Red-Footed Tortoise — Fact Sheet

Chelonoidis carbonarius · Red-Footed Tortoise

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• Warm, spacious enclosure with cover, humidity, and dry walking areas
• Outdoor use only in warm safe weather; heated indoor space often needed
• Adult minimum: several m² or a very roomy indoor pen
• Substrate: soil-rich mix that holds some moisture without becoming swampy
• Avoid: cold rooms, arid boxes, dirty wet substrate, slippery floors

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Humid hide + shaded retreats + basking area + water tray
• Leaf litter, cork bark, plants, visual cover, stable walking paths
• Dry surface choices as well as humid retreats

💡 Lighting

• UVB essential indoors
• Best: T5 HO UVB plus separate basking heat or a measured mercury vapor system
• Outdoor direct sun is excellent; glass/plastic blocks UVB
• Photoperiod: 10-12 h with seasonal adjustment; no night light

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking spot: 32-35 °C

• Warm zone: 26-30 °C

• Cool zone: 24-26 °C

• Night: 22-24 °C

• Stable warmth is important; no Mediterranean-style winter cooling

• Measure both basking surface and ambient temperatures

• Avoid chronic chilling and overheated dry boxes

💧 Humidity & water

• Moderate to high humidity with airflow
• Fresh shallow water tray always available
• Juveniles: stable humidity and regular hydration
• Avoid stagnant swampy substrate, mold, and dirty wet hides

🥬 Diet

Feed freely:

• Leafy greens, safe weeds, broadleaf plants
• Dandelion (Taraxacum spp.)
• Plantain (Plantago spp.)
• Mallow (Malva spp.)
• Hibiscus and mulberry leaves

In moderation:

• Fruit in controlled amounts
• Mushrooms and suitable vegetables
• Occasional appropriate protein only with a clear feeding plan

Avoid:

• Fruit-heavy diets
• Dog/cat food as a routine protein source
• Processed foods, dairy, bread
• Dirty or fermented leftovers

Supplements:

• Cuttlefish bone available at all times
• Calcium dusting as needed; UVB still required

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Nasal discharge or wheezing → cold stress or respiratory disease
• Shell rot or skin irritation → dirty wet conditions
• Soft shell → UVB/calcium problem
• Swollen eyes → infection, vitamin issue, poor hygiene
• Refusal to eat → low temperature, stress, disease
• Lethargy → chilling or illness

Consult a reptile-experienced vet for respiratory signs, shell lesions, severe weakness, or prolonged anorexia.