The Afghanistan or Afgan tortoise is another name for the Horsefield tortoise so be sure to enter your email above to receive the famous Email Care Course send straight to your inbox at no cost!
The Afghanistan tortoise is another nickname for the species known as Testudo horsfieldii, a small tortoise that lives in dry climate settings. There are many nicknames for this tortoise, some other popular ones include the Russian tortoise and the Central Asian tortoise. Due to its size and personality, this tortoise is a particularly popular selection as a pet. You will find that you can have a bond with this tortoise that you might have thought possible. They have a distinctive 
coloring on their shells that makes them easily identifiable. To identify an Afghanistan tortoise, make sure to look for the prominent yellow and brown coloring on the back of its shell.
Buying
If you are interested in getting a pet like this for you home, they are generally available for sale at local pet stores, or personal breeders. It is generally preferable to buy from an experienced breeder, or someone who specializes in reptiles. Big pet stores often have lax records on how they care for their pets, sometimes putting them in small or unclean cages. You want to know that your future pet was taken care of. It is also better to support those who take good care of animals. A young and healthy tortoise will generally cost you around $100 to $250, depending on various factors. This pet does require some maintenance, but the costs aren’t too bad when accounting for the life of the tortoise.If you do decide to get this species as a pet, you should be informed about its preferred diet. In their natural habitat the tortoise prefers to eat shrubs, plants, tubers, and nearly anything it can find. If you want to create a living situation that matches the tortoise’s natural diet as closely as possible, you should plant a variety of leafy edible plants. Then let your tortoise do the rest. The Afghanistan tortoise loves to forage, it will spend hours making sure that your plants are put to good use. Not only does this provide nutrition for the tortoise, but can increase its life quality. The closer that the tortoise lives to its natural conditions, the more life satisfaction it will have. Some people buy feed for their tortoise, but it is important to add the leafy vegetables in as well.
Housing
The tortoise does best when its housing conditions match what it might experience in its natural habitat. This animal prefers a dry and warm climate, which is why it is perfectly suited to stay outside in desert areas. Many owners will build a pen for their pet and let it live outside. Though this can be climate dependent. The tortoise does need to have some water, but can otherwise fare well in dry conditions. Make sure that any climate that you keep your tortoise in is warm. The tortoise is not prepared to survive long stretches in temperatures under 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Generally they will burrow to escape temperatures that are unsuitable for them. When it comes to finding housing, just make sure that they have plenty of space. It is preferable to allow the tortoises to live outside.
Hibernation
The hibernation of the tortoise varies depending on climate and season. In the wild the Afghanistan tortoise can hibernate up to 9 months out of the year. In captivity these periods vary. The benefits of artificial hibernation is a much debated topic within the tortoise community. This depends on your feelings about the animal. A tortoise should not be hibernated if it not in good health. Another point of contention is how long to hibernate your animal. Some owners claim to see the benefits with as little as 8 weeks of induced hibernation. Still, others find the practice unnecessary. Some pet owners never hibernate their tortoises and report no negative effects. In many ways it’s a judgment call as to whether you want to hibernate your tortoise or not. You have to act based on what you think is best for your pet, and what your pet seems inclined to do.
Care
In order to take the best care of your tortoise. It pays to have a care sheet. A care sheet is simply a list of steps that help you remember to care for every aspect of your pet. The most important aspect of your care sheet should be regular veterinary care. Find a vet that you trust, and take your tortoise in for regular checkups. Make sure to adhere to the diet and housing recommendations outlined above. Remember, these are just recommendations to get you started. In order to build a proper living situation for your tortoise, continue your research. For example, you can find specific plans for how to build a proper pen. It pay to do your research when setting up your tortoise’s habitat. Further care sheet considerations include: water, temperature, and diet. Also keep in mind that some tortoises are better suited to live in an aquarium, this depends on size and age.
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Substrate
For those that choose an aquarium or similar housing, keep in mind the proper substrates that will please your pet. A substrate is simply the covering that you use for the floor of your pets enclosure. For the Afghanistan tortoise, a typical substrate is mix of sand and garden foam. You can tinker with your substrate a little, but always keep in mind the long-term health of your pet. For example, it’s fine to have a few rocks in your enclosure, but it would not be a good idea to make the entire flooring out of rocks. Pay attention to which side of the tank your pet prefers.
Overall, there is plenty of attention to detail hat goes into taking care of a tortoise. But it is worth it for many pet owners all over the world. The tortoise can make a lifelong companion, it makes sense to take care of it properly. With proper care, these animals have been known to live for up to 50 years. If you are thinking about getting a tortoise for yourself, do the research. A responsible pet owner will get to enjoy his or her pet for years to come.