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forest hinged back tortoises

22 16:39:32

Question
QUESTION: I just accepted 3 FHT, and know nothing about them except they need humidity and water.  I live in Arizona and have several species of turtles and tortoises, but nothing as difficult as these.  Should I keep them inside, outside, covered or uncovered.  It gets around 105F in the summer and 30F in the winter.  I think I got in over my head with these tortoises, help!

ANSWER: Uh oh! Been there, done that! These are cool tortoises, but the cares are a lot different than the grassland species that would do well in Arizona.

A quick primer:

There are basically two major categories of tortoises- grassland and forest. Grasslanders (the Mediterranian species, Sulcata, Leopards, Gophers, etc.) eat mostly a dry, fiberous diet with almost no fruit or meat. They like warm dry climates with humid hidy holes they can use when desired, etc.

Forest species, like Hingebacks, Red- and Yellow-Foots, and so on, eat a more fruit-heavy diet with far less fiber, quite a bit of meat, and almost no grasses. They like warm temps and generally do not do well with temps over about 95-100, but like VERY high humidity- 90% or so. In fact, Hingebacks seem to like warm rains.

Your challenge now is to create a habitat that is big enough (about 100 square inches per inch of shell length) with proper temp and humidity controls to keep temps in the 80s and humidity in the 80-100% range.

Feeding these guys is fairly simple- a mix of about 2/5ths tropical fruits or berries (melon, pineapple, mango, banana, etc.- try a frozen tropical fruit mix for smoothies, etc.); about 2/5ths dark leafy greens like turnip or dandelion, or endive or escarole lettuces; and about 1/5th meat- worms, pinkies, well-soaked weight-control cat food, etc. Many of us do a daily rotation- a day each of greens, fruit, greens, fruit, meat... Exact ratios are not important, but variety is.

A dash of calcium carbonate powder once a week, and a dash of multi-vitamins 2x weekly is good. Because of the meat in the diet, UVB is not as critical, but they will enjoy a good sunbath once in a while. (Outdoors, do not be surprized if they graze themselves full, then hide.)

Humidity is CRITICAL for the first 4-5"- keep them indoors if needed up to that point. After that, they can probably do OK outdoors there if they have a warm hide in the winter, a cooling mister in the summer, lots of vegetation to graze on and hide in, and probably a 'humidity box' they can choose to go into at all times.

Humidity boxes are getting more common as we discover that humidity during the early years is vital to preventing pyramidding in many species. All it is is a simple plastic box with a lid, big enough for the tortoise to enter and move in. Cut a hole in the side for the tortoise to enter, and add a couple inches of a very absorbant material. (Long-fibered sphagnum moss, not peat, works nicely.) Keep the moss very damp and park the box in a warm but not hot place to create a nicely humid chamber. (A simple dripper on top of the box can keep the moss nice and moist all day for you!)

The temptation to offer to take them off you hands is incredible- but I am in a similar situation to you. I am in Omaha NE- hot humid summers (good), long dry winters (bad) with absolutely no room indoors for a big habitat for more tortoises- I barely have room for my three already!

So, I understand COMPLETELY how you would get yourself into this kind of situation!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so very much.  I do have the room for an indoor inclosure for the, (a reptile room designed for my many other lizard and tortoises)but I am in the process of building an 6x6 enclosure outdoors (greenhouse per say) for my other high humidity species.  Can they be housed with my chameleons, red-yellow footed tortoises in this outdoor building?  Do they need a swimming pond included?  Thanks again for your help.  I can give you my phone number if you need to talk to me in person.

Answer
Er... 6'x6' may be a bit tight- we usually suggest about 8'x8' per adult tortoise. We also usually do not recommend mixing continents- too many parasites and bugs cause problems when they infest species that have zero resistance to them.

They would like a good drinking/soaking dish or small pool, but not really a swimming pond- just like either Red- or Yellow-foots.