Chapter 1 of 9 · Red-Footed Tortoise Care Guide
Red-Footed Tortoise: Start Here
Disclaimer: I'm not a veterinarian and I don't hold a degree in animal science or animal care. This guide is compiled from the published sources listed in every chapter. For a sick animal, a reptile vet is the authority.
The short version
- The red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius) is a friendly, active tortoise from the humid forests of South America [1][5].
- Adults usually reach 11–14 in (28–36 cm), many reach 18 in (46 cm), and they live 50 years or more [1][2][7].
- It is a tropical species. It needs warmth and 70–80% humidity, and it never hibernates [1][3][4].
- It eats mostly greens, plus some fruit and a little animal protein [1][4].
- An adult needs about 8 × 4 ft (2.4 × 1.2 m) of floor space indoors [1].
Is this the right pet for you?
Red-foots are one of the most outgoing tortoises you can keep. Many learn to recognize their keepers and walk right up at feeding time. They have bright red and orange scales on their legs and head, and they stay active all year with no winter shutdown.
They are also a big commitment. Before you bring one home, think honestly about these points.
- Fifty years or more. A hatchling you buy today could easily outlive your children's childhoods [1][2]. Who takes it if you move, have kids, or can no longer keep it? Rehoming an adult tortoise is hard; rescues are full of them.
- Space. An adult needs about 32 sq ft (3 m²) indoors, and a summer outdoor pen if at all possible [1].
- Year-round heat and light. Because red-foots never hibernate, heaters and lights run every day of the year.
- Humidity. This is not a desert tortoise. It needs damp substrate and humid air, and an enclosure built to hold moisture without ruining your floor.
- Fresh food. It eats fresh produce several times a week.
The most common mistakes are keeping red-foots dry like a Russian tortoise (which leads to pyramided shells and respiratory infections), using too small a pen, and underestimating how long they live.
If you can give it warmth, humidity, room and a long-term plan, a red-foot is a wonderful, personable companion.
Two common forms
Care is the same for both. The common "northern" red-foot grows larger. The "cherry-head," from Brazil, usually looks smaller and has a brighter red head [7]. Hatchlings of both are only 1.5–2 in (4–5 cm) long [2][7]. See the Genetics and Morphs chapter for more on localities.
Quick facts
| Item | Target |
|---|---|
| Adult size | 11–14 in (28–36 cm) typical; up to 18 in (46 cm), rarely larger; cherry-heads usually smaller [1][2][7] |
| Lifespan | 50+ years with good care [1][2] |
| Hibernation | No. Tropical species; never hibernate it [3] |
| Enclosure, adult | 8 × 4 ft (2.4 × 1.2 m), about 32 sq ft, or larger [1]; one guide accepts 24 sq ft (6 × 4 ft) [4]; outdoor pen in summer [1] |
| Basking surface | 90–95°F (32–35°C) [1][4] |
| Rest of the pen | 75–85°F (24–29°C) [1]; cool side 75–80°F (24–27°C) [4] |
| Night | 68–75°F (20–24°C) [1]; one vet guide asks for 70–77°F (21–25°C) [3] |
| Humidity | 70–80% average with a humid hide [4]; one guide allows up to 90%, with short spikes to 100% [1] |
| UVB | T5 HO tube at the right distance, UV Index 2–3 at the basking spot, 11–13 hours a day [1][3] |
| Substrate | 4+ in (10 cm) coco fiber and topsoil mix, moist not wet, with leaf litter on top [1] |
| Water | Shallow dish big enough to sit in, changed daily [1][3]; soak hatchlings and juveniles once or twice a week [2] |
| Diet | About 70% greens, weeds, flowers and vegetables; about 15% fruit; under 15% low-fat animal protein [4]; another guide uses about 90% plants and 10% animal foods [1] |
| Feeding | Under 5 years daily; adults every other day [1][4] |
| Handling | Minimal; supervised floor time instead; never flip or drop [2] |
| Vet | Yearly exotic vet check [3]; a fecal test when you bring it home is standard advice |
Red flags
See a reptile vet if you notice a bubbly nose, gaping, a soft shell, pyramiding, swollen or sunken eyes, or no appetite for more than a week.
The law, in brief
- Red-foots are listed on CITES Appendix II, like most tortoises (a few rare species are on Appendix I). Imports need export paperwork; domestic sales of captive-bred animals are normal [5].
- The federal 4-inch rule bans the commercial sale and distribution (selling, holding for sale or distributing) of turtles and tortoises with a shell under 4 in (10 cm) and their viable eggs. The only exceptions are bona fide scientific, educational or exhibition use (not as pets) and export. The rule's definition of "turtles" includes tortoises [6].