The Red Footed Tortoise is a species of tortoise that is native to the Northern parts of South America.
They are closely related to the Yellow Footed Tortoise which is found further South in the Amazon Basin.
They have become a popular species of tortoise in the pet trade and unfortunately exploitation of this has threatened their numbers in the wild.
Red Footed Tortoise Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Red Footed Tortoise Family
The Red Footed Tortoise belongs to the family Testudinidae. This is simply the family of tortoises. They are closely related to Pond Turtles and Asian Turtles.
Tortoises can vary greatly in size from the Galapagos Giant Tortoise that is over 1.2 metres to tiny tortoises that are only about 3 inches in length.
Most species of tortoise have a number of similarities. However, there are always a few exceptions to these rules.
In general, tortoises have a hard shell they retract their head and neck directly backwards into the shell to protect them.
The are land animals that swim poorly or can’t swim at all. They typically move very slowly, with overage speeds of less than 0.5km per hour.
There are 17 different genera of tortoises at the time of writing and over 60 recognised species.
Genus
The genus that the Red Footed Tortoise belongs to is called Chelonoidis. There are 4 species of living tortoise in this genus.
The genus includes the Galapagos Tortoise, which is the largest species of tortoise in the world.
Species
The scientific name for the Red Footed Tortoise is Chelonoidis carbonaria. There are currently no recognised sub-species.
However, there are variations amongst these tortoises which some people argue should be classified as sub-species or even entirely different species.
Red Footed Tortoise Description
The Red Footed Tortoise typically grows to around one foot in length. They can vary in color, shell shape and even have anatomical differences throughout their range.
However, these tortoises typically have a dark brown or black colored shell with a number of large yellow or orange spots on it.
They get their common name from the red coloration that is clearly visible along their legs and feet.
This red coloration is often also present on the head of the tortoise. It can also extend down the tortoise’s neck.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Red Footed Tortoise can be found throughout much of the Northern parts of South America. Their range also extends up into parts of Central America.
They can be found as far North as places such as Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama in Central America.
They are very abundant in the Northern countries of South America such as Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Cayenne and French Guinea.
However, they can also be found in other countries such as Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil.
They can also be found on many of the islands in the Caribbean including Grenada, Barbados and Puerto Rico.
They are often found in Savannahs, wood clearings, along waterways and on the outskirts of forests.
They share some of their range with species such as the Blacktail Cribo, the Colombian Rainbow Boa and the Pumpkin Patch Tarantula.
Red Footed Tortoise As Pets
The Red Footed Tortoise is a popular species in captivity. This is largely due to their relatively easy-care requirements and stunning appearance.
As these tortoises are well established in captivity, you should never purchase a wild caught animal.
Red Footed Tortoise Enclosure
The biggest challenge when caring for a Red Footed Tortoise is providing them with an enclosure that is large enough for them.
Of you live in the right climate, you could make an outdoor enclosure for them in the garden. However, you will need to make it ‘predator proof’.
For most people, this isn’t an option and they will need to keep their Red Footed Tortoise in an indoor enclosure.
For an adult tortoise, you are going to need an enclosure that measures around 6ft long x 4ft wide. Height isn’t too important as the tortoises are unable to climb.
You will however, want a thick layer of substrate to support burrowing and at least a foot of clearance at the top to ensure they can’t climb out of the enclosure.
You will want to include a number of hide boxes so that the tortoise can feel secure. Live or artificial plants can also be added for enrichment.
If you choose to add live plants to the enclosure, make sure they are safe for your Red Footed Tortoise as it will likely eat them.
Substrate
The Red Footed Tortoise is a species of tortoise that likes to dig so you need to have a deep layer of substrate in the enclosure to support this behaviour.
They also like high levels of humidity so your substrate should be able to support this without moulding.
Some common substrates used include cypress mulch, peat soil, orchid bark, sphagnum moss and a soil/sand mixture.
Of course, if you are keeping your animal outside you can simply use the grass in your garden for substrate.
Light and Heat
Like other reptiles, the Red Footed Tortoise is cold blooded and needs a thermal gradient to regulate its body temperature.
You will need to provide a ‘hot spot’ at one end of the enclosure. As the tortoise moves away from the source of the heat, the temperature will drop.
The temperature in the warm side of the enclosure should be very hot. These tortoises like a hot spot of around 95-100F.
The cooler side of the enclosure can drop to around 85F. This can drop further during the night but should never fall below around 70F.
If you are keeping your tortoise in an outdoor enclosure, you don’t need to provide any special lighting as they will get all the UV they need from the sun.
However, when housing a Red Footed Tortoise inside, you will need to provide them with a UV bulb.
A 10 percent UV tube that covers the entire length of the enclosure is ideal for these turtles. It should be on for 12 hours a day to provide a proper day/night cycle.
If you do not provide your tortoise with a source of UV, they will develop serious medical issues such as metabolic bone disease.
Water and Humidity
You will need to provide a large but shallow dish in your Red Footed Tortoise enclosure. This needs to be large enough for them to sit into.
Because they will often bathe in the water dish, you will need to change the water regularly to keep it clean.
These tortoises like high levels of humidity so you will likely need to spray down their enclosure to keep the humidity at a good level for them.
You should be aiming for a humidity level of between 50-70% in your tortoise’s enclosure.
Red Footed Tortoise Diet
The bulk of a Red Footed Tortoise diet will come from a mixture of fruit and vegetables with dark leafy greens making up the majority of their diet.
Technically, they are omnivorous and will eat the occasional slow-moving invertebrate. However, insects should only be offered occasionally.
Around 75% of these tortoises’ diet should be made up of vegetables. Dark leafy greens should make up around 60% of this with the rest coming from a mixture of other vegetables.
Around 15% of their diet can come from fruit. You can offer them a variety of different fruit such as apple, pear, grapes and berries.
Only around 10% of their diet should come from insects. Too much protein can lead to serious health issues in these tortoises.
