Variety Overview
English Name: Red-footed Tortoise
Also Known As: Red-legged Tortoise, Savanna Tortoise
Origin: Northern South America
Price Range: approximately $70-$140
Body Length: 30-35 cm (12-14 inches)
Lifespan: Over 40 years
Morphological Features and Identification
Adult Red-footed Tortoises typically have an elongated oval shell with parallel sides, though males’ sides curve inward. Their carapace is highly domed and smooth, featuring scutes with light yellow centers surrounded by black or dark brown edges. Unlike other terrestrial tortoises, their necks lack scales. While growth rings are prominent, they tend to smooth out as the tortoise ages.
Their limbs are generally cylindrical; the front limbs have four claws while the hind legs have five, without distinct toes. The front limbs are slightly flattened and usually match the head in color. The scales on these limbs vary in size and protrusion due to their primitive nature. Tail muscles are well-developed, varying in length and shape by gender, but generally not sharp.
Maintenance Tips
Temperature:
These turtles originate from very warm climates and should never be allowed to hibernate. Maintaining a year-round temperature between 24-30°C (75-86°F) will ensure their well-being. However, it’s crucial to have an area with a constant temperature of 26-29°C (79-84°F) so that the turtle can regulate its body heat.
Humidity:
Keep humidity levels above 70%; higher is better than lower. Water basins are essential for red-footed tortoises as they need to drink water and bathe frequently, especially every few days. Because they come from high-humidity regions, they are prone to dehydration even when provided with moist food; thus, access to water is vital.
Sunlight:
All tortoises require exposure to sunlight to synthesize vitamin D. Although red-footed tortoises have slightly lower requirements in this regard, they still need at least 15 minutes of sunlight daily. Provide some shade to prevent overheating; indirect or scattered sunlight can also be beneficial for them.
Feeding Techniques
The diet of the Red-footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius) is more diverse than that of any other existing land tortoise species. Their menu includes all kinds of fruits and vegetables—whether fresh or cooked—eggs, lean meats, moistened canned dog food as well as dry cat and dog food. Fruits such as apples (including skins), pears (including skins), peaches, apricots, bananas, grapes, papayas (pawpaws), cantaloupes (muskmelons), watermelons and various melons are suitable. Vegetables can be fresh or freshly frozen; even older vegetables are fine as long as they are primarily green leafy types like cooked carrots or tomatoes.
Feeding times can vary; you can feed them during the day or at night if there is sufficient lighting or heating because these tortoises have a hearty appetite. In their natural forest habitat, Red-footed Tortoises consume fallen fruits along with wild mushrooms, vines, grasses, succulents and carrion. Juvenile tortoises eat similarly to adults but it’s important to note that while this represents their wild diet—which often leads to domed shells—in captivity their diet should primarily consist of varied plant matter.
For optimal nutrition in captivity: prioritize high-calcium and low-phosphorus plants with fruits as occasional supplements; avoid frequent feeding of high-protein items like dog food which is generally unsuitable for most land tortoises. Providing cuttlefish bone helps them grind their jaws; otherwise they might chew on enclosure decorations when hungry. All foods given to juvenile Red-footed Tortoises should be chopped into manageable pieces mixed with harder items like carrots for added texture.
Breeding Information
Red-footed tortoises become particularly active during the rainy season that marks the start of their breeding period. Male red-footed tortoises often engage in battles where they try to flip each other over. Through these confrontations, larger males have evolved as they are more likely to win and mate with females, thus passing on their larger size to their offspring. In their natural habitats, mating typically occurs after the rainy season from July to September, with each clutch consisting of 5 to 15 eggs. Both red-footed tortoises and many other tortoise species take several years to reach maturity due to their slow growth rates. Combined with a relatively low number of juveniles, this has contributed to a decline in their overall population.