The Russian tortoise, or Horsfield’s tortoise, is one of the most popular species in the pet world. Russian tortoises are known for being active, friendly (at least for a reptile!), and highly adaptable to domestic life. Many tortoise enthusiasts opt for a Russian as their first pet.
While tiny in comparison to the world’s giant tortoises, the Russian tortoise is actually one of the largest tortoises that can be kept as a pet. They need plenty of space to roam around and thrive—a small aquarium simply won’t do.
My Russian tortoise size guide covers things like key growth stages and how big you can expect your pet tortoise to get. You’ll also learn how to design a spacious enclosure for your companion and what a healthy diet looks like.
Growth and Size
Russian tortoises are slow-growing. One won’t reach its full size until it is at least 20 to 30 years old!
Adult Russian tortoises measure 6 to 8 inches long on average. It’s super common for female tortoises to be a bit larger than their male counterparts, though this isn’t true 100% of the time. Extra-large tortoises (measuring over 9 inches long) are occasionally reported as well.
Each Russian tortoise starts out measuring just 1 to 1.5 inches long as a hatchling. Tortoises grow pretty fast when they are young, with the average Russian tortoise gaining 1 to 5 grams of weight per week during the first year or so. Growth naturally slows down as the tortoise nears maturity.
You can track your Russian’s growth by looking at the shell. Tortoise shells develop ‘rings’ very similar to those of a tree trunk. These rings are called annuli (singular: annulus) and develop as the tortoise goes through its yearly growth spurt. Newer annuli may appear lighter in color than the surrounding shell, but will darken slightly as they age.
One thing to note is that captive tortoise annuli usually aren’t as pronounced as those of wild tortoises. It’s also normal for multiple annuli to develop in a single year. This is because pet tortoises live in consistent environments and aren’t subjected to seasonal growth spurts to the same extent as wild ones!
Housing Requirements Based on Size
A good enclosure is key to rearing a happy and healthy tortoise. It’s also something I see a lot of new owners struggle with (in part because there’s so much conflicting information out there).
Many first-timers are surprised to learn just how much space a tortoise needs. A mature Russian tortoise, for example, should have an enclosure that measures at least 4-by-8 feet. Baby tortoises need just a few square feet to start, but those needs will quickly change.
Indoor Housing Solutions
Most Russian owners I know use a traditional tortoise table for indoor housing. A tortoise table is a pre-built or DIY enclosure that can be elevated on legs or placed directly on the floor. Most are made of wood, but there are certainly other materials available.
If you’re short on space, a great solution is to invest in a multi-story tortoise table. While these enclosures aren’t as popular as single-story enclosures, they basically double (or triple) the square footage your tortoise has to roam without eating up your own living space. I’ve found this to be a great option for slightly larger species like the Russian tortoise.
Indoor tortoise enclosures are usually open on the top. This ensures plenty of good air circulation. It also makes heat/UV lamps easy to set up above the table. You’ll want to invest in at least one small shelter and keep part of the table cool so your tortoise can control its body temperature throughout the day.
Think carefully about where you will set up the actual enclosure in your home. Curious children and other pets should not have unsupervised access to your Russian tortoise. A good friend’s tortoise once went for a ‘ride’ in their dog’s mouth after the two were left alone. The tortoise wasn’t harmed, but the dog was never allowed in the same room as the tortoise again!
Outdoor Enclosure Recommendations
It’s important to consider where your tortoise will spend the majority of its time. For example, a tortoise that spends all day in an outdoor enclosure can tolerate a much smaller indoor pen than a tortoise that lives inside 24/7.
All pet tortoises should ideally have access to an outdoor enclosure. Realistically, though, this is only possible in some climates. If you live in a cooler region, you may still be able to invest in a small outdoor enclosure for use in the summer.
The recommended minimum size for an outdoor enclosure is 4-by-8 feet, just like an indoor enclosure. However, it’s usually much easier to provide a larger space outdoors than it is indoors. I highly encourage you to make your Russian tortoise’s enclosure as large as possible!
The extra space encourages physical activity and can accommodate various types of substrate for your tortoise to explore. Your tortoise will need a shelter of some sort it can use to hide or cool down. I highly recommend providing a corner of the enclosure where your Russian can dig or burrow to its heart’s desire.
Speaking of burrowing, the barrier around your tortoise’s enclosure should extend at least 12 inches below the ground. Russian tortoises are known escape artists who will easily burrow under a fence.
Remember that these guidelines are for a single adult tortoise. A good rule is to more or less double the available space for every additional tortoise.
Nutrition and Size
A tortoise will continue growing its entire life, though the most dramatic growth occurs when the tortoise is young. Diet is a major factor in how quickly a tortoise grows, and whether or not that growth rate is considered healthy.
Dietary Needs
It might seem like your Russian tortoise is constantly eating. But since so much of a healthy diet is made up of rough plant matter, most tortoises average just 100 calories or less per day. Fortunately, this is all a small tortoise needs to be satisfied!
The bulk of a Russian tortoise’s diet should consist of hay, fresh grass, and broadleaf weeds (e.g., dandelions). Many owners let their pet tortoises graze in the lawn or garden, though you must check for toxic plants before doing this yourself.
Grocery store produce may be given as an occasional treat. I recommend offering something like salad spring mix to supplement your tortoise’s main food source. Leafy greens from mustard, turnip, carrot, and similar veggies are also highly recommended.
Fruit is a very rare treat, though I know of several tortoise owners who don’t offer it at all. This is because fruit is very high in sugar and moisture, two things your Russian tortoise isn’t designed to digest.
The above diet plan is a great start for any pet Russian. However, you’ll also want to supplement the veggies in your tortoise’s diet with additional vitamins and minerals. There are several great supplement brands available. I recommend talking to your vet about the best choice for your tortoise.
Tips for Managing a Healthy Size
Diet is, of course, the most important factor in managing your tortoise’s size. Many common health issues are caused by overfeeding which, in turn, leads to rapid growth. A tortoise that grows too quickly will likely suffer poor health.
It’s not just about how much food your tortoise eats. The exact types of foods are equally as important.
Perhaps the most common problem I see in pet tortoises is a diet too high in protein. Russian tortoises naturally feed almost exclusively on dry plant matter that is extremely low in protein. Excess protein in the diet can trigger health issues like shell deformities and obesity.
A healthy tortoise should feel like a rock of the same size. Any heavier and it could indicate that your tortoise is growing at an unsustainable rate. If your tortoise weighs less, it may need a more robust diet to bring it up to speed. Always check with your vet before adjusting your Russian tortoise’s diet!
Common Nutritional Issues
Shell deformities—e.g., pyramiding—are caused by improper growth and can greatly impact a pet tortoise’s quality of life. Basically what happens is that the tortoise body grows faster than the shell can accommodate. In serious cases, tortoises can become paralyzed by the sheer fact that there’s not enough space within the shell for the spinal column.
Obesity is another common issue among domestic tortoises. Diets high in sugar, fat, or protein are too ‘heavy’ for slow-moving tortoises who need few calories to survive.
Weight issues can also be a sign that your tortoise isn’t getting enough daily movement. It might be time to re-evaluate its enclosure and find ways to add more physical activity into its daily life.
Citations
- PetMD Russian Tortoise
- Alabama Wildlife Federation Instructions for Taking Annuli Data
- Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital Pyramiding in Tortoises
