Track turtle (Centrochelys sulcata)

Age: 80 to 100 years
Origin: Central Africa
Length: Up to 83 centimeters
The spurred tortoise is the largest tortoise species living on the mainland. Their shell is thick and light brown to yellow in color. They have large overlapping scales on their front legs and spurs on their hind legs, hence the name.

Care:
Experience: Beginner tortoise keeper
Food: Plant-based food
Feeding adults: 3 times per week
Feeding juveniles: 3-5 times per week
Water bowl: Yes
Water change: Daily

Diet
Spurred tortoises are herbivores and eat mainly 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. 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 spurred tortoise is found in areas where water is scarce. However, this does not mean they can live without water. They obtain a lot of moisture from their food, but when there is a chance to drink water, they take advantage of it. Therefore, ensure that clean drinking water is available at all times.

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 occasionally 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 terrarium of 150x50x50 cm. Surface area: 5 m² per adult

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

Enclosure setup
The substrate of the enclosure must be deep enough so that they can burrow themselves 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 because, with their weight and size, they 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 tortoises to seek out their desired temperature.

Like other tortoise species, the spurred tortoise cannot produce vitamin D without UVB light. You can provide them with UVB light by using the beautifully named UVB lamp. A UVB lamp in the enclosure is not enough for the tortoise to produce vitamin D; the tortoise also needs vitamin powder mixed with its food.

Behavior
Diet: herbivore
Lifestyle: terrestrial and diurnal
Character
Like almost all land tortoises, the spurred tortoise is large and slow. They are often curious by nature, but they are also major destroyers.
Points of attention
Spurred tortoises are very good diggers. In their natural environment, they dig long tunnels to escape the heat and, in winter, the cold. Therefore, it must be prevented in the enclosure that they can dig their way out.

Costs and Purchase
Legislation: The spurred tortoise falls under CITES II; to own this tortoise species, you need CITES or transfer papers. You should receive these upon purchase.

One-time costs: These include the costs for the enclosure, lighting, heating, water bowl, and decoration. This can cost anywhere from a few hundred euros to a few thousand euros in total. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.

Fixed costs: Fixed costs include the cost of food, which is a few tens of euros per year.

Unexpected costs: Costs are incurred if your turtle happens to get sick or your equipment breaks down.