Red-footed Tortoise is a popular species among turtle enthusiasts. The Red-footed Tortoise has a relatively affordable price and does not require high environmental conditions. It is not prone to diseases and is relatively easy to raise. Therefore, many people like to keep Red-footed Tortoise.
Red-footed Tortoise belongs to the family Testudinidae and the genus Geochelone. Its habitat is terrestrial, forest, tree hollows, and hot caves. Red-footed Tortoise is also found on several Caribbean islands, but it is believed that this species was introduced in the 17th century as a convenient food source.
Chinese name: 红腿陆龟
Latin name: Geochelone carbonaria
English name: Red-footed tortoise
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Geochelone
Body length: Adult individuals are generally about 30 centimeters long, but can reach up to 45 centimeters.
Geographical distribution: South America and islands in the Caribbean; Amazon basin, including Paraguay, Suriname, Colombia, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador;
Wild habitat: Terrestrial, forest, tree hollows, hot caves.
Food: Wild food is herbivorous (vegetarian); fallen fruits (especially berries), mushrooms, grapevines, succulent plants, grass, vegetables, flowers, carrion.
Main diet: Various fruits, red carrots, mushrooms, beans, peas, grass, vegetables, flowers, deep green leafy plants, box turtle and tortoise food.
Reproduction: Oviparous, laying 2-4 clutches of 5-15 eggs per year, with a hatching period of 4 months. Mating age is 4-5 years, and mating season is from July to September.
Price: The price varies greatly depending on the size of the carapace, with smaller ones costing around 500 yuan and larger ones possibly reaching around 2000 yuan.
Red-footed Tortoises have also been found on several Caribbean islands, but it is believed that this species was introduced in the 17th century as a convenient food source (Prichard and Trebbau, 1984). The biggest threat to the survival of Red-footed Tortoises in each country where they are found is overhunting by humans (Walker, 1989). They are widely hunted as a food source in their countries. Interestingly, tortoises are considered "fish" by the Catholic denomination, and during the "Holy Week," Red-footed Tortoises are consumed in large quantities (note: according to Catholic tradition, during the week leading up to Easter, believers can only eat vegetarian or seafood). Red-footed Tortoises are collected and shipped to many different cities in South America to be sold as a delicacy. In fact, Red-footed Tortoises can withstand long periods without food or water, which is another evolutionary advantage, but it also makes transportation of this species simple and profitable. Habitat loss and disturbance are another threat to Red-footed Tortoise populations.
Although it has been observed that Red-footed Tortoises can continue to live in converted agricultural lands (Legler, 1963), their density is greatly reduced compared to their natural habitats. Tortoises living in agricultural lands are easily discovered, which may explain the high capture rates. Compared to hunting or habitat loss, the threat to Red-footed Tortoise survival from the pet trade exports is much smaller but still has a negative impact on them. The natural history of Red-footed Tortoises presents two areas of interest, namely the impact of overhunting and habitat loss on this species, and artificial captive breeding and reproduction.
It is recommended to keep the Red-footed Tortoise as a pet. It is an entry-level species among land turtles and is relatively easy to care for. The advantages of keeping this species include not being prone to acidification or stone formation in the digestive system. They have a strong gastrointestinal system and can consume a variety of foods. However, it is important to pay attention to temperature and humidity. The Red-footed Tortoise is native to rainforest habitats and requires higher humidity compared to other land turtles.
(1) Common Cold
The clinical condition: The common cold is mostly caused by large temperature changes. Although it is easily treated, it should not be taken lightly as it can evolve into a respiratory disease. The clinical conditions of a cold include sneezing, runny nose, and wheezing.
Treatment: In the early stages, warming can be done by maintaining a constant temperature of 30 degrees. If the cold is severe, proper treatment should be administered using cold medicine mixed with water or through feeding. Cold medicine mostly consists of antibiotics which have a certain stimulating effect on tortoises. Therefore, medication should be used only as a last resort and the dosage should be around 1/4 to 1/5 of the dosage for humans, administered through subcutaneous injection.
(2) Oral inflammation
The clinical condition: Oral inflammation is indeed a common disease among tortoises. There are many causes of oral inflammation, including bacterial invasion during spring and aggressive behavior by tortoises. Unsuitable food can also cause oral inflammation. Overfeeding can sometimes cause it as well.
