Buyer question
Is a Russian tortoise good for beginners?
Yes: our Animal Library rates the Russian tortoise 4 out of 5 for beginners (good first tortoise).
Source: the Russian tortoise page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Russian tortoise in the Animal Library
The detail
The Russian, or Horsfield's, tortoise is a small, hardy tortoise from the dry steppes of Central Asia. It stays under eight inches and is active and personable, which makes it one of the best tortoises for smaller spaces.
- Best fit
- First tortoise, small spaces
- Handling
- 3 out of 5 (Hardy, tolerates handling)
- Setup complexity
- 3 out of 5 (Needs space to dig)
- Feeding ease
- 4 out of 5 (Eats weeds and greens)
What to weigh
Russians dig and climb, so escape-proof pens are a must. Many sold are wild-caught imports that may carry parasites.