Hingeback Tortoise Information

Hinge-Back Tortoises

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General Info

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The Bell's Hinge-Back Tortoise is one of the most common tortoise species available. It is a moderately small African tortoise. Adults measure about 9" in diameter, and weigh up to 4½ pounds. Their native habitats are the African savannahs and grasslands. Because these areas are subject to rather dramatic seasonal changes, many hinge-backs become inactive during the cool winter months.

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A healthy hinge-back should feel heavy and solid. A light or hollow shell may indicate dehydration or malnourishment. Its eyes should be open and clear, or should open within several seconds of initial handling. The nostrils should also be clear. If possible, open the tortoise's mouth, and check its tongue and palate for signs of infection. Hinge-backs may be very shy, so use patience when inspecting its head and legs for possible injuries.

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Habitat

Tortoises do everything slowly. Unfortunately, this can include becoming comfortable with their new surroundings. It may take weeks or even months before your hinge-back is fully established in its new habitat. Be patient! Hinge-backs are initially very reclusive, but they are intelligent and affectionate animals that will eventually respond to your caring.

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The easiest way to house a tortoise is to buy an inexpensive plastic kiddie pool from Walmart. Make sure its new home is at least four times as long as its eventual adult size. Bigger is ALWAYS better. If properly cleaned and maintained, that kiddie pool will usually suffice for your hinge-back's entire life.

 

Tortoises are ground-huggers, so keeping your substrate clean is essential. Since their primary diet includes grass and other natural plants, the most practical substrate is a layer of dirt covered by large sod sections from Lowes or Home Depot (since they don't use fertilizers or pesticides on their grass sections). Simply water the grass so it roots into the bottom layer of dirt, and you'll have a constant food source so your tortoise can graze. Be careful not to overwater the grass, though, or the grass will die. If you're able to put the kiddie pool out on your enclosed patio, you might consider drilling some small holes in the bottom to let excess water escape.

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Shredded coconut bark is also an easy substrate to maintain, and will not turn moldy when moistened.  It can be mixed with your layer of dirt for extra drainage, or used in one section of the habitat so your tortoise can indulge its natural instincts to burrow.

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Provide a water bowl shallow enough for it to step in and out, and change its water daily. Tortoises will often defecate in the water to hide their scent from predators, so make sure to keep it clean for drinking.

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In nature, tortoises receive heat and UVA/UVB from the sun. And they like it hot, between 85 - 90º F during the day and 75 - 80º at night. Provide heat by using overhead heat lamps with UVB bulbs. The best bulbs are ZooMed's PowerSun bulbs because they're the highest-quality bulb on the market that provide light, heat, UVA, and UVB in one bulb...AND they're guaranteed for a full year against defects.

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Some tortoises enjoy basking, while others avoid direct sunlight, so you may have to experiment to see which your tortoise prefers. Avoid heat rocks--they have no thermostat controls, so they can burn a tortoise's belly. Also you should avoid using heating pads, because like most reptiles, tortoises do not have a lot of nerve endings on their plastrons (stomachs), and can overheat without realizing it. This can be fatal.

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Hinge-backs prefer high humidity, between 60% - 90%. Maintain your tortoise's humidity by misting its habitat several times daily.

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Feeding

In nature, hinge-backs eat both plants and insects. Fruits such as strawberries and cantaloupe are often popular foods. Other tasty fruits and vegetables include bananas, mangos, green beans, raspberries, and blueberries. But these should be fed sparingly--no more than 15% of their total diet should be fruits and vegetables.

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Pesticide-free fresh grass, alfalfa, or timothy hay should comprise the bulk of your tortoise's diet. But dark leafy high-calcium leaves such as dandelion, clover, escarole, chicory, kale, turnip greens, mustard greens, and collard greens are also important in smaller quantities. You can supplement this leafy diet with insects such as snails, crickets, earthworms, and other small invertebrates.

 

Note: While your tortoise is acclimating to its new environment, leave it alone to eat. It will retreat from its food or water dish if it feels it's being observed.

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Provide your tortoise with a large, shallow water bowl. Tortoises enjoy immersing themselves in water, but they will often use the bowl for a toilet. So make sure the water bowl is always kept clean.

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Permanent Housing

Once your tortoise feels comfortable in its new surroundings, customize its enclosure by adding bark mulch and plants. Tortoises seem to enjoy burrowing, and bark mulch is visually appealing. Pothos plants are a safe, pleasing addition which help retain humidity. Make sure to keep your tortoise's food and water bowls away from the mulch substrate, so that it doesn't accidentally ingest mulch with its food.

 

If possible, design an outdoor enclosure for your hinge-back. Keep in mind that these tortoises are excellent climbers and burrowers. Plan your enclosure accordingly, with tall half-buried outer barriers that they can neither climb over nor dig beneath. They are most active at dawn and dusk, and retreat to shady areas during the day.

 

Hinge-back tortoises can live for many years. They are very intelligent, and can learn to recognize their names and respond to simple commands. With care, patience, and training, your tortoise can become a loyal lifelong companion.