The Redfoot Tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria) is a large South American tortoise, found ranging over a large area from Panama to Northern Argentina. It can be identified by its black shell, orange-red scales on its legs, and yellow scales on its head, and is only likely to be confused with the Yellowfoot tortoise which can be found in the same areas. It may however, be distinguished from the Yellowfoot by the colouration of its legs, and differences in scale patterning on its head.
Scientific Classification
Redfoot tortoises belong to the Order Chelonia, Suborder Cryptodira, Family Testudinidae, Genus Geochelone.
Legal Requirements
Redfoot tortoises are now listed on Appendix II of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), which means that they may no longer be imported, sold, offered for sale or otherwise traded within Europe without a special licence. An unlicensed tortoise may be given away or kept as a private pet, but registration of all tortoises is compulsory before buying or selling and tortoises may be microchipped once they reach a sufficient size (over 100mm long). Trade collecting, import and sale of wild tortoises of these species is prohibited totally.
General Care
Tortoises should have access to both an indoor heated area, and an outdoor area where they can forage and enjoy the natural sunlight in the summer.
The indoor area should ideally be a purpose-built open-topped enclosure, and should be easy to clean, insulate and keep secure. Aquariums or vivariums will not provide suitable accommodation even for younger tortoises as ventilation is poor. The outdoor area may be an enclosed garden or purpose-built enclosure, but should also be secure and provide shade and places for tortoises to safely hide. Any ponds or waterways should be well fenced off.
Hibernation is not recommended for Redfoot tortoises or any other tropical species.
Hygiene
The enclosure should be “spot-cleaned” daily to remove any droppings or uneaten greens. Once a week, the whole enclosure can be cleaned with a disinfectant suitable for reptiles (further details of suitable disinfectants can be obtained from your vet). It is important to always wash your hands thoroughly after handling reptiles as they can carry Salmonella.
Substrate
It is important to use a substrate that is easy to keep clean and replace, and is not going to cause a problem if accidentally eaten. Newspaper therefore makes the ideal substrate, but some sand or earth will provide a more natural environment, whilst shredded paper or hay can provide a suitable bedding area.
Temperature
Reptiles are not capable of regulating their own temperature so it is very important to keep their environment at an appropriate temperature at all times. A temperature gradient should therefore be provided, giving your reptile a hot end where they can bask and a cooler end to which they can retreat.
There are several types of heat sources available including ceramic heaters (infra red light bulbs), tube heaters, reflector bulbs (incandescent spot lights) and heat mats. Incandescent spotlights will provide the ideal basking spot, whereas heat mats on the ground are not a natural way for tortoises to absorb heat. If a heat mat is used, it should be attached to the wall of the enclosure to provide background heat only.
It is important whichever form of heating is chosen, to always use some form of thermostat so that temperature can be accurately controlled. Heat sources should also be protected with a wire mesh guard or similar safety device if they are within a tortoise’s reach.
The ideal temperature range at which to keep these tortoises would be 25-32°C (77-90ºF) in the daytime, with a basking spot of around 35° C (95ºF), and temperatures falling no lower than 21°C (70ºF) at night.
Humidity
This should ideally be measured with a hygrometer and kept moderately high (50-60%) for tortoises that are used to a tropical climate.
Lighting
Ideally, tortoises will be exposed to as much natural sunlight as possible, but in our colder climate this is often not possible so it is necessary to provide supplementary lighting too. Tortoises need to have access to both UVA and UVB rays, which many supposedly “full spectrum” reptile bulbs do not supply, so it is important to check this before purchasing a bulb. UVB rays are very important to allow a reptile to produce Vitamin D, which is essential for the absorption and use of calcium. Without this reptiles are at risk of developing Metabolic Bone Disease, which can often be fatal.
Various different types of UVB lights are available. It is important to check the percentage of UV supplied by the bulb. Indoor tortoises require at least 5% UV output. UV lights should be left on for 10-14 hours daily and replaced every 6 months.
Diet
Redfoot tortoises are naturally omnivores, feeding on a large variety of flowers, fallen fruits, leaves, small insects, snails and carrion depending on the season. In the wet season, fruits will form the main part of their diet, with flowers and leaves forming a larger part of their diet later in the year. In captivity therefore, diet should be constantly varied, with the ideal diet providing a good balance of plant material and some low-fat animal protein.
Suggested foods are listed on the attached diet sheet.
Fresh food and water should be supplied once daily.
It is also important to supplement the diet twice weekly with a calcium/vitamin powder, especially in those tortoises kept indoors. A simple calcium supplement such as cuttlefish may be supplied daily.
Lifespan
The maximum lifespan of a Redfoot tortoise is not known for sure, but these tortoises will often live to well up to 50 years or more.
Signs of Health
A healthy tortoise will be bright and alert with clear open eyes and nostrils and a clean vent. The shell should be smooth and undamaged. Your tortoise should also be keen to eat, and pass faeces at least every 2-3 days. It is important to become familiar with your tortoise’s normal appearance, movement and behaviour, in order that signs of illness can be noticed at an early stage.
It is advisable to take your tortoise to a vet who routinely deals with reptiles for a general health check and faecal sample at least once a year.
Signs of Illness
Reptiles will often not show obvious signs of illness until they are very sick, but you should look out for any changes in appetite or faeces passed, as well as changes in behaviour or breathing. Other signs of illness include discharges from the eyes, nose or mouth.
If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to contact a reptile vet as soon as possible.
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This caresheet is only intended as a general guideline, so please ask for further information. Written and researched by Joanna Hedley BVM&S MRCVS