Russian Tortoise Height

[Jgill117]

Hey I’m wondering if some of you guys can let me know what the height of your full grown Russian tortoise is ( bottom to top of the shell) ! I believe 20-30 years old is full grown. I’m having someone build me a custom tortoise enclosure and I need to know what approx the height for the hideout is and I can’t find this online ! Thanks in advance !

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!
It's about 4" or less, depending on tortoise size (length). However, a better idea is not to build a hide but make it a part of the landscape. Russian tortoises like to burrow and providing thick substrate (6-10"), hills and slopes and "bunker"-like hides out of flat stones will provide more natural environment.

 

[Jgill117]

Thank you !

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Is this for your tortoise in this thread?

Tortosie Beak split on side

Hey has anyone experienced this with this tortoise ? His side of his face is split from the side !

tortoiseforum.org

If so, your Russian isn’t going to stand much taller than he is nowyou can measure how tall he stands, then add 5-6 inches for the entryway to allow for substrate depth and some wiggle room.
When you say hideout, are you building a whole ‘hide section’? Or just having a hide built to go into the enclosure? If thinking of having a whole hide section, I wouldn’t, they just don’t tend to make adequate use of it during the day, likely because it’s not as well lit/heated with the cover on it. I’d go open plan and create hide areas with a smaller hide, some plant coverage etc.

Hopefully you might like looking through these for some ideas&inspiration for decor etc

This covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc), sizing(you can get away with smaller indoors if you can build a larger outdoor space when weather permits, but still the bigger the better), appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and a really handy diet link to check out!

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

This includes lots of inspiration for an adult set up both indoors and out! The indoor bit has some good ideas to tackle indoor space whilst still providing the needed roaming room! Check comments too, I’m always adding to it.

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one here is good to go over and keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

Hope this helps!

 

[Miles&Marvin]

Hey I’m wondering if some of you guys can let me know what the height of your full grown Russian tortoise is ( bottom to top of the shell) ! I believe 20-30 years old is full grown. I’m having someone build me a custom tortoise enclosure and I need to know what approx the height for the hideout is and I can’t find this online ! Thanks in advance !

I have a couple of full grown Russians. One is almost twice the size as the other so hard to give an answer.

 

[HoosierTort]

Hey I’m wondering if some of you guys can let me know what the height of your full grown Russian tortoise is ( bottom to top of the shell) ! I believe 20-30 years old is full grown. I’m having someone build me a custom tortoise enclosure and I need to know what approx the height for the hideout is and I can’t find this online ! Thanks in advance !

It really depends on which subspecies as a couple tends to be pretty flat and a couple tend to be nice and arched, but overall you’d be safe with a ~6”-7” opening.