First time owner of a hingeback belliana

[Wgina32]

Hello !!
So I recently acquired a Hingeback Kinkxys Belliana tortoise ?

Any advice would be helpful ! I was looking for a pet for my son. I went to a pet shop and purchased a hingeback. They didnt really have any knowledge and I got so stressed out I tried return him the next day and they refused to let me return him, I just felt like i didnt have enough knowledge to properly care for him. My son has named him Shelton.

After much research I have a 40 gallon tank and uv light and heat lamp and a heat pad, ECT.
He will eat his greens but refuses everything else except strawberries HE LOVES ?

Its been 4 weeks and he has FINALLY POOPED! during a bath.

Any advise any knowledge on him would be so helpful to ensure that I am caring for him as best as possible

 

[crimson_lotus]

hello and welcome! We have a care sheet for hingeback tortoises here:

Kinixys Belliana Nogueyi care sheet.

Western Hingeback Tortoise. (Kiniyxs Belliana Nogueyi). This species of tortoise make for a brilliant and facinating pet. The advice here is based on my own experience of keeping a group of 5 females and 1 male for over ten years and we have recently hatched 5 hatchlings from 6 eggs...

www.tortoiseforum.org

and here:

Hingeback Tortoises (Kinyxys) - Tortoise Library

General Most often called hingeback or hinged tortoises, the genus name of Kinyxys comes from two roots- kineo meaning ‘to move’, and ixus for waist or back. The exact number of species and sub-species varies depending on the source. Until 1981, only K. erosa, homeana, and belliana were...

tortoiselibrary.com

I would suggest to return the 40g and get something bigger, as tortoises tend to roam a lot more than we might think. You can get something fairly cheap but satisfactory like a small indoor greenhouse instead. Large plastic bins can also be larger than a 40g.

Could you show a pic of your lamp and uv light? It is best to make sure the light will not damage their eyes as some do.

You should return the heat pad as well because tortoises generally like heat from above and not below. The pads could potentially cause burns.

How often do you soak? And feed? It's great to hear the bowels are working

Let me know if you have any questions on this!

 

[Wgina32]

hello and welcome! We have a care sheet for hingeback tortoises here:

Kinixys Belliana Nogueyi care sheet.

Western Hingeback Tortoise. (Kiniyxs Belliana Nogueyi). This species of tortoise make for a brilliant and facinating pet. The advice here is based on my own experience of keeping a group of 5 females and 1 male for over ten years and we have recently hatched 5 hatchlings from 6 eggs...

www.tortoiseforum.org

and here:

Hingeback Tortoises (Kinyxys) - Tortoise Library

General Most often called hingeback or hinged tortoises, the genus name of Kinyxys comes from two roots- kineo meaning ‘to move’, and ixus for waist or back. The exact number of species and sub-species varies depending on the source. Until 1981, only K. erosa, homeana, and belliana were...

tortoiselibrary.com

I would suggest to return the 40g and get something bigger, as tortoises tend to roam a lot more than we might think. You can get something fairly cheap but satisfactory like a small indoor greenhouse instead. Large plastic bins can also be larger than a 40g.

Could you show a pic of your lamp and uv light? It is best to make sure the light will not damage their eyes as some do.

You should return the heat pad as well because tortoises generally like heat from above and not below. The pads could potentially cause burns.

How often do you soak? And feed? It's great to hear the bowels are working

Let me know if you have any questions on this!

He (could be a she I'm not sure) is 4-5. Years old is what the pet shop told me .. The biggest tank they had was a 40 gallon .. I did look up some info on the enclosures and was looking into the bigger plastic ones.. I will attach a photo of the light ( its a smaller uv5 bulb in a deep dome holder. He is coming out of his log more and more which is nice.. He mostly eats his greens mustard greens seem to be his favorite. This was the second time I have soaked him since we've had him. I read to soak him weekly but I'm wondering if I should more often. Sometimes he stands I'm his water in the tank as he eats lol. I put fresh food in his tank everyday he will come out atleast 2 or 3 times and eat

 

[Yvonne G]

Glass tanks are way more expensive then large plastic tubs.

 

[Wgina32]

hello and welcome! We have a care sheet for hingeback tortoises here:

Kinixys Belliana Nogueyi care sheet.

Western Hingeback Tortoise. (Kiniyxs Belliana Nogueyi). This species of tortoise make for a brilliant and facinating pet. The advice here is based on my own experience of keeping a group of 5 females and 1 male for over ten years and we have recently hatched 5 hatchlings from 6 eggs...

www.tortoiseforum.org

and here:

Hingeback Tortoises (Kinyxys) - Tortoise Library

General Most often called hingeback or hinged tortoises, the genus name of Kinyxys comes from two roots- kineo meaning ‘to move’, and ixus for waist or back. The exact number of species and sub-species varies depending on the source. Until 1981, only K. erosa, homeana, and belliana were...

tortoiselibrary.com

I would suggest to return the 40g and get something bigger, as tortoises tend to roam a lot more than we might think. You can get something fairly cheap but satisfactory like a small indoor greenhouse instead. Large plastic bins can also be larger than a 40g.

