Chelonoides denticulata (Yellow-footed tortoise)

Age: Up to 80 years
Origin: South America
Length: Average 40 centimeters
The shell is thick and heavy and dark brown with yellow spots. The legs and head are brown with some orange scales and markings. Its skin is black with yellow markings on the head and lower jaw. You will see that some scales on the limbs and tail are bright yellow. The head is relatively small and longer than it is wide.

Care:
Experience: Beginner turtle keeper
Food: Omnivore
Feeding adult: 3 times per week
Feeding juvenile: 3-5 times per week
Water bowl: yes
Water change: daily

Diet
Yellowfoot turtles are omnivores but primarily eat grasses, herbs, and hay. You can supplement this with vegetables such as bok choy, endive, tomato, Chinese cabbage, spinach, strawberries, broccoli, and wildflowers. Just like with humans, the diet must be varied, so try to alternate between the different vegetable choices. Occasionally, they may eat small invertebrates such as snails, worms, and other species they can catch.

To ensure the diet fully meets the animal's needs, extra vitamins and calcium must be provided. This can be done by adding extra vitamin and mineral supplements to the food. Special supplements for turtles are available on the market.

Water
The yellow-footed turtle is found in areas where there is plenty of water. The water bowl must be large enough for the turtle to bathe in, but not so deep that it can drown. Clean, fresh drinking water must always be available.

Cleaning
As the herbivores they are, they also defecate like true herbivores. For this reason, it is wise to remove the droppings from the enclosure daily and to remove the dirty substrate once a week. Additionally, it is advisable to thoroughly clean the entire enclosure a few times a year; this prevents the accumulation of germs and bacteria. Handling
It will happen that you need to handle your turtle, and this must be done correctly to prevent injury or stress. Handle the turtle by grasping it from both sides at the center of the shell. You are doing this correctly if they are unable to scratch your hand with their legs. If they are, the turtle may push off your hand with all the associated consequences. Additionally, ensure you always wash your hands before handling and make sure you handle the turtle with two hands. With adult turtles, it is advisable to lift the turtle with two people so that you do not strain yourself. Housing
Minimum enclosure size for an individual: up to 5 years old, a 150x50x50 terrarium; later, 5 m² per individual
Surface area: 5 m² per adult individual
Daytime temperature: 28-40°C
Nighttime temperature: 17-20°C
Light hours: 12 hours
Humidity: 40–60%, higher for younger animals
Substrate: grass or sand
Setup
The substrate of the enclosure must be deep enough for them to burrow in. It is recommended to create hiding places so that the animals can isolate themselves; this can be done using branches, logs, or stones. When multiple individuals are housed together, this is very important so that they can separate from each other in the event of conflict. However, the enclosure setup must be sturdy, as their weight and size can quickly cause damage. By using a spotlight on one side of the enclosure as a heat source, a temperature difference is created within the enclosure, allowing the turtles to seek out their desired temperature.

Like other turtle species, the yellow-footed turtle cannot produce vitamin D without UVB light. You can provide them with UVB light by using the so-called UV lamp. A UV lamp in the enclosure is not enough for the turtle to produce vitamin D; the turtle also needs vitamin powder mixed with its food.