Asian forest tortoise (Manouria emys)

Short answers

Asian forest tortoise: How big does the enclosure need to be?

A terrarium is unsuitable for adults – a large heated greenhouse or outdoor enclosure with a bathing pond.

Asian forest tortoise: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–29 °C (does not tolerate heat), basking spot 30–32 °C (moderate, not desert values), at night 18–22 °C.

Asian forest tortoise: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (a shaded forest species).

Asian forest tortoise: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 30–50+ years.

Asian forest tortoise: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Intermediate to expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–29 °C (does not tolerate heat)

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

30–32 °C (moderate, not desert values)

Humidity

High, 70–100 %

UVB

Recommended (a shaded forest species)

Enclosure

Minimum size

a terrarium is unsuitable for adults – a large heated greenhouse or outdoor enclosure with a bathing pond

Substrate

Damp forest floor (leaf litter, bark mulch, soil), shaded

Feeding

Food

Herbivorous to omnivorous: grasses, leaves, bamboo shoots, fungi, windfall fruit, occasionally snails

Feeding interval

Daily to every other day, mostly plant-based

Key facts

Adult size

45–60 cm, up to ~25–37 kg (the largest Asian tortoise)

Life expectancy

30–50+ years

Origin

South-East Asia (Assam to Sumatra and Borneo), humid montane forest

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B – registration required; wild populations are severely threatened

Brumation

None (warm all year), but cool, humid woodland conditions and no heat

Cohabitation

A group of 2-3 animals is possible (one male with several females); two males harass each other and the females so persistently during courtship that a female can visibly lose weight. Requires a sufficiently large enclosure with retreats and the option to separate animals.

Notes

A cool, damp, shady forest species – it tolerates no heat or dryness and bathes a lot. The only tortoise that builds nest mounds; it grows very large.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa) – Expert
• Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) – Expert
• Burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynota) – Intermediate
• Forsten's tortoise (Indotestudo forstenii) – Expert
• Chaco tortoise (Chelonoidis chilensis) – Intermediate
• Elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) – Intermediate
• Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) – Expert
• Red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Asian forest tortoise (Manouria emys) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a terrarium is unsuitable for adults – a large heated greenhouse or outdoor enclosure with a bathing pond), substrate (Damp forest floor (leaf litter, bark mulch, soil), shaded), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.