Jacqui's Captive Bred Tortoises

Background.

The Russian or Horsfield tortoise (called Agrionemys horsfieldii) was originally classed as a Testudo species but since been given its own genus Agrionemys They are known by other names such as Steppe tortoise,

Afghanistan tortoise and Four-toed tortoise. They  originate from Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan, Northern and Eastern Iran, North Western China and the Soviet territory. Most Russian Tortoises found in the pet trade are from Central Asia.

They are a smaller tortoise ranging from 4-8 inches long and have a life expectancy of about 50 years plus.

Horsfields are an attractive tortoise for beginners due to their friendly nature. They are happy to be hand fed and all of mine like to have their heads rubbed and will come to me for this.

They are not Annex A species and so do not have to be licensed, which has enabled the massive importation of Horsfield tortoises taken from the wild and farmed often in cruel conditions, to then endure days being transported into the UK, only to end up in glass tanks in pet shops, and that is the ones that survive their ordeal! Most of these farmed and wild caught are carrying large infestations of parasites and many are carrying the deadly Chelonian Herpes Virus, which is highly contagious and results in the death of the tortoise.

In their native habitat, Horsfield tortoises choose dry open landscapes, sandy and clay deserts with sparse grasses and bushes. They are naturally active for only a few months of the year and typically come out of hibernation in mid-March to begin actively foraging and mating, until mid June. From June, the hottest part of the year, they would normally aestivate, take a long siesta! They would then hibernate from October through to mid March again.

They live in burrows in the ground and are consequently very successful at digging and tunneling, having front feet and claws designed for this very task. They are most active in the early morning and early evening, but tend to wait out the hottest part of the day in their burrows, they are most active at a temperature range of  20-32 degrees Celsius.