Russian tortoise enclosure setup
The russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) is a sun and shade basker from a arid habitat. Here is what its enclosure needs, and a plan sized to yours.
The care card
- Adult minimum
- 48 x 24 x 12 in
- Recommended
- 72 x 36 x 16 in
- Basking surface
- 95 to 100°F
- Cool side
- 70 to 75°F
- Night, lowest
- 60°F
- Humidity
- 40 to 60%
- UV zone
- 3 of 4
- Substrate
- arid, 6 in deep or more
What keepers get wrong
- Glass tanks are a poor home for tortoises: they try to walk through the glass. An open tortoise table works better.
- Russians burrow deep: give them a soil and sand mix they can dig into.
- Outdoor time in warm months beats any lamp.
Common enclosures
Plan your russian tortoise enclosure
Your enclosure size, your top and your room. It is drawn with its lights as you go.
The inside is drawn on your planWhich tube and how far it sits, how high the basking spot goes, which bulbs, how much soil, and where everything goes.
Your enclosure, at your size. The layout, the lights and every measurement are what your plan is for.
Your setup plan
A plan for your enclosure
- The UVB tube and how far it sits from your animal's back
- The basking height, the halogens and the thermostat for your room
- The soil in quarts, the drainage, plants, hides and cleanup crew
- The build in order, and what to check before it moves in
$9
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The russian tortoise shelf
The parts your plan names most. Your plan says which tube, how many bulbs and how much soil, for your enclosure.
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Light
UVB for the bones, a halogen for the basking spot.
Heat control
A thermostat on every heat source, and the tools to read it.
- Lucky Herp PID dimming thermostatHolds the basking surface steady by dimming the halogen. Never run a heat lamp without one. Check the current price →
- Etekcity 774 infrared thermometerReads the basking surface itself, which a probe in the air cannot. Check the current price →
- Aquaneat thermometer and hygrometerAir temperature and humidity at a glance. Check the current price →
Ground
A living substrate, mixed for dry or humid species.