Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans)

Short answers

Indian star tortoise: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 180×90 cm floor space for one animal; for a pair from 180×90 cm (1997 expert report, at 22,5 cm shell length).

Indian star tortoise: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–32 °C, basking spot 35–40 °C, at night 22–24 °C (not below ~15 °C).

Indian star tortoise: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB essential (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5).

Indian star tortoise: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 30–50+ years.

Indian star tortoise: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–32 °C

Night temperature

22–24 °C (not below ~15 °C)

Basking spot

35–40 °C

Humidity

40–60 % during the day; higher for juveniles and at night (up to 70–80 %), with simulated monsoon humidity phases

UVB

UVB essential (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 180×90 cm floor space for one animal; for a pair from 180×90 cm (1997 expert report, at 22,5 cm shell length)

Substrate

Sandy loam with grassy areas; dry, with a damp hide

Feeding

Food

Herbivorous: grasses (the main component), herbs, wild plants; high in fibre and calcium, little fruit

Feeding interval

adults daily to every other day, high in fibre

Key facts

Adult size

~25–30 cm (females larger than males at ~15–20 cm), varies regionally

Life expectancy

30–50+ years

Origin

India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan (dry and monsoon zones)

Protection status

CITES Appendix I (since 2019, CoP18), EU Regulation Annex A – strictly protected: the yellow EU certificate plus registration required

Brumation

No winter dormancy; the seasonal shift between dry season and monsoon (humidity) drives the activity and breeding cycle

Cohabitation

Keep as a group, female-heavy: relatively sociable, group housing possible given plenty of space. Males can harass females — avoid a surplus of males.

Notes

Sensitive to climate and hygiene (the airways!): swings in temperature and humidity are critical, and constant warmth is needed. CITES I papers are essential. The source name "Pfirsichschildkröte" is carried over unchanged (the usual name is the Indian star tortoise).

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 180×90 cm floor space for one animal; for a pair from 180×90 cm (1997 expert report, at 22,5 cm shell length)), substrate (Sandy loam with grassy areas; dry, with a damp hide), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.