Russian tortoise Substrate

Substrate can be anything that has no additives or pesticides or fertilizers.  Using a substrate like organic potting mix works great when mixed with forest floor, sold here.  Forest floor is a cypress mulch and absorbs odor and works quite well.  Providing a potting or soil mix of 2-4″ of depth also will help your tortoise dig down properly and thermoregulate.

Substrate for Russian tortoises

When setting up a new enclosure or Russian tortoise habitat, you may ask yourself “what is the best substrate for a Russian tortoise?”  There are a few answers, and they are ALL correct.  Using something that holds moisture or humidity works best, so we use potting mix, and potting soil.  We combine them at a 50% ratio, and then use forest floor, by Zoomed as the top layer.  For the top layer, we recommend using about 1-2″ of cypress mulch.  Keep in mind that Russians, like all species of tortoise use Substrate to thermoregulate their body temperature.  Typically, in the evenings you will see your baby Russian tortoise bedded down a couple of inches into the substrate. This helps not only keep your tortoise warm at night, it also keeps them hydrated so long as you keep the substrate damp and humid.

Deep damp Substrate creates a microclimate for your baby tortoise

Substrate when properly hydrated will enable your baby tortoise to also use less water and energy.  When our tortoises bed down in the substrate they are not only keeping warm.  By inhaling the humid damp air of our substrate the tortoises also replenish some of the water lost during daily activity and sun/heat exposure.

Russian tortoise humidity

Humidity is a big deal for any species of baby tortoise for sale, and the baby Russian tortoise is no different.  Keep the humidity in the range of 65-70% for yearlings to juveniles, 50-60% for adults, and as high as 75-80% for captive bred Russian tortoise hatchlings.  Using a reptile fogger will help keep the humidity up.  Some people put it on the same timer as the lights, keep it filled at night.  Because it is tied to the same timer, the fogger can simulate morning dew each morning when it comes on with the UVB lighting and the hot spot.

Male vs Female Russian tortoise size

Did you know that female Russian tortoises for sale grow to just about double the size of males?  A male Russian tortoise will grow from 5-6″ on average at full maturity.  Female Russians grow anywhere from 7-10″ with a much “rounder” shape than males.  Males can fight with one another and should not be kept with other male tortoises. Female Russian tortoises may be housed or kept in groups and seem to get along just fine.

Baby Russian tortoise for sale hatching here at tortoise town!

Additional Russian tortoise care information

Curious where to find the perfect Russian tortoise for sale? Check out our selection here at Tortoise Town’s Tortoise Farm.

It is very important you find the right russian tortoise breeder that only works with captive bred baby tortoises for sale, NOT wild caught.  The biggest problem with russian tortoises for sale is that most are wild caught and can be as old as 40-50 years old when you buy the russian tortoise.   So when you see a very cheap russian tortoise price, you know it is NOT a captive bred russian tortoise.

Russian tortoise humidity

Russian tortoise size

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