Cherry Head Tortoise Care Sheet

Cherry Head Tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonarius) are a variant locale of the red foot tortoise and like the red foots, are named for its distinctive red or orange markings on the head, legs, and tail. Their shells are usually darker than red foots with higher contrasting colours making their reds and oranges appear brighter than regular red foots. This species is typically a little smaller than regular red foots and are also known for their mild, docile temperaments and relatively manageable size compared to some other tortoise species, making them popular pets.

Care sheets are only to be taken as guidelines. Just as with all animals, each reptile will have unique traits and personalities special to the individual animal that may require adaptation in their husbandry and care. The following care sheet will address basic requirements but as the primary caretaker of your pet, we encourage you to take notice of your pet's behaviours and preferences and make adjustments as they grow with you and your family. Please also keep in mind that unlike mammals, most reptiles change their behaviour according to the weather seasons even if you keep them indoors all year round.

We keep tortoises and turtles in stock at our Toronto store and ship across Canada.

Enclosure: Ample space to roam is essential to accommodate their activity level. Cherry Head tortoises are roamers and grazers, they need lots of space to explore and have high activity levels. A 20-40gal terrarium is adequate when they are young but eventually they will need a custom space ideally measuring around 2' x 4' and up. Cherry Heads are very long living which means they have a relatively slow growth rate and take 12-15 years before they reach full size. They also benefit from plenty of hiding spots and opportunities to dig in their habitat.

Substrate: Cherry Head tortoises thrive in environments that closely resemble their natural rain forest and woodland habitats. In the wild, they often live in areas with a humid, moist substrate that allows for burrowing and natural behaviors like digging. They also love to sit in mud! To replicate this in captivity, choose substrates that resemble a mixture of dirt and mulch. Providing the right substrate is crucial for their health and well-being and you will find over time that the right substrate will directly correlate to their activity levels.

Temperature & Humidity: This species is native to tropical and subtropical regions of South America, where they experience warm temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. To thrive in captivity, they need a carefully controlled environment that mimics their natural habitat as closely as possible. Consistent warm temperatures and high humidity will greatly contribute to their health. The basking area should be heated to 90-95°F (32-35°C) to allow the tortoise to regulate its body temperature, while the ambient temperature of the enclosure should remain between 75-85°F (24-29°C) during the day. At night, the temperature can safely drop to 70-75°F (21-24°C). Humidity is equally important and should be kept between 60-80%, which helps prevent dehydration. To achieve this, misting the enclosure regularly, using moisture-retaining substrates like soil or cypress mulch, and possibly using a humidifier are all helpful. Monitoring both temperature and humidity levels with thermometers and hygrometers ensures a comfortable, healthy environment for your tortoise.

Lighting: Provide UVB lighting for 10-12 hours a day to support proper calcium and vitamin D3 metabolism and overall health. Use a full-spectrum UVB bulb specifically designed for reptiles. UVB lighting can be provided in the form of linear fluorescent, compact fluorescent, mercury vapour, and more recent technology provides UVB lighting in LED form as well. Heating bulbs can be provided by basking heat bulbs, heat emitters, or deep heat projectors. The amount of lighting you need will depend on the size of your setup and temperature of the room the enclosure stays in.

Decor: Cherry Head tortoises will likely try to trample anything you place into its terrarium due to its high activity levels and bulldozer like personalities. Provide some shaded areas in the enclosure and anything else should be strong and sturdy to withstand your tortoise's movements. Otherwise, provide lots of open space for roaming and foraging.

Feeding: Cherry Head Tortoises are one of few tortoises that are true omnivores and therefore benefit from some levels of proteins. As omnivores, they enjoy a varied diet. They need leafy greens (ie. dandelion, collard, endive, bok choy, kale, and swiss chard, etc.), vegetables, and some fruit (in moderation). You can also offer occasional protein sources like boiled eggs, small insects, worms, invertebrates, and even some fish. It's important to avoid overfeeding fruit due to its high sugar content.

Supplementation: Provide calcium supplements to support shell health in the form of calcium blocks or cuttlebones. We advise against D3 supplements as long as you are using the correct UVB lighting.

Water: Provide fresh water daily in a dish that is easily accessible to drink safely from and soak in. They absolutely love mud and soaking in water is beneficial to keep them hydrated.