Hobbies And Interests
Habitat
The yellow-footed tortoise thrives in warm and humid conditions. It likes to be close to water and will sometimes swim. It is most active in the morning and late afternoon, and prefers to avoid the hotter daytime hours. The tortoise's natural habitat can be simulated by providing a glass terrarium or molded plastic reptile cage that will maintain hot and humid conditions, with basking temperatures in the mid to low 90-degree range. Night temperatures should not fall below 70.
Heat and Humidity
Heat can be provided with basking bulbs, heating pads and ceramic heat emitters. The substrate in an enclosure should hold moisture without becoming soggy and be easy to clean. The tortoises are shy, seek shelter and like to burrow. Orchid bark and pulverized coconut husks work well. Damp sphagnum moss will add moisture. Aside from heat and humidity, the important requirements in the habitat are shelter from the heat, a resting place and water.
Health and Diet
If their environment is too cool and dry, the tortoise will start to ail and develop breathing problems. Early symptoms will include a runny nose and puffy eyes. A proper diet is also essential. The natural diet of the yellow-footed tortoise includes plants, small animals and even dead animals. According to the Honolulu Zoo, the tortoises eat fallen fruit, mushrooms, grasses, bones, fecal matter and slow, small-moving organisms such as worms and snails. As pets, they will eat fruits, vegetables and commercial tortoise food.
Additional Information
Yellow-footed tortoises can live for up to 60 years. In the wild, warm rainy weather after a cool winter stimulates breeding. Specimens that are sold for pets are typically bred in captivity, according to Animal-World.com. Imported specimens may be more questionable for purchase. In the wild, they are an endangered wild species that is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, known as CITES.