Treatment: Oral inflammation is not incurable. There are many successful cases of treatment. The symptoms of oral inflammation include red and swollen mouth, possible decayed or broken teeth, and mucus flowing out of the corners of the mouth. In severe cases, refusal to eat may occur. The treatment methods for oral inflammation are numerous. First, the mouth of the tortoise should be sprayed with clean water to remove the mucus. Then, diluted hydrogen peroxide (1:11:3 ratio) can be used with a sterilized cotton swab to clean the mouth. After that, diluted gentamicin (2% to 4% depending on the situation) can be applied to the inner wall of the mouth twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. The general recovery time is 4 to 7 days, and medicine should be used for an additional 2 to 3 days after recovery. Another method, mentioned by Mr. Landa, is to clean with distilled water, disinfect with diluted hydrogen peroxide (1:1), rinse off the foam with distilled water, and then use either penicillin No. 4 or Watermelon Frost. Change the medication daily at the beginning and stop using No. 4 or Watermelon Frost when the wound begins to heal. There are many other treatment methods, and the choice depends on personal preference and convenience. Additionally, it is advisable to refrain from feeding the tortoise during the treatment. However, if the tortoise is weak and refuses to eat for a long time, it can be hand-fed with a mouse, but caution should be exercised.
(3) Pneumonia
The clinical condition: Pneumonia can be considered one of the major killers among tortoises. Pneumonia mainly occurs due to sudden climate changes and the lack of timely temperature control measures. Factors such as high humidity, stagnant air, soaking in cold water, and heat and poor ventilation in the nest can all cause pneumonia. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid these factors. The symptoms of pneumonia are troublesome. The tortoise may have bubble-like discharge from the nose and frequently keep its mouth open. Upon inspection, there are no abnormal colors or any visible injuries. The tortoise does not like to stay in its nest and has slow movement. It drinks a large amount of water and breathes with its head raised at a 45-degree angle, accompanied by a scratching sound. It eventually dies from respiratory failure.
Treatment: Since pneumonia is contagious, isolation treatment is necessary when affected. Pneumonia is caused by invasion of the snake's respiratory tract by gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria, which reproduce and produce toxins, infecting the lungs. The treatment of pneumonia can be divided into oral administration and subcutaneous injection. There are many medications available for treating pneumonia. The following are common reference drugs: penicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, gentamicin, streptomycin, and compound berberine.
Oral administration of drugs is a relatively safe treatment method, but the treatment effect is not as fast as injection. Common oral medications include cephalosporin, tetracycline, erythromycin, and gentamicin. If the tortoise is in a state of deathbed, the medication can be diluted with water in a syringe and administered orally. The dosage is still 1/4 to 1/5 of the dosage for humans, which means the diluted medication can be divided into four doses, taken twice daily.
Subcutaneous injection is the fastest and most effective treatment method. Since pneumonia is generally caused by gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria, the medications used can be penicillin, streptomycin, gentamicin, compound berberine, or cephalosporin injection. The dosage can be 100,000 to 200,000 units. The dosage of other drugs is also around 1/4 to 1/5 of the dosage for humans. If the condition is severe, the initial dosage can be increased. The injection can be given subcutaneously or intramuscularly. For subcutaneous injection, wait until the pet is balanced and use a needle to inject the medication from the scales. For intramuscular injection, choose a location where the muscles are thicker, and inject at an angle along both sides of the spine. It is important not to push all the medication in at once, and instead, inject in multiple locations, approximately one injection per 25 square centimeters. The number of intramuscular injections should be twice daily.
The most important thing to pay attention to in the feeding of the Red-footed Tortoise is the control of the food intake. It is not better to eat more. The gastrointestinal tract of the tortoise is very delicate, and eating too much can easily lead to diseases. Here are some points about feeding the Red-footed Tortoise.
1. The choice of food for the Red-footed Tortoise
Many turtle enthusiasts feed lettuce, cabbage, and fruit to the tortoise, which is not good for the tortoise. Here are a few types of food suitable for the Red-footed Tortoise.
1. Watercress: It is easy to buy at the supermarket. Remove the parts with high water content at the root. It is a delicious food for young tortoises and should not be overfed. It is also suitable to add to improve the taste.
2. Dandelion: Most tortoises are suitable for eating. It is an ideal food for tortoises with high fiber content, and the flowers can also be eaten.
3. Grape leaves: Grape leaves are more suitable for small tortoises to adapt to food with slightly higher fiber content as transitional food. It is indispensable as part of the staple food.
4. Alfalfa: Known as the king of grass. Alfalfa is not very common in cities, but you can buy seeds and plant them for the tortoise to eat. It is ideal to add some dry alfalfa to the food for larger tortoises.
2. Control of the feeding amount of the Red-footed Tortoise
Herbivorous tortoises have weak digestion capacity. Generally speaking, it takes about 3 days or even longer for them to digest the food they eat once. Therefore, tortoises should not be overfed. If they eat too much and gain weight, it can only indicate survival, but not good health. The key to keeping tortoises is to control the food intake.
Tortoises over 3 years old should be fed once every 3 days, and the limit is to feed them until they are full. After they are full, the tortoises will wander around or take a nap. At this time, the remaining food should be removed.
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