The most frequent species of turtles chosen as pets are horsfields and Russian tortoises. They are very little (about 15 cm in length) and are ideal for the English people because the temperature in U.K. favors them and their need to hibernate in winter. These tortoises have an olive colored carapace that presents blotches of dark brown color and yellowish brown legs and heads.

Environment

During the first years of life of your Russian turtle, you should carefully control its environment. The main recommendation is to keep them in an enclosure similar to a top opened box, preferably made of melamine coated wood.

Horsfield turtles need to be kept in a dry environment that gives them the possibility of digging the burrows for themselves. A deep substrate is the best; you may choose sand, fine gravel and munch. It is important to keep in mind that the turtle will have serious problems if it’s kept in a damp environment.

These turtles particularly need light a sufficiently warm temperature in order to develop a normal carapace and live for many years. UVA and UVB rays are also extremely necessary for those little animals. The solution is a 2 in 1 heat/UV bulb, placed 12’’ higher than the turtle’s house: it will provide 90 F in the heated zone and 75 F on the other side.

To make the existence of your turtle more pleasant, try to create a lovely artificial environment for it using wood, rocks and foliage. This will give the little pet the possibility to exercise more. Try not to put in its enclosure items that may cause your tortoise to fall on its back.

Usually it is not necessary to put water in the turtle’s box. You may give it a bath which will also give it the possibility to drink the water it needs at least twice in seven days. You may also place a shallow bowl filled with water in the enclosure, but choose it carefully in order to allow the tortoise to come in and out when ever it wants. Prevent spillage because it will damage your turtle.

Food

When it comes to food Horsfield turtles are not difficult to handle. They eat almost any kind of aliments. Some people taught it was best to put many kinds of aliments in a container placed in the exactly same spot it was the previous day. But it is not a good option. Let the turtle get its own food by spreading it inside of the enclosure.

Although fruits and vegetables are very good for your turtle, there are some types, such as tomatoes and iceberg lettuce that may cause it diarrhea. The highly recommendable aliments are cabbages, shredded carrots, greens and romaine lettuce. The amount of strawberries, bananas, blackberries, pears and apples should be limited, but not totally excluded from your turtle’s alimentation. You may also feed your little friend on special foods, but they shouldn’t totally replace fresh fruits and vegetables.

Add minerals and calcium to your tortoise’s diet, because they are very important in order to maintain it strong and in good health. One such supplement designed especially for turtles is Reptavite dusting powder.