Red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius)

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It belongs to the family Testudinidae (tortoises), which are land turtles.

➡️ Chelonoidis is a genus of exclusively South American turtles - from Panama to Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Venezuela.
➡️ In nature, they live in forested savannas, wet grasslands and the edges of tropical forests.

📏 Size: adults usually reach 30–50cm in shell length (somewhere they state an average of ~30–40cm).

🥚 Lifespan: often 40–70+ years if well-kept.

🔎 Appearance:

Carapace: oval, slightly convex and mostly dark to jet black with paler spots in the middle of each plate.

Legs and head: characteristic color spotting - from yellow to orange to red on the limbs and head.

Plastron (bottom part of the shell): usually lighter to yellowish.

Sexual dimorphism: females are usually larger and more robust, males have a slightly concave plastron and a longer tail. (Sources generally describe the differences)

📌 There are several color and geographic variants in the population that differ in color intensity and shell shape - some breeders consider these variants to be potential subspecies.

🌍 3. Natural environment and behavior

🌞 Habitat: tropical and humid areas of South America - forested savannas, humid grassy plains and edges of rainforests.
🌡️ Climatic conditions: temperatures here usually fluctuate around 25–30°C with high humidity.

🦎 Behavior:

Diurnal... but also nocturnal activity: Although they are often active during the day, they can also become active after dark or after rain.

Life rhythm: they spend a lot of time foraging, avoiding predators, finding shelter or resting in the shade.

Social behavior: they are not very aggressive, but they can form hierarchies when breeding together and males can show dominance.

🍽️ 4. Diet and nutrition

Green turtles are omnivorous, which means that they consume both plant and animal food - unlike many other land turtles.

📋 Typical diet in captivity:

✔️ Leafy greens and herbs (e.g. dandelion, hay)
✔️ Various grasses, stone fruits and juicy vegetables
✔️ Occasionally an animal component: earthworms, insects, fed mice or eggs (in small quantities) - serves as a source of protein.

🍓 Fruit: popular, but recommended as a supplement rather than the main component of a balanced diet.
🧂 Supplements: Regular calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation is key for healthy shell and bone growth.

🏡 5. Breeding requirements – environment and equipment
🏠 Enclosure and terrarium

For coal tortoises, you need a spacious enclosure – either outdoors (in the warm season) or a large terrarium indoors:

📏 Recommended space:

For an adult, at least ~ 2.4m × 1.8m (bigger is always better).

🌡️ Temperatures:

Basking (heating) area: around 30–32°C.

Cooler zone: around 22–25°C.

At night, it should not be lower than 15–18°C.

💧 Humidity:

60–80% is ideal, sometimes up to 90% in the environment - helps prevent problems with shell growth and dehydration.

💡 Lighting:

UVB light is essential for the production of vitamin D3 and calcium absorption.

🌿 Substrate and hiding places:

Use a substrate that maintains moisture (e.g. coconut fiber, forest soil mix) and allows for digging or hiding.

🧠 6. Nature and behavior in captivity

✔️ Character: generally calm, curious, but rather shy and independent.
✔️ They are not "pets" in the sense of being held frequently; they often respond better to a calm environment and observation of their own activities.
✔️ Stubbornness and territoriality: some individuals may show an effort to defend their space, especially when several individuals are in the same enclosure.

🩺 7. Health status and common problems
⚠️ Most common health risks
Problem Cause Prevention
Metabolic bone disease UVB / D3 / calcium deficiency UVB light, supplements
Respiratory infections too cold / humid environment balanced temperatures
Pyramidation of the shell low humidity / poor nutrition proper humidity, varied diet
Parasitic infections improper hygiene regular veterinary check-ups

🌡️ Correct temperatures and humidity are crucial for digestive and immune functions. Incorrect conditions can lead to respiratory or digestive problems.

📆 Veterinary care: preventive checks with a veterinarian specializing in reptiles significantly reduce the risk of complications.

🐣 8. Reproduction and variants

📍 Reproduction: females lay 2–15 eggs in a nest; incubation can last 4–6 months depending on the temperature.

⚠️ Subspecies / variants: In the wild, several geographical variations of color and shell shapes are distinguished, but they are not officially considered separate subspecies according to the latest taxonomic studies - although some breeders practically separate them.

🎯 9. Advantages and disadvantages of breeding
✅ Advantages

✔️ Attractive appearance with colorful accents.
✔️ Interesting behavior, active in search of food.
✔️ Long life - a faithful companion for decades.

❌ Disadvantages

❗ Requires a large space and special microclimatic conditions (heat + high humidity).
❗ Long-term commitment - even 50+ years.