Browse Russian tortoises for sale on ReptileAds. These compact, active grazers are a popular choice for tortoise keepers, and you can message breeders and keepers directly.
We couldn't find any animals matching your search criteria. Try adjusting your filters or search terms.
The Russian tortoise is a small, energetic tortoise from the dry grasslands of Central Asia, loved for its curious nature and manageable size. It is also called the Horsfield's tortoise or Central Asian tortoise. Here is what to expect from one and how to pick a healthy tortoise.
Testudo horsfieldii lives across southeastern Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and parts of Iran. Its home is arid and semi-arid grassland and desert, where summers are hot and winters are cold. To cope, wild Russian tortoises spend much of the year underground in burrows, emerging to graze when conditions are right.
That background explains two traits keepers notice right away: a strong urge to dig and a hearty appetite for leafy weeds.
Russian tortoises stay compact, with adults usually reaching about 5 to 8 inches of shell length and typically weighing around 1 to 2 pounds. Females generally grow a little larger than males, which have longer tails. Their size makes them a practical choice for keepers who want a tortoise but cannot offer the yard space a large species needs.
In captivity they often live 40 to 50 years, so they may be part of your household for a very long time.
A Russian tortoise does well in a spacious tortoise table indoors or a secure outdoor pen in suitable weather. Deep substrate that holds a burrow, a warm basking spot, a cooler retreat and UVB lighting or natural sunlight cover the essentials. Outdoor pens need walls buried below ground, because these tortoises are determined diggers.
The diet centers on grazing plants such as dandelion greens, plantain and clover, supported by other leafy greens and edible flowers, with fruit kept as an occasional treat. Many keepers weigh their tortoises regularly, and Husbandry.Pro offers a simple way to track weights, feedings and brumation dates over the years. For temperatures and brumation guidance, follow a full care guide.
They are a great starting point for new tortoise keepers. Russian tortoises are hardy, active during the day and eager to explore, and their plant-based diet is easy to source in many areas. Giving them more floor space than you think they need is the best investment you can make.
Ask whether the tortoise was captive bred or imported, how old it is and what it weighs. Photos should show clear eyes, a clean nose and a firm shell, and the seller should be able to tell you what the tortoise eats. No listing can guarantee health, sex or temperament, but open answers are a good sign.
International transport may involve CITES documentation, and some regions have specific rules, so check what applies to you. Compare listings, read seller profiles and reviews, and use built-in chat to arrange the details. A Hit List alert will let you know when new Russian tortoises are listed.
AI-assisted guide reviewed by the ReptileAds team. General information about these animals — not care, veterinary or legal advice, and not a description of any individual listing above.
The Russian tortoise, also sold as the Horsfield's or Central Asian tortoise, is a small, sturdy tortoise with a big personality. Listings in this category may include hatchlings, juveniles and adults, and some sellers list pairs or individuals of known sex.
For each listing, check the tortoise's approximate age, weight and whether it was captive bred, and ask what it has been eating. Built-in chat is the quickest way to ask about housing and brumation history, and seller profiles and reviews help you choose who to buy from. Set a Hit List alert if you want to hear when a new Russian tortoise is listed.
Sulcata, Leopard, Hermanns and Other Tortoises are also available to browse.
ReptileAds is a friendly place to find Russian tortoises and connect with experienced keepers.
Look for listings from breeders who note whether their tortoises were hatched in captivity.
Message sellers through built-in chat to ask about diet, housing and history.
Set a Hit List alert so you know when a Russian tortoise matching your search is listed.
Russian tortoises come from dry steppes and love to dig, graze and explore.
Read the full ReptileAds Russian tortoise care guide for detailed setup advice.
A few questions help you start off on the right foot.