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Radiated Tortoise — Fact Sheet

Astrochelys radiata · Radiated Tortoise

📋 At a glance

Adult size35-40 cm
Lifespan60-100 years
SubspeciesNo captive-care subspecies split.
OriginSouthern and south-western Madagascar dry spiny forest and scrub.
ActivityDiurnal
DifficultyExpert
Legal statusCITES: Appendix I; EU: Annex A; local rules still apply

🏠 Housing

  • Use strong, opaque low fencing outdoors, locked gates, anti-digging edges, and heated indoor retreat space for cold or wet periods. Substrate should be firm and walkable: soil-based surfaces, dry shelters, edible grasses, browse plants, shaded shrubs, and clean feeding areas. Avoid slick floors and permanently wet bedding.

🌡️ Temperature

  • Basking spot: 32-35°C
  • Warm zone: 24-30°C
  • Cool zone: 20-24°C
  • Night: 18-23°C

🥬 Feeding

  • Feed a high-fiber, low-sugar herbivore diet. Good staples include grasses, dandelion, plantain, sow thistle, hibiscus leaves and flowers, mulberry leaves, grape leaves, and other safe browse. Commercial tortoise pellets can be occasional support, not the foundation; fruit should be rare.

🩺 Common problems

  • Common failures are small pens, weak UVB, rich grocery diets, damp sleeping areas, obesity, poor calcium balance, and undocumented animals.