Chapter 9 of 9 · Russian Tortoise Care Guide

Sources

Disclaimer: I'm not a veterinarian and I don't hold a degree in animal science or animal care. This guide is compiled from the published sources listed in every chapter. For a sick animal, a reptile vet is the authority.

Each source has one number throughout the guide. Sources are listed under the first chapter that cites them; later chapters list the numbers they reuse. Sources marked "hobby report" are keeper experience rather than published research.

Chapter 1: Start Here

  • [1] ReptiFiles, Russian Tortoise Care Sheet. reptifiles.com
  • [2] LafeberVet, Basic Information Sheet: Russian Tortoise. lafeber.com
  • [3] Fearn, S. and Austin, J., Practical Experiences of Keeping the Russian Tortoise, Tortoise Trust. tortoisetrust.org
  • [4] Reptiles Magazine, Pyramiding in Tortoises (citing Wiesner and Iben 2003, Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 87:66–74). reptilesmagazine.com
  • [5] Royal Veterinary College, Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital Exotics Service, Tortoise Hibernation (reviewed December 2024). rvc.ac.uk
  • [6] Turtle Conservancy, The Russians Are Here (2018). turtleconservancy.org
  • [7] Text of 21 CFR 1240.62, the federal 4-inch rule (defines "turtles" to include tortoises), reproduced by Turtle Rescue of Long Island. turtlerescues.com

Also cited: [8], [9] (listed under Chapter 2).

Chapter 2: Housing and Environment

New sources:

  • [8] Turtle Rescue of Long Island, Russian Tortoise Basic Care and Some Insight. turtlerescues.org
  • [9] Reptiles Magazine, Three Common Ailments of Tortoises in Captivity. reptilesmagazine.com

Also cited: [1], [2], [3], [4].

Chapter 3: Feeding, Supplements and Water

New sources:

Also cited: [1], [2], [3], [8].

Chapter 4: Handling, Behavior and Hibernation

No new sources. Cited: [1], [2], [3], [5], [8].

Chapter 5: Health, Quarantine and Hygiene

New sources:

  • [11] Marschang, R. E. (LABOKLIN), Select Parasites of Reptiles, veterinary lecture slides hosted by Nicolaus Copernicus University (Poland). vet.umk.pl
  • [12] Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital, Mycoplasma and Runny Noses in Tortoises. azeah.com
  • [13] CDC, Reptile-Associated Salmonellosis, Selected States, 1996–1998, MMWR 48(44), 1999, and CDC Healthy Pets guidance. cdc.gov
  • [29] CDC, Reptiles and Amphibians (Healthy Pets, Healthy People; updated January 13, 2026). cdc.gov

Also cited: [2], [4], [6], [8], [9].

Chapter 6: Breeding

New sources:

  • [14] A-Z Animals, Male vs Female Russian Tortoise: What Are Their Differences? a-z-animals.com
  • [15] Wikipedia, Russian Tortoise (citing field guides; sexing, courtship, coloration and subspecies sections). wikipedia.org
  • [16] Reptiles Magazine, Russian Tortoise Breeding. reptilesmagazine.com
  • [17] Highfield, A. C., The Horsfield's Tortoise, Testudo horsfieldi (Gray) 1844: A Brief Review of its Biology, Ecology and Captive Breeding, first published in ASRA Journal, 1992; Tortoise Trust (citing Roberts 1975, Terentjev and Chernov 1949, Hempel 1988, Slavens 1989, Mylnarski and Mertens 1971, Sergeev 1941). tortoisetrust.org
  • [18] Bailey, Sidney W., The Status of Horsfield's Tortoise, Agrionemys horsfieldi, in the U.S.S.R., Testudo 2(4), British Chelonia Group, 1986 (citing Brusko 1978). britishcheloniagroup.org.uk
  • [19] Lagarde et al., Sexual size dimorphism in steppe tortoises (Testudo horsfieldi): growth, maturity, and individual variation, Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2001, doi:10.1139/z01-097. sciencegate.app
  • [20] ReptiFiles, Russian Tortoise Care Sheet (PDF version). reptifiles.com
  • [21] Tortoise Town, Tortoise Egg Incubation and Hatchling Setup for Sulcata, Leopard, Russian and More. tortoisetown.com
  • [22] Madge, David, Temperature and Sex Determination in Reptiles with Reference to Chelonians, Testudo 2(3), British Chelonia Group, 1985. britishcheloniagroup.org.uk

Also cited: [2], [5], [7].

Chapter 7: Genetics, Morphs and Reading a Listing

New sources:

  • [23] Tortoise Forum, thread "WC vs CB" (hobby report). tortoiseforum.org
  • [24] Live Science, Tiny White Tortoise Baby Is the "First of Its Kind" (albino Galapagos giant tortoise hatched at the Tropiquarium, Servion, Switzerland), June 2022. livescience.com
  • [25] Reptiles Magazine, Albino Sulcata Tortoise. reptilesmagazine.com
  • [26] Tortoise Protection Group, Testudostan: Our Post-Cold War Exploitation of a Noble Tortoise. tortoise-protection-group.org.uk
  • [27] RussianTortoise.net, The Russian Tortoise Care Sheet. russiantortoise.net
  • [28] Smith, K., Chelonians: Wild Caught or Captive Bred?, Reptiles Magazine. reptilesmagazine.com

Also cited: [2], [6], [7], [15], [17].

Chapter 8: New Owner Checklist

No new sources. Cited: [1], [2], [5], [8], [9], [10], [13], [29].

Last revised November 6, 2026.