The red-footed tortoise is a favorite among turtle friends Variety , the price of the red-legged tortoise is relatively fair and affordable, and the red-legged tortoise has low environmental requirements, is not easy to get sick, and is relatively easy to raise, so many people like to raise red-footed tortoises Leg tortoise.

The red-footed tortoise is a member of the Tortoise family, the genus Tortoise. Habitat in ground habitats, forests, tree holes, and fever caves. Red-footed tortoises are also found on several Caribbean islands, but the species is thought to have been introduced as a convenient food source in the seventeenth century.

Chinese name : Red foot tortoise

Latin name: Geochelone carbonaria

English name: Red foot tortoise

Kingdom: Animalia

Department: Chordate

Subphylum: Vertebrate subphylum

Class: Reptile

Order: Turtle

Family: Tortoise

Genus: Tortoise

Body length: The adult is generally about 30 cm, but the maximum can reach 45 cm.

Geographical distribution: Islands of South America and the Caribbean; Amazon basin, including Paraguay, Suriname, Colombia, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador;

Wild Habitat: Terrestrial Sex, Forest, Tree Hole, Fever Cave.

Food: Wild food herbivorous (vegetarian); dropped fruit (especially plums), mushrooms, vines, succulents, grasses, vegetables, flowers, carrion.

Main feed: various fruits, carrots, mushrooms, beans, peas, grasses, vegetables, flowers, dark green leafy plants, box turtles and tortoises food

breeding : Oviparous eggs produce 2 to 4 litters per year, each with 5 to 15 eggs. The incubation period is April, the mating age is 4 to 5 years, and the mating period is July to September.

Price: According to the size of the carapace, the price varies greatly, the smaller one is about 500 yuan, and the larger one may reach about 2000 yuan.

The red-legged tortoise has a large yellow head and orange-red to red limbs and tail. The shell is slightly dark brown, and the central part of the shield is slightly yellow. The front legs have sharp   scales

that are dark red in color.   Red-headed elephants are bright orange or cherry red (this is a variety) spots or markings, they do not grow very large, usually 40-50 cm. Southern varieties are large and bulbous around the nostrils. Adult males will grow an average of 50 cm slightly larger than females. Males have a concave plastron, like this other tortoise, and a lower, flatter and more pronounced hourglass-shaped carapace. When the tortoise shell exceeds 30 cm, the two central parts of the carapace of most individuals are slightly concave and assume a dumbbell-like shape, but this is not the case in all individuals, and the reason is unclear. Redlegs are territorial but in their wild habitats redlegs can share its territory with yellowlegs. Because both are found in tropical forests, in Suriname, where there are forests and open grasslands (man-made), redlegs are indeed able to walk out of forests to artificial grasslands. Yellow-legged tortoises are just alone in the forest. The mature body size of males is about 30cm, and the mature size of females is about 28~29cm. The male turtles are larger. The largest individual found in the wild is 44.4cm. The characteristics of male tortoises are also not very different from other tortoises. The tail is thick and long with a concave plastron. The special feature of red-legged tortoises is that mature red-legged tortoise males have depressions on both sides of the carapace, so they are also called narrow-waisted tortoises. Turtles, but a few female turtles also have this phenomenon. Due to the wide distribution of red-footed tortoises, according to different geographical environments, the external shape, body size or adaptability are also different. Basically, even the red-footed tortoises of the same origin have a high probability of difference, but there is no To distinguish subspecies, it is generally known as the red-legged tortoise produced in Paraguay. The head and limbs are red in color, and the carapace also has white spots. It is quite beautiful. The English name is (CherryHeadRedFootTortoise) cherry red-legged tortoise. It is called cherry red-legged, and its body size is also smaller than that of ordinary red-legged tortoises, with a mature body length of about 15~20cm.

The red-footed tortoise is a medium-sized species. Male red-footed tortoises have greater carapace length and weight than females, but not wider or taller. Like other tortoise species, male red-legged tortoises have sunken plastrons. When the red-legged tortoise matures, both males and females develop a unique mid-body contraction that gives the red-legged tortoise a distinct hourglass shape when viewed from above. Male tortoise is more obvious. Adult female turtles have longer and wider tails. The red-legged tortoise experienced a period of body color change during its regrowth and development.

The red-legged tortoise is a medium-sized Variety. Male red-footed tortoises have greater carapace length and weight than females, but not wider or taller (Moskovits, 1988). Like other tortoise species, male red-footed tortoises have sunken plastrons. When the red-footed tortoise is sexually mature, both males and females develop a distinctive mid-body contraction (sometimes call it a "corset"), giving the tortoise a distinct hourglass shape when viewed from above. This "hourglass" shape is more pronounced in males than in females. Adult males also have longer and wider tails than females.

