How big do Spekes Hingeback Tortoises Get?

about 7.5 inches
Speke’s Hingeback tortoises are likely the heartiest and most personable of the 6 African hinge-backed tortoise species. Only growing to about 7.5 inches, they are an excellent apartment/condo species.

Why is it called hinge-back tortoise?

The name “hingeback tortoise” comes from this animal’s unique, 90-degree moveable “hinge” located at the rear of its shell, which allows it to cover up its rear legs and tail when threatened.

What is the food for tortoise?

Tortoises like a variety of plant-based foods. Produce: Depending on the species of your tortoise, about 80% of your pet tortoise’s daily diet should be fresh vegetables like kale, dandelions, mustard and collard greens. For fun, toss in a little green or yellow bell pepper, sweet potato, squash or cauliflower.

Do Russian tortoises bite?

The simple answer is yes. In captivity it normally happens by accident. Usually, it happens during hand feeding or when they are hungry and “test bite” to see if something they see is edible. In this video I filmed in the moment while cleaning our Russian Tortoise’s enclosure.

Should I hibernate my Russian tortoise?

Russian tortoises do not need to hibernate to be healthy, so tortoises kept indoors and maintained at stable temperatures will never skip a beat while winter winds below outside. Keep lights on 12 to 14 hours a day, and turn off all light and heat sources at night.

What is a hinge-back tortoise?

The Home’s hinge-back tortoise is a small tortoise found throughout the coastal regions of the Gulf of Guinea in Western Africa. Its distinct shell angles down at the back. Home’s hinge-back tortoises require high humidity, which is unusual compared to most other tortoise species.

How do hinge-back tortoises avoid overheating?

To avoid overheating, hinge-back tortoises prefer closed forest canopies and shady microhabitats. They forage in the shade and rarely bask in sunny spots. These omnivorous tortoises eat mushrooms, seeds, plant matter, worms, snails, slugs, spiders, frogs and carrion, but the bulk of their diet is made up of insects, which is unique among tortoises.

What do hinge-back tortoises eat?

Home’s hinge-back tortoises require high humidity, which is unusual compared to most other tortoise species. They mostly eat insects, which is also unique to this tortoise species. This tortoise’s carapace, or the top of its shell, is tan to dark brown.

Where do hinge back tortoises live in Africa?

Home’s hinge-back tortoises are terrestrial forest tortoises, found throughout the coastal regions of the Gulf of Guinea. They have been observed in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.