Russian Tortoise

Testudo horsfieldii

The Russian tortoise (also called Horsfield's tortoise) is the most popular pet tortoise for good reason - they are hardy, personable, and stay small enough to house reasonably while being large enough to be robust and handleable. Native to the arid steppes of Central Asia from Afghanistan to China, Russian tortoises are adapted to extreme temperature variations and naturally brumate (hibernate) through cold winters, making them one of the most cold-tolerant tortoise species. Adults reach only 6-10 inches, making them much more manageable than larger species like sulcatas. Russian tortoises are active, curious animals that enjoy exploring their enclosures and interacting with keepers at feeding time. They require a strict grass and weed-based herbivore diet with no fruit or lettuce.