GENERAL INFORMATION

THE AFRICAN HINGEBACK IS UNIQUE AMONG TORTOISES IN THAT ITS SHELL IS HINGED AT THE BACK ALLOWING IT TO CLOSE THE HIND LEGS AND TAIL WITHIN THE SHELL FOR PROTECTION. THREE SUBSPECIES ARE TYPICALLY AVAILABLE, THE BELLS HINGEBACK (Belliana) WHICH HAS A SMOOTH SHELL AND THE FOREST HINGEBACKS (Homeana & Erosa) WHICH HAVE LEAF LIKE SCALES ON THE SHELL. AS FOR ALL HOT CLIMATE AND TROPICAL TORTOISES, HINGEBACKS SHOULD NOT BE HIBERNATED.

HOUSING

THE HINGEBACKS TROPICAL TORTOISES AND SHOULD BE HOUSED IN A VIVARIUM WITH DAYTIME TEMPERATURES OF BETWEEN 80f AND 88f. A BATHING POOL, SUCH AS A CAT LITTER TRAY, IS IMPORTANT AS HINGEBACKS NEED GOOD HUMIDITY AND ENJOY BATHING FOR LONG PERIODS. WHILST THE TORTOISE IS MAINTAINED IN A VIVARIUM, IT IS VITAL THAT IT RECEIVES THE CORRECT UV LIGHTING TO AID VITAMIN D3 PRODUCTION AND UTILISATION. IT IS ALSO ADVISABLE TO USE CALCIUM ADDITIVES SUCH AS NUTROBAL TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR CALCIUM INTAKE. IN THE SUMMER, WHEN TEMPERATURES PERMIT, THE TORTOISE SHOULD BE PUT IN AN OUTSIDE ENCLOSURE / PEN IN ORDER TO BENEFIT FROM NATURAL SUNLIGHT. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT, SHOULD YOU PUT YOUR TORTOISE OUT INTO SUNLIGHT, YOU PROVIDE A SHADED AREA. THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH CLUMPS OF HAY OR GRASS. THE FOREST HINGEBACKS PREFER MORE SHADE THAN THE BELLS AND WILL TYPICALLY SPEND MORE TIME IN SHADED AREAS.

DIET

YOUR TORTOISE WILL THRIVE ON A DIET OF 80% GREEN MATTER AND 20% FRUIT MATTER. THE GREEN SHOULD CONSIST OF KALE, SPINACH, GREENS, BRUSSEL TOPS, PARSLEY, WATERCRESS, MIXED WITH 20% BANANA, TOMATO, MELON, GRAPE. FOREST HINGEBACKS ARE ALSO VERY PARTIAL TO MUSHROOMS. DO NOT FEED YOUR TORTOISE ICEBERG OR ROUND LETTUCE ALTHOUGH YOU CAN FEED MIXED LETTUCE OBTAINABLE IN MOST SUPERMARKETS THIS WILL CONTAIN, CHINESE LETTUCE, RADDICO ETC. LETTUCE SHOULD BE VIEWED AS ONCE A WEEK FEED AS IT CONTAINS A HIGH AMOUNT OF WATER AND NOT AS MUCH GOODNESS AS THE OTHER FOODS MENTIONED. ALL FOODS SHOULD BE SUPPLEMENTED ON A DAILY BASIS WITH NUTROBAL, ALSO, FRESH WATER SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES.

THERE ARE ALSO TWO OTHER ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE TO FEED YOUR TORTOISE, ONE IS ZOO MED TORTOISE FOOD AND THE OTHER IS T-REX DRY TORTOISE FORMULA. THESE CAN BE USED OCCASIONALLY TO AVOID HAVING TO CHOP FRESH FOOD DAILY, AND PROVIDE A HANDY FALLBACK. HINGEBACKS ARE OMNIVOROUS AND ARE ALSO PARTIAL TO SNAILS SLUGS AND WORMS AND THESE CAN BE USED TO VARY THEIR DIET.

ON RECEIPT OF YOUR TORTOISE

ON ARRIVAL SOAK YOUR TORTOISE IN TEPID WATER IN A CAT LITTER TRAY. DO NOT USE COLD TAP WATER AS THIS WILL BE A SHOCK TO THEM. SOAK THEM FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AND THEN OFFER THEM FRESH FOOD. WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR TORTOISE THEY MAY HAVE THEIR EYES CLOSED. THEY MAY HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN TRANSIT. WHEN YOU PICK UP YOUR TORTOISE THEY SHOULD OPEN THEIR EYES WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. IF YOUR TORTOISE IS SLUGGISH IN OPENING ITS EYES THEN BATH THEM WITH CLEAN TEPID WATER.

TO ENSURE THAT YOUR TORTOISE STAYS HYDRATED SOAK EVERY OTHER DAY, AS YOU DID ON ARRIVAL. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT YOUR TORTOISE WILL DRINK AND THEN DEFECATE. LEAVE THEM IN THE TRAY TO SOAK FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. CLEAN THE VIVARIUM COMPLETELY AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK AND REMOVE DROPPINGS DAILY.

RECOMMENDED READING

GENERAL CARE & MAINTENANCE OF POPULAR TORTOISES (AVS). PRACTICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF KEEPING & BREEDING TORTOISES & FRESHWATER TURTLES (A.Highfield), TORTOISE TRUST GUIDE TO TORTOISES & TURTLES.