The red-footed tortoise experienced a period of body color change during its growth and development. The carapace of the hatchlings is light yellow or horny, and the dark brown or black markings will gradually increase as they grow older. The adult carapace is dark brown or dark brown, with a light yellow ring pattern in the center of each rib shield and vertebral shield. The large scales on the legs and tail vary in color from yellow to dark cherry red, with the brightest color usually seen in adult males. The color of the large scales on the head ranges from pale yellow to bright red (Legler, 1963). Red-footed tortoises vary considerably in their body color range, so no one can accurately describe each individual.

Brightly colored tropical tortoises. Easy to raise, it is ideal for beginners in raising tortoises.

Geographical distribution:

Islands of South America and the Caribbean; Amazon basin, including Paraguay, Suriname, Colombia, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador;

Wild habitats: ground habitats, forests, tree holes, fever caves.

Food: Wild food herbivorous (vegetarian); dropped fruit (especially plums), mushrooms, vines, succulents, grasses, vegetables, flowers, carrion.

Main feeding: Various fruits (eg: plum, peach, strawberry, apple with skin, kiwi, star fruit, papaya, mango, tomato, etc.), carrots, mushrooms, beans , peas, grasses, vegetables, flowers, dark green leafy plants (eg: dandelion, mustard greens, kale, rutabaga, kale), box turtle and tortoise food, tortoise food

oviparous Eggs are laid in 2 - 4 litters per year of 5 - 15 eggs per litter, with an incubation period of 4 months, mating age of 4 - 5 years, and a mating period of 7 - September.

While the red-footed tortoise is usually found in relatively dry grassland and forest areas, this species also occurs in moist forest environments. There is some disagreement about which habitat is their first choice. Walker (1989) asserted that red-footed tortoises prefer grasslands and dry forest areas, and probably only a few prefer rainforest habitats. Other authors, however, claim or suggest that moist forests are the preferred habitat (Legler, 1963) (Moskovits, 1988). Red-footed tortoises have been reported to be primarily herbivorous in the wild, but also eat small amounts of animal food such as carrion (Moskovits, 1985). Red-footed tortoises are very active after the rainy season when the breeding season begins. Male red-footed tortoises are involved in a fight, with male competitors trying to overturn their opponents. We noticed an interesting phenomenon, in almost every species of tortoise in which male fighting occurs, the males are usually larger than the females. In contrast, males are generally smaller than females in terrapin species, and male-to-male fighting does not occur. It has been suggested that breeds with male-fighting evolved larger males because larger males would have a higher chance of winning in this contest to mate with females, thereby passing on their large size to their males. offspring. Breeds with smaller males evolved because smaller males were quicker and able to mate with many females, thereby passing on their gene (Berry and Shine, 1980). In natural habitats, mating occurs after the rainy season, from July to September, with clutches ranging from 5-15 eggs (Medem, 1962). Red-footed tortoises, as well as many other species of tortoises, mature very slowly and do not reach sexual maturity after several years. This factor, coupled with relatively low egg laying numbers, makes red-footed tortoises vulnerable to overhunting. Due to overhunting, too many adult males and females are removed from the population, leaving only immature juveniles, and as a result, the population as a whole begins to decline. While the red-footed tortoise is not listed as endangered, it may become a reality in the near future if hunting rates and habitat loss continue at current levels. Conservation efforts include the establishment and protection of wildlife reserves and national parks where red-footed tortoises and other animals are protected from hunting (Walker, 1989).

In feeding red-legged tortoise, the most important thing to pay attention to is the control of food intake, not eating The more the better, the tortoise's gastrointestinal tract is very fragile, and eating too much can easily lead to disease. Here are some tips for feeding red-footed tortoises.

1. Food choices for red-legged tortoises

Many tortoise friends feed the tortoises lettuce, cabbage, cabbage and fruits, etc. This is actually right Tortoises are not good. Here are some foods suitable for red-footed tortoises.

1. Lettuce: It is easy to buy in supermarkets, and it is a delicious food for juvenile turtles after removing the large part of the root water.

2. Dandelion: Most of the tortoises are suitable for consumption, with high fiber content, it is an ideal food for tortoises, and the flower is also edible.

3. Grape leaves: Grape leaves are more suitable for smaller tortoises to adapt to foods with a slightly higher fiber content, and are indispensable as part of the staple food.

4. Alfalfa: Known as the king of pasture. Alfalfa is less common in cities, and can be grown from seeds for tortoises. Adding some dried alfalfa to the diet is ideal for larger tortoises.

2. Control of food intake of red-legged tortoises

Vegetarian tortoises have very weak digestive ability. Generally speaking, they can digest the food they eat once. It takes about 3 days for food, or even longer. Therefore, tortoises are most taboo to feed more, eat too much, and gain weight can only mean feeding, but it cannot mean feeding well. The most important thing in raising tortoises is to control their food intake.

For turtles over 3 years old, it is advisable to feed them once every 3 days, and once they are full. After eating, the turtle will wander around for a while, or take a nap, and at this time, the remaining food can be taken away.