HORSEFIELD TORTOISE

Common name(s): Horsefield's Tortoise, Russian Tortoise, Afghan Tortoise.

Latin name: Testudo horsfieldi.

Native to: Central Asia.

Adult size: 8in/20cm. Fully grown at 20-30 years of age. Captive bred lifespan of 30-50 years.

Eggs or young: Lays about 4-5 eggs hatching within 80-100 days.

Appearance: The shell is a rounded/oval shape and is distinctly flattened along the vertebral scutes. Colour varies, from a light tan through yellow/green to olive, often with brown/black markings.

What does it eat?: Feed every 1-2 days. A diet high in fibre, calcium rich and low in protein, is essential. Dust each feed with vitamin/mineral supplement. They eat wild dandelions, brussel sprouts, cress, chickweed, clover, runner beans, mangetout, grated carrot, peas, squash, corn, broccoli, bindweed, lambs lettuce, rose petals, cauliflower and cucumber. Soft fruits should be given very sparingly as they frequently lead to diarrhoea and colic.

Ease of care: Some experience required.

Temperament: This is a hardy species. Excellant climbers and they like to burrow. Do not house with other species as males are highly aggressive and can inflict severe bites. Pick up gently with both hands, fingers placed on top of the shell and underneath the tortoise in support. Hibernates.

Housing set up: Use *very* large indoor housing as tortoises do not like being confined. Substrate: rainforest bark. You must provide access to your garden when the weather permits. Provide good protection from rain and damp and make sure the garden is escape proof. Provide a nest area of insulating material such as straw, leaves, alfalfa hay or shredded paper. Day time temperature 68-77F/20-25C dropping to 50-59F/10-15C at night. Fluorescent light tube, basking light and outdoor heating/under-tank heatpad required.

Note: UK weather
usually precludes
keeping tortoises
outdoors all year.