’re up to the
commitment before bringing one home. Unlike most household pets, a
Russian tortoise is truly a companion for life.
Preparing The
Habitat
Do’s and Don’ts
Preparing the Habitat
3
Preparing the Habitat
Make Your Tortoise Comfortable
The goal of your habitat is to imitate as closely as possible the environments in
which Russian tortoises live in the wild. Despite its name, the Russian tortoise
does not dwell in Russia exclusively. Wild Russian tortoises commonly inhabit
Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan, Northeastern Iran, Norhwestern China,
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. They thrive in dry, open landscapes with ample
space to dig their burrows.
Avoid Aquariums!
Most pet shop employees will recommend that you purchase an aquarium for
your Russian tortoise. It is extremely important that you do not take their
advice. Aquariums make extremely poor environments for Russian tortoises as
they are typically too tall and narrow. They also are ill-equipped to provide the
requisite air circulation and are difficult to keep at the proper temperatures.
The glass walls of an aquarium are also stressful to the tortoise. Tortoises don’t
understand the concept of glass and will continuously try to run through it.
4
Caring For Your Russian Tortoise
Assemble the Perfect Environment
There are a few simple guidelines to building an optimal tortoise habitat. If you
adhere to them, your tortoise will be on its way to a long and healthy life.
Housing & Size: Your tortoise requires a 3’ x 2’ (at least) walled enclosure with
non-transparent walls. The enclosure should be at least 12” high. Russian
tortoises love to climb, so make sure the walls of your enclosure are smooth! A
custom wooden enclosure is best, but a 50 gallon RubberMaid storage
container will work in a pinch.
Substrate: It is important for your tortoise to be able to dig. Avoid rocks,
gravel or anything that could scratch your tortoise’s shell. Russian tortoises
occasionally eat their substrate so it is important that it is digestible. Alfalfa
pellets and coconut coir make excellent substrates.
Habitat: Maintain less than 30% humity in your habitat. In humid areas, a
dehumidifier may be needed. The habitat should be dry with some sort of
“hideaway” shelter to act as central den for your tortoise to rest in. Hollowedout logs work perfectly and are readily available at your local pet store.
Temperature & Lighting: Your habitat will require two light fixtures; one for
heat and the other for UVB. Both are absolutely essential to your tortoise’s
health. Place them on opposite ends of your enclosure. On the heat lamp side,
the temperature should be approximately 85°F, while the UVB side should be
approximately 75°F (the “hideaway” shelter should be on the cool end). Make
sure you are using a good thermometer for your readings!
Preparing the Habitat
Take This Seriously!
5
Your Russian tortoise’s habitat has an incredible effect on its overall health.
Tortoises kept in inadequate living conditions become stressed, and this stress
(combined with poor diet) can quite literally kill your tortoise over time.
Habitat Shopping Checklist:
Appropriately-sized enclosure
Substrate for burrowing
Food dish
Water/bathing dish
“Hideaway” shelter
Plants
Light fixture + heat bulb
Second light fixture + UVB bulb
Thermometer
Humidity gauge
Dehumidifier (if needed)
Diet
Great Tortoises Require Great Fuel
Diet
9
Diet
Feed Your Tortoise Greens
In the wild, Russian tortoises are grazers that subsist on various weeds, leaves
and flowers. They enjoy a wide variety of broad-leafed plants. In a perfect
world, your tortoise would be able to graze a large quantity of different plants
at will. Since this is the real world, you’ll have to monitor and balance your
pet’s diet yourself. Lucky for you, Russian tortoises aren’t very picky eaters.
Variety is the Spice of Life
The key to raising a healthy tortoise (besides a proper habitat) is a healthy diet.
For Russian tortoises, that means having access to a variety of greens. You
should strive to feed your tortoise a different mixture every day. There are
myriad plants that Russian tortoises can eat, many of which can be easily
purchased at your local supermarket. It is important that your tortoise
receives a diet high in fiber and calcium, but low in protein. This means
absolutely no animal products or human food under any circumstances.
10
Caring For Your Russian Tortoise
Stock Up On These Grocery Story Greens
The following plants are commonly found at most grocery stores and make
excellent sustenance for Russian tortoises. Try to purchase a variety from this
list and feed your tortoise a different assortment every day!
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Romaine lettuce
Red & green leaf lettuce
Endive
Escarole
Radicchio
Chicory
Turnip greens
Mustard greens
Kale
Collards
Spring Mix
Cabbage
Tortoises Love Weed
They are not always easy to find, but if you have access to any of the following
natural weeds, be sure to pick some up for your tortoise! They are all excellent
sources of nutrition for your pet – and tasty too (especially dandelion). Just
make sure they are free of artificial growth aids and systemic pesticides.
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Hibiscus
Dandelion
Hosta
Sedum
Mulberry leaves
Plantain
Hen and Chicks
Ice Plants
Mallow
Henbit
Dayflower
Rose
California poppy
Diet
11
WARNING!
Do not overfeed your tortoise. Russian tortoises are prone
to overeating and can develop serious problems if their
diets are not properly managed. A “fistful” of greens a day
is a good rule of thumb to go by when feeding your pet.
Don’t Let This Happen to Your Tortoise…
This poor tortoise was kept in a insufficiently-sized enclosure and overfed a bad
diet for several years. His shell has become deformed due to malnourishment
and obesity. Thankfully he was eventually rescued by an experienced tortoise
breeder and nursed back to health, but his deformities are permanent.
Keeping Your
Tortoise Healthy
A Lifetime Commitment
Keeping Your Tortoise Healthy
15
Keeping Your Tortoise Healthy
It’s Simple: Have Your Tortoise Checked Out
It should go without saying, but you should have your tortoise checked out by
a qualified veterinarian as soon as you bring it home. There are many
parasites and other health risks that are “invisible” and can lie dormant inside
your pet for an extended period of time. By the time a problem is evident to
you it could be too late. Ideally you should bring your tortoise in for a checkup every 6 months, but 12 months at the absolute longest you should wait.
Most vets charge very reasonable rates for tortoise check-ups. No excuse!
Note: Not all vets are created equal! Only certain doctors are willing (and able)
to treat tortoises. Typically, vets who specify that they treat “exotic” animals
are qualified to treat tortoises. Be sure to call ahead before to waste a trip!
Conclusion
17
Conclusion
Enjoy Your New Companion
Armed with the knowledge you’ve gained from this book, you’re now ready to
own your first Russian tortoise. While I have provided you with a solid initial
foundation, there is always more to learn. When you’re ready to gain more
knowledge, I highly advise you to visit www.tortoiseforum.org. The forum is
filled with like-minded tortoise owners who are always willing to help with any
questions that may arise during the upbringing of your new pet.
I wish you many (many!) happy birthdays with your new Russian tortoise!
Index
19
Index
directly, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15,
16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24
gallery, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15,
16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24