In this episode of Turtle Tea with TTPG, host Wendy Montroy sits down with Katie Bradley from Mossy Tortoise to discuss breeding Russian tortoises in human care. Katie brings 13 years of experience and two generations of captive-bred offspring to break down the full lifecycle of breeding, from housing and courtship to incubation and raising healthy hatchlings.
Russian tortoises are no longer being imported, making high-quality captive breeding essential for the species. Katie shares her setup for housing males and females separately, her incubator specs for temperature-dependent sex determination, and how she manages hatchlings for optimal shell growth and long-term health.
Connect with Katie Bradley:
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Instagram: Mossy Tortoise
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MossyTortoise
Episode Q&A Breakdown
Q: At what age or size are Russian tortoises ready to breed?A: Maturation depends on size rather than strict age. Females should generally weigh at least 950 to 1,000 grams before breeding, which usually occurs between 5 and 10 years of age. Males can mature earlier, around 450 to 500 grams or 4.5 to 5 inches in shell length, around 5 to 8 years old.
Q: Should male and female Russian tortoises be housed together permanently?A: No. Male Russian tortoises can be very aggressive and will continuously chase, bite, and stress females. They should be housed separately and only brought together for short, supervised breeding visits lasting anywhere from 20 minutes to a few hours.
Q: What temperatures determine the sex of Russian tortoise hatchlings?A: Russian tortoises are temperature-sex dependent. Incubating at 83 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit produces male offspring, while incubating at 89 degrees Fahrenheit produces females. Temperatures above 90 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit can significantly decrease hatching success rates.
Q: How should Russian tortoise eggs be set up for incubation?A: Eggs should be placed on completely dry vermiculite or perlite. Wet substrate can cause the eggs to absorb too much water and crack. Maintain high ambient air humidity (around 80%) using water containers, circulation fans, and an air bubbler inside the incubator.
Q: How long does it take for Russian tortoise eggs to hatch?A: At female-producing temperatures (89 degrees Fahrenheit), eggs typically hatch between 60 and 72 days. Eggs incubated at lower temperatures for males take longer, usually between 75 and 90 days.
Q: What is the best way to care for newborn Russian tortoise hatchlings?A: Once they pip, move hatchlings onto wet paper towels in a small container until their yolk sacs absorb and their bellies close up. Once eating and passing waste, transfer them to a substrate like moist coconut coir. Keep them hydrated with daily soakings, regular shell misting, a warm gradient with a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and a diet of wild-grown weeds.
About the Turtle & Tortoise Preservation Group (TTPG)
The mission of the Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group (TTPG) is to ensure survival of the world’s turtles and tortoises through captive breeding. The TTPG supports the private ownership of chelonians and recognizes the substantial role that the private sector has played in the captive breeding and conservation of turtles and tortoises.
Website: https://www.ttpg.org
Join TTPG or donate: https://www.ttpg.org/membership
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TTPGGroup
About Turtle TeaWebsite: https://www.turtletea.org
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