Impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa)

Short answers

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

From 220×110 cm floor space for one animal; for a pair from 255×110 cm (15 % more floor space per additional animal, as in the 1997 expert report).

Impressed tortoise: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C (keep cool), basking spot — (no intense basking spot; avoids heat, becomes uncomfortable above ~25–28 °C), at night 15–20 °C.

Impressed tortoise: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB not essential (shaded forest floor), moderate UVB recommended.

Impressed tortoise: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: uncertain in captivity (probably 20+ years; early losses are common).

Impressed tortoise: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C (keep cool)

Night temperature

15–20 °C

Basking spot

— (no intense basking spot; avoids heat, becomes uncomfortable above ~25–28 °C)

Humidity

80–100 %

UVB

UVB not essential (shaded forest floor), moderate UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 220×110 cm floor space for one animal; for a pair from 255×110 cm (15 % more floor space per additional animal, as in the 1997 expert report)

Substrate

Damp forest floor, leaf litter and moss, caves and hides

Feeding

Food

A specialist: mainly fungi, plus greens, ferns, mosses and a little windfall fruit; little standard vegetable matter

Feeding interval

adults daily to every other day

Key facts

Adult size

25–30 cm (up to ~33 cm), ~3–4 kg

Life expectancy

uncertain in captivity (probably 20+ years; early losses are common)

Origin

South-East Asia, montane forest ~500–1,500 m (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, southern China, Malaysia)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II, EU Regulation Annex B; almost only wild-caught, proof of origin needed

Brumation

No brumation; cool and humid all year, with a slightly cooler seasonal spell

Cohabitation

Keep them singly (they are delicate); a pair only under expert conditions. Stress and rivalry are possible → do not overstock

Notes

One of the hardest tortoises to keep: heat-sensitive (keep it cool!), highly prone to dehydration and stress, with a specialised fungus diet, and barely bred in captivity. Wild-caught animals usually have a high loss rate → for specialists only.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Asian forest tortoise (Manouria emys) – Intermediate to 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 Impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 220×110 cm floor space for one animal; for a pair from 255×110 cm (15 % more floor space per additional animal, as in the 1997 expert report)), substrate (Damp forest floor, leaf litter and moss, caves and hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.