| African Spurred Tortoises, when young, are cute, | | | | African Spurred Tortoises require warm, dry |
| outgoing, and very tame. Perhaps these are reasons | | | | environments. In their outdoor enclosures, a |
| any prospective turtle owner would seriously | | | | substrate of three-fourths sand and one-fourth peat |
| considering owning one. But this African Turtle may | | | | moss is a must. Add a layer of grass hay on one side |
| not be the best choice for a pet because it grows | | | | to serve as shade. This shade shelters tortoises from |
| very big and becomes very powerful. In fact, African | | | | heat and provides a secure place to rest. On the |
| Spurred Tortoises are the largest tortoises in the | | | | other hand, to provide warmth to animals, use a |
| African mainland and the third largest on the planet. | | | | heat-emitting bulb in a lamp. Hang it 12 inches above |
| They will surely require a big space and lots of food. | | | | the substrate. You should also provide a basking |
| More importantly, they will need a lot of your time | | | | spot, heated to between 90º to 95º F. Make sure |
| and money. | | | | you also have a space for a water dish. For safety, |
| African Spurred Tortoises are so named because of | | | | ensure that the enclosure is predator-free. |
| the spurs on their hind legs. Found in the hot, dry | | | | As the owner, if you decide to keep your turtle |
| scrubland areas of North Central Africa, the adult | | | | indoors, you must house it in a large terrarium-not in |
| female African Spurred Tortoise can reach a shell | | | | an aquarium. These two housing options are actually |
| length of 20 inches, while adult males can grow even | | | | very different. These instructions only apply for a |
| larger, with shells up to 30 inches in length. It has a | | | | small or medium sized African Spurred Tortoise. |
| broad and oval-shaped carapace, off-white plastron, | | | | Plastic tubs, wooden cages, and other enclosures are |
| and brown head. The colour of its body varies, from | | | | acceptable for all sizes. It is noteworthy to mention |
| yellowish to golden brown. This species also has very | | | | that African Spurred Tortoises, like most of their |
| thick skins. | | | | family, require a great amount of UVB radiation for |
| African Spurred Tortoises require a high fibre diet. | | | | Vitamin D3 syntheses (needed in calcium metabolism), |
| They enjoy eating mixed salads of greens and | | | | and love being outdoors, exposed to grass, plants |
| vegetables every day; with a sprinkling of calcium | | | | and soil. It is therefore recommended to build |
| from time to time. Significantly, any turtle has the | | | | outdoor housing for them whenever possible. |
| tendency to become obese if overfed. Thus, every | | | | Owning and caring for any species of turtle require a |
| African turtle owner should make sure that food is | | | | lot of your time and money. You will have to make |
| served in moderation. These turtles can also be fed | | | | informed decisions based on the needs of your |
| with fruits, such as melons and apples, during the hot | | | | particular breed of turtle. Do not become one of |
| summer months; but only once every 10 days to 2 | | | | those owners who felt excited as a novice turtle |
| weeks. They should never be fed commercial dog or | | | | keeper, but ended up selling-or worse, leaving-his pet |
| cat food. | | | | discarded, trying to fend for itself in the wild. |