Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I recently got a Russian Tortoise from a trade with my cousin. I know how to take care of it and everything, I was just wondering what the temperatures and humidity need to be for them. It's doind quite well other than the tiny bit of shell rot she had since before I got her, which is looking a little better in only a week. Well if you know let me know. I'd appreciate the info.

Temperature: During the day, they need a spot that has strong lighting and temps around 90-100f. They also need a place (a hide box)to go that has temps 10-15 degrees lower than that.
If you are keeping the tortoise indoors, provide the hot spot by using a lamp directed toward a flat stone or something similar.
At night the temps can drop down into the 60s as long as they have a dry place to hide.

Humidity: My russian tortoises live outdoors during the warm months here in Missouri. Humidity is quite high (50%+) and they do fine. They even come out in light rain. Beware of damp conditions combined with low temperatures.

Please go to www.russiantortoise.net for more info.

Thanks I'll make sure she's a little warmer then.

The only thing I'd add is if you keep it outside within a few months they can handle night time temps into the low 50's. Our breeding group is outside from early May through the end of October. We live in greater Minneapolis. They experience temps from 46-100 and humidity from 30-90%. Once they get acclimated they are very hardy tortoises.

Make sure you have him on a dry substrate. In the indoor pens we use a 50/50 topsoil play sand mix. Outside it's good old fast draining earth.

I agree with your advice on keeping them outdoors.

They seem very resilient to the heat and humidity of the midwest. I've seen days when the air temp is about 105 and they do not appear stressed by it at all.

And I've seen them come out after overnight lows in the 40s. It seems they do OK as long as they can warm up the next day.