Elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata)

Short answers

Elongated tortoise: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 240×120 cm floor space for one animal; for a pair from 240×120 cm (1997 expert report, at 30 cm shell length).

Elongated tortoise: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–30 °C, basking spot 35 °C, at night 20–23 °C.

Elongated tortoise: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 6–10 %).

Elongated tortoise: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 40–60 years.

Elongated tortoise: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–30 °C

Night temperature

20–23 °C

Basking spot

35 °C

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 6–10 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 240×120 cm floor space for one animal; for a pair from 240×120 cm (1997 expert report, at 30 cm shell length)

Substrate

Coco humus soil with leaf litter, damp hiding places

Feeding

Food

Greens, windfall fruit, fungi, occasionally snails

Feeding interval

plant food daily

Key facts

Adult size

25–35 cm

Life expectancy

40–60 years

Origin

South-East Asia – monsoon forest

Protection status

CITES II; wild populations are severely threatened

Brumation

A dry spell is possible

Cohabitation

Keeping singly or one male with several females (1.2). Two males harass each other and the females; under constant courtship pressure a female visibly loses weight. Hence one male to several females - and plan in the option of separating the male temporarily.

Notes

To be kept more humid than the Mediterranean tortoises. Crepuscular, and it avoids full sun. Captive-bred animals only – the wild populations have collapsed because of the food trade.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 240×120 cm floor space for one animal; for a pair from 240×120 cm (1997 expert report, at 30 cm shell length)), substrate (Coco humus soil with leaf litter, damp hiding places), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.