Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How big do they grow and how do you sex them? Any information on their care is appreciated.

Peter

Peter,

Males generally grow to 20cm and females to 30cm. Sexing is the same as with most other tortoises; the males have a longer tail. Star Tortoises are higher maintenance than many tortoises; they are not quite as hardy as many other species.

I feed my pair a similar diet to Sulcata and Leopard Tortoises since they are primarily a grazing species. I start their feeding with an initial feeding of spineless Optunia cactus before they receive their salad. Their salad that I prepare is more than 50% grasses (I use wild grasses and tropical carpet grass since most temperate grasses that are "approved" are not available where I live), the other less than 50% includes Thai Morning Glory (which I pick myself - a type of swamp weed very high in calcium), certified safe Mustard Greens (Mustard Greens hold on to pesticides more than many other vegetables), Water Cress, Hibiscus Blossoms, a small amount of Okra (they like it), and a very light topping of Thai Pumpkin (also called Thai Butternut Squash- they love it and starts an aggressive feeding response) and Dandelion Greens/Blossoms. Parsely is rarely available here, but is included with the salad when I can find it. They also receive 1-2 small feedings of papaya a week (which I do not give to the Sulcata and Leopard Tortoises). I supplement their diet with a sprinkling of calcium/vitamin supplement every other day and they always have a cuttlefish bone to gnaw on, which they often bite into, more than any other type of tortoise I keep.

They will occasionally drink water, which I offer every morning. Sometimes they are interested, sometimes they ignore it and move off.

Natural sunlight is VERY important for hatchlings and juveniles. UVB lighting just does not seem to do the job for hatchlings and juveniles.

Star Tortoises are a species in which pyramiding (rising of the scutes (bony scales on the carapace (top of the shell)) occurs naturally, but not always. My female has a very small amount (barely noticeable) of pyramiding, while my male has none, but it is not due to sexual dimorphism.

The Southern Indian Star Tortoises and Sri Lankan Star Tortoises are really beautiful and people usually take notice of my Star Tortoises over my Radiated Tortoises.

Cheers,

Michael

At what size can you sex them reliably? Thank you.

Peter

It was pretty obvious by the time they were 6cm or about 2.25in.

Michael

>>At what size can you sex them reliably? Thank you.
>>
>>Peter