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Since posting, I’ve been researching more about edible forage plants, the species, habitat, and anecdotal information from keepers and breeders. I’ve also been gathering the materials for an enclosure and laying out the proposed foot print and finalizing the end plan. It’s much more apparent...

We DO have a lot in common! I used to spend like $300 every 3 months to make roach chow to feed the insects, which would feed the chameleons. I kept arachnids and chameleons about 20 years apart, but twice in my life. The first time, I had around 30 tarantulas, the second time I had over 150...

Thank you for the offer! I may take you up on that! There are at least 2 types of spineless Opuntia I intended to plant. This heat has put a big pause on my gardening, at the moment.🥵

I used to raise roaches! I had like 13 species at one point in time. I don’t have interest in dealing with insectivorous diets with my present responsibilities and Florida has made keeping many roach species illegal. If I couldn’t grow so much forage year round, tortoises wouldn’t be for me...

Sounds like we are agreement. Sounds like planning on shutting them in at night and at least checking in to make sure they go to the hide is important. I want to restate that I don’t plan to let the tortoises get any colder than they should and only reference online information and lowest...

The sources online, which admittedly are likely repeated here-say indicate the tortoises can endure the mid 40sF, without ill effect, perhaps because the duration is short and the cold won’t reach them in their hide. Their natural habitat doesn’t drop below about 65F and anything lower is cause...

I ask this here, rather than under the enclosure heading, because I believe some tortoises are more habitual about seeking hides and heat sources than others and it’s important for me to know about how Forstens and Elongateds behave specifically. Lots of people incorporated heated hides and or...

I do hope to have at least 2 unrelated pairs for breeding. Forsten’s are my first choice, but elongateds are up for consideration, depending on available at the time I’m ready to acquire some tortoises. It will be several years, if I’m starting from babies. I have time to think about that future.

It’s been over 10 years since I kept Manouria emys phayeri and closer to 20 since I kept Kinixys homeana. What people are recommending and doing for their tortoises is amazing to see! It’s unfortunate there are so few working with this genus. It seems those who work with CBB animals do keep...

I have decided to heed your advice and kept reading and researching. I’m reducing my original group to 1:2, possibly 2:2 and increasing the enclosure sizes to 12’x24’, with the potential to expand in population and enclosure size/number as I go. By planting trees and measuring the intended...

That’s incredible! Good information. I would have never guessed them to be such active patrollers! I’m asking out of genuine curiosity to learn, not arguing for keeping them in smaller enclosures. I didn’t expect my intended enclosure sizes to be considered small by most standards. That’s why I...

Is this because 12’ x 4’ is smaller than you’d recommend for a single Forstens? What do consider an ideal enclosure size for this species? Are they known for being more active than other species or are they content to lay about and let life come to them? In my experience, the Manouria juveniles...

That was a big read! Clearly you put some time into that and people really can get a grasp of things right off just from reading it. As I was reading through your dietary suggestions, I noted the absence of Mazuri as a recommendation. I know many people have used it, but like you said of zoos...

This is the sort of thing that made me question my thinking. Some things need a little help to not be territorial and other things go on seek and destroy missions. I think it may be more effective to house them separately, but it I do that, I can’t make the enclosures very much larger. I have...

That is exactly the plan. Have 2 12x12 paddocks with a male and 2 females in each, but separated down the middle and with the cross piece for visual barriers. Think a 24’x12’ rectangle. Divide that in half to creat 2 12x12’ squares. This divider is solid and keeps both trios separated so as to...

Hello friends, I have my mind set on a group of 2 male and 4 female Forstens tortoises. My goal would be to breed them, so I would invest in females from 4 different lines and 2 different male lines, ideally. I have experience with Kinixys, Manouria, and other reptiles, such as chameleons...