turtles are one of the longest living animals on land, sometimes live more than 200 years. These beautiful animals often outlive their human caretakers and are known for their slow and steady approach to life.
The lifespan of the Russian tortoise is more than 40-50 years if they are properly cared for. They can far exceed this age, sometimes reaching 100 years old.
In this article, you’ll learn all about Russian tortoise lifespans – from how long they live to their leading causes of death and how they compare to other tortoise species.
How Long Do Russian Tortoises Live?
Russian turtles live on average older than 40-50 years. They can live up to 100 years!
As pets, they are definitely a lifelong commitment – you might even consider who will adopt your turtle when you die, as they will likely outlive you!
We don’t know the average age of wild Russian tortoises, although they probably live shorter lives than pet tortoises because of their increased risk of predators, poor outdoor conditions, and other disasters.
Why do Russian tortoises live so long?
Turtles are thought to live longer than many other species due to their slow metabolism. Animals that are less active with a slower metabolism tend to live longer than animals that are very active with a fast metabolism. An example is the Greenland shark, a slow-metabolizing shark that: can live maybe 500 years. In the wild, Russian tortoises can hibernate in winter for up to 9 months a year. In captivity they generally have a much shorter hibernation period (between 2 and 5 months).
Their longevity may also be related to their genes, which can repair DNA, support their immune response and suppress cancer.
Development and Life Cycle of Russian Tortoises
Russian tortoises are about an inch long when they first hatch from eggs. They will continue to grow until they are 8-10 inches tall. A Russian tortoise takes between 15 and 20 years to reach their full adult size.
Female tortoises will begin to lay eggs once they are about 6 inches (15 cm) long, they can lay up to five eggs at a time.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Russian Tortoise Death?
Improper Care
Before adopting a Russian Tortoise, it is vital to understand how to care for them. They need proper power supply, housing and maintenance.
Feeding your turtle a poor diet, keeping it outside in cold weather, or not cleaning its enclosure for long periods of time can all lead to illness or death.
Stress is also a leading cause of death for turtles, so make them feel at home in their space by researching their care needs beforehand!
Health conditions
Russian tortoises can suffer from the following health problems:
- respiratory infections. This is most common in wild or wild-caught turtles, but can happen to any Russian tortoise.
- Soft shell. This can occur due to nutritional deficiencies caused by diet, lack of sunlight, or birth defects.
- prolapse. This is when a turtle makes an effort to use the bathroom and instead pushes its organs out. It is caused by improper diet and dehydration.
Take your pet turtle to the vet immediately if they show any signs of illness.
injuries
Handling your turtle too roughly or exposing it to hazards such as predators can cause injuries, such as shell damage, which can be fatal if left untreated.
If your turtle is injured, take him to the vet for treatment as soon as possible.
Drowning
Turtles cannot swim and should never be placed in water that covers their faces.
Some people don’t know this, and it leads to turtles drowning – often because of good intentions on the part of humans!
Natural Disasters
Wild Russian tortoises are more likely to die in natural disasters than captive tortoises. This includes storms, wildfires, floods and severe cold.
Russian tortoises cannot tolerate freezing temperatures.
Predators
Of course, predators are the leading cause of death in wild Russian tortoises. These animals can also get hold of a pet turtle that is not properly contained.
Turtles unfortunately have many natural enemies, including other common pets such as cats and dogs.
Baby turtles are most likely to be killed, but any turtle is vulnerable if left outside without a secure enclosure.
How does the lifespan of the Russian tortoise compare to other tortoises?
Some turtles have been known to live for more than 150 or even 200 years. While the Russian tortoise is not one of the longest-lived tortoises, they do live a long time – possibly past their 100e birthday!
The oldest known live turtle is Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise that will be 189 years old as of 2021. He was born in 1832 and lives on the island of Saint Helena.
It is estimated that the world’s longest-living turtle was more than 250 years old. However, this turtle was not a Russian turtle, but a Aldabra giant turtle. Other reports of turtles have them up to 344 years old, but these reports are disputed.
Either way, turtles can reach ages that: considerable than any other land animal!