Does Russian Tortoise Have To Go Outside

Many pet tortoises need to be outside. Adult Sulcata tortoises, for instance, are too large to be kept in indoor enclosures year round. However, Russian tortoises are a small pet tortoise that don’t have to go outside. As long as you can provide the necessary requirements for an indoor enclosure, a Russian tortoise will be fine inside.

Benefits of Going Outside

If you have the space and area, letting your Russian tortoise outside is quite beneficial. Although you don’t have to, it’s a great idea to do so.

Being outside, aids in exercise. If you have an area with safe greens, weeds and grass to graze, you’re offering a more varied and natural diet. And, being outside allows for natural sun light, which is one of the most important aspects of putting a tortoise outside. Natural UV rays from the sun aids in vitamin D3 production, allowing the tortoise’s body to properly absorb calcium and other nutrients.

Safe Outside Enclosure for Russian Tortoise

If you have a baby Russian tortoise, you’ll want to make sure to spend extra care on a safe outdoor enclosure. Baby Russian tortoises are small and can escape small cracks and holes in an enclosure. Plus, they’re easy prey for predators. Make sure the baby Russian tortoise enclosure has a secure lid and walls that not only create sight barriers but prevent escaping.

For an adult Russian tortoise, you have a little more room for design and aesthetics. However, you still want to make sure when building an outdoor habitat for a Russian tortoise that it’s safe. You want the enclosure to be about 4 foot x 4 foot with at least a 1 foot barrier in the ground and two feet walls. Russian tortoises are prone to digging and climbing. You don’t NEED a lid for an adult, but it is still safe to include one in the design. Predators should still be a concern.

Ideas for Outside Russian Tortoise Enclosure

Designing an outside enclosure for a tortoise does not have to be super elaborate. You can go simple and functional and still build a safe environment for your tortoise to be outside.

Here are a few examples of outside enclosures.