Yellow-Footed Tortoise — Fact Sheet

Chelonoidis denticulatus · Yellow-Footed Tortoise · Waldschildkröte

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• One adult: at least 3 x 2 m indoor footprint; 8-12 m² preferred long term
• Secure planted outdoor pen only in safely warm weather + heated humid indoor house
• Strong opaque walls, drainage, shade, and several retreats
• 15-25 cm moisture-retaining soil/bark/leaf-litter mix
• Avoid dry tables, cold rooms, smooth floors, pure sand, and stagnant wet substrate

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Broad basking patch + cool shaded retreat + humid hide
• Large shallow soaking basin with easy entry/exit
• Deep leaf litter, cork/wood shelters, plants, and visual barriers
• Female nesting zone: 25-30 cm of warm, slightly moist compactable soil

💡 Lighting

• UVB essential indoors; Ferguson Zone 2
• Aim for about UVI 1-2 at shell height with dense shade near zero
• Moderate T5 HO UVB + broad halogen basking area
• Direct outdoor sun is useful only with safe temperature and shade; glass blocks UVB
• Photoperiod: 11-13 h; replace lamps by output/manufacturer schedule

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking spot: 30-32 °C

• Warm zone: 25-28 °C

• Cool zone: 23-25 °C

• Night: 22-24 °C

• Stable tropical warmth; this species does not hibernate

• Measure shell-height air, basking surface, and hide temperatures

• Avoid narrow scorching spots, heat rocks, and chronic chilling

💧 Humidity & water

• 75-90% relative humidity with airflow and drainage
• Higher humidity in retreats; some surface routes may dry between misting
• Clean full-body soaking basin always available
• Juveniles need especially stable hydration and shallow safe water
• Avoid bone-dry housing and permanently swampy bedding

🥬 Diet

Feed freely:

• Dandelion, plantain, mallow, sow thistle, mulberry, grape leaves
• Hibiscus leaves/flowers, endive, escarole, edible flowers
• Cultivated mushrooms as part of a varied ration

In moderation:

• Papaya, mango, berries, melon, fig, prickly pear
• Cultured earthworms or snails about every 1-2 weeks for adults

Avoid:

• Fruit-dominated diets, banana as a routine staple
• Meat, dog/cat food, bread, dairy, processed food
• Wild snails/slugs from pesticide-treated or parasite-risk areas

Supplements:

• Cuttlebone always available
• Light plain-calcium use on poorly balanced meals
• Conservative multivitamin use; do not over-dose D3 when UVB is measured

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Nasal discharge, wheezing, or open-mouth breathing → chilling, stale damp air, or respiratory disease
• Soft shell, weak limbs, or abnormal growth → UVB/calcium/diet problem
• Swollen eyes, dry skin, or thick urates → dehydration or systemic disease
• Loose stool and weight loss → excessive fruit, parasites, or gastrointestinal disease
• Shell/skin sores → saturated dirty substrate, trauma, burn, or infection
• Persistent digging or straining → possible egg retention

Consult a reptile-experienced veterinarian promptly for breathing signs, weight loss, shell lesions, severe weakness, or suspected egg retention.