--- title: "7 Tips on Caring for a Russian Tortoise ..." description: "They do Not Need Water; You Can Hold Them; Coconut Fiber and VitaSand; The Temperature; They Need Sun; More ..." url: "https://allwomenstalk.com/7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise/" category: "health" last_updated: "2026-06-02" --- # 7 Tips on Caring for a Russian Tortoise ... The tortoise is one of the easiest pets to care for. They love your company and love to roam around. I just got a Russian Tortoise and I named him Du Hast he is one of my many reptiles that I have. So, I decided to give you 7 tips on caring for a Russian Tortoise. Please, make sure you read about the pet before you get them. ## 7. They do Not Need Water ![They do Not Need Water](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/www/2010/09/7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise/they-do-not-need-water_7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise_500x375.jpg) Photo Credit: [PS95](https://www.flickr.com/photos/ps95/2338534957/) Do not get this tortoise thinking that you need to put him in water. Sure, they do need to soak every other day. You should include a small water tray in their cage. Just know that they aren’t the type to place in a tank of water. ## 6. You Can Hold Them ![You Can Hold Them](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/www/2010/09/7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise/you-can-hold-them_7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise_500x375.jpg) Photo Credit: [Sorry My English](https://www.flickr.com/photos/sorrymyenglish/251956406/) In fact, they will not mind you holding them at all. In the summer time, you could take them outside and let them eat some grass. Just make sure the grass has not been sprayed. I am going to make an outside area for mine. He’s going to love it. ## 5. Coconut Fiber and VitaSand ![Coconut Fiber and VitaSand](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/www/2010/09/7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise/coconut-fiber-and-vitasand_7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise_500x375.jpg) Photo Credit: [Surgfish](https://www.flickr.com/photos/31328146@N00/1196693077/) For the turtles substrate, you can use 50/50 coconut fiber and vitasand. I put coconut fiber on one side of the cage and vitasand on the other side. Make sure you keep it moist. ## 4. The Temperature _ Photo Credit: PS95_ For the temperature, you need to make sure one side of the cage is 95 degrease Fahrenheit and the other side is 75. When the lights go out, both sides should be 75 degrease Fahrenheit. Do not keep your tortoise in the cold. ## 3. They Need Sun ![They Need Sun](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/www/2010/09/7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise/they-need-sun_7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise_500x338.jpg) Photo Credit: [wings69](https://www.flickr.com/photos/wing69/3828880528/) They need sun – You can use 10.0 reptile UV-UVA lights. They will need it on them for 8 hours in a day. The sun will help to give them good old vitamin D. ## 2. They Need Calcium ![They Need Calcium](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/www/2010/09/7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise/they-need-calcium_7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise_500x333.jpg) Photo Credit: [Chloe Clay](https://www.flickr.com/photos/chloeclay/359606009/) You can get Calcium dust in the pet store – sprinkle a small amount of calcium dust on their food two times a week. ## 1. The Vet ![The Vet](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/www/2010/09/7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise/the-vet_7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise_500x333.jpg) Photo Credit: [ctownjb](https://goo.gl/nikE1d) When you first get the turtle, it is important that you take them to a good herpetological veterinarian. This way, you can make sure they are healthy. You should continue taking the tortoise there for checkups. Remember, turtles spend most of their time in the water while the tortoise will spend most of their time on the land. A turtle and a tortoise are not the same. The front of a turtles feet is mostly fins, while for a tortoise, they usually have hard, scaly feet to help them burrow. Turtles have a flat shell, while tortoises mostly have round, dome shaped shells. Russian tortoises are native to the continent of Asia. They mostly live in Russia, Afghanistan, the Ukraine, Pakistan, Iran and parts of China. Do you need any advice for your pet tortoise or any other reptile? I can help. Top Photo Credit: [B.H.B. PHOTOGRAPHY](https://www.flickr.com/photos/brianhbradley/1376303466/) ## Related Posts - [reasons to adopt from a shelter](https://allwomenstalk.com/8-reasons-to-adopt-a-pet-from-a-shelter/) - [things a dog would say](https://allwomenstalk.com/7-things-your-dog-would-say-if-heshe-could-talk/) - [why do cats sleep on your clothes](https://allwomenstalk.com/8-places-cats-like-to-sleep/) - [most poisonous snail](https://allwomenstalk.com/7-most-poisonous-animals/) - [worlds most exotic animals](https://allwomenstalk.com/7-most-exotic-animals/) - [cat hotel names](https://allwomenstalk.com/8-unique-names-for-your-pet/) - [good lap dogs](https://allwomenstalk.com/7-lap-dogs-that-make-the-best-accessories/) - [cats and children](https://allwomenstalk.com/8-reasons-why-cats-are-like-children/) - [taking care of ferrets](https://allwomenstalk.com/7-tips-on-caring-for-ferrets/) - [how to laugh better without my cat](https://allwomenstalk.com/8-ways-to-have-a-laugh-at-your-cats-expense/) - [5 Tips on Caring for a Bird Feeder ...](https://gardening.allwomenstalk.com/5-tips-on-caring-for-a-bird-feeder/) - [5 Tips on Raising Rabbits ...](https://gardening.allwomenstalk.com/5-tips-on-raising-rabbits/) ## Site Information - [Main page](https://allwomenstalk.com) - [Contact us](https://allwomenstalk.com/contact.html) - [HTML article](https://allwomenstalk.com/7-tips-on-caring-for-a-russian-tortoise/)