Could you show a pic of your lamp and uv light? It is best to make sure the light will not damage their eyes as some do.

You should return the heat pad as well because tortoises generally like heat from above and not below. The pads could potentially cause burns.

How often do you soak? And feed? It's great to hear the bowels are working

Let me know if you have any questions on this!

 

[crimson_lotus]

I think your UV light is probably one that damages the eyes (usually the ones that require a dome):
and



are not good. You will want a tube UV like this instead: https://www.chewy.com/zoo-med-reptisun-100-uvb-t5-ho/dp/257675

If you need more heat in there, I would suggest buying a ceramic heat emitter - a bulb you can use in that dome you took a picture of, but it only emits heat and no light. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F9CV7K/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

You will probably want this on a thermostat so it turns off whenever the heat requirements are met.

for enclosures I would suggest something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LSFL2PY/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

or the plastic bin route:

Rubbermaid 50 Gallon Roughneck️ Storage Tote Durable, Reusable, Plastic Storage Bin

For soaking I would suggest 2-3x a week. This is for regular bowel movements (they usually poop in the soak water) and to keep your enclosure clean for the most part. I soak my tortoise 3x a week and she never poops in her enclosure.

 

[Wgina32]

For some reason it hasnt let me respond to you ?

 

[Wgina32]

For some reason it hasnt let me respond to you ?

Oh ok finally!! Is there any vitamins I should be giving him?

 

[crimson_lotus]

Oh ok finally!! Is there any vitamins I should be giving him?

yes! You can get cuttlebone for calcium or some powdered calcium/d3 supplementation to sprinkle on the tortoises food 2-3x a week

 

[Wgina32]

yes! You can get cuttlebone for calcium or some powdered calcium/d3 supplementation to sprinkle on the tortoises food 2-3x a week

Ok good ive been doing the calcium powder.. What fruits and veggies do they most prefer I also say they eat worms lime earth worms

 

[Wgina32]

So anytime I take him out to roam he Pee's like alot.. Is that normal ? I also read that It can take them a long while to accumulate to a new home

 

[William Lee Kohler]

Where in OR are you at? I have 7 Hingebacks and maybe can help out.

 

[Wgina32]

Im in Clackamas

 

[William Lee Kohler]

Im in Clackamas

So far pretty good info given here. I'll send a PM when I get a chance. 2turtle Tom is very good with these guys so trust his info. Also under the Forum section for African Tortoises Hingebacks is lots of good info.

 

[Wgina32]

Thank you. Do you know how to tell the gender? I was told he is 4-5 years old. The pet shop I got him from didnt really have any info on Hingebacks they just assumed regular turtle care. Also what would the best substrate to use in his enclosure ? I also read that they will eat worms ?

 

[William Lee Kohler]

I'd say the guess of 4-5 years is likely pretty good and it looks like you have a boy on your hands from the long fat tail. Substrate I use is either coco fiber or Reptibark. Coco fiber is messy stuff but both hold moisture pretty well to keep up the humidity. I'm thinking of mixing them together in the future. Many tortoises will relieve themselves when they are scared or upset but it's also a hopeful sign that there are water reserves there and your tortoise is not dehydrated. Keeping him supported underneath with your hand or a container he'll feel more secure. Since yours is new I would still recommend soaking every day for 40-60 minutes for at least a month in warm water.

 

[Wgina32]

Yes I usually dont hold him like that, it was just for the picture. I have been giving him a good long soak every other day, I will try and do it everyday. Yes I was thinking of mixing the substrate .. Right now I have the reptibark but I agree adding the cocofiber it seems the reptibark alot doesnt seem like it holds moisture as good.. You said you were in Oregon right? Where do you get most of your food for yours? I saw a website that sells like a bundle of different types of plants and stuff I was thinking of ordering from kapodolofarms I think is what it was called.. I wasnt sure where to find like worms and snail and proteins that hingbacks eat. Thank you for your responses its MUCH APPRECIATED

 

[William Lee Kohler]

PM sent

 

[William Lee Kohler]

Yes I usually dont hold him like that, it was just for the picture. I have been giving him a good long soak every other day, I will try and do it everyday. Yes I was thinking of mixing the substrate .. Right now I have the reptibark but I agree adding the cocofiber it seems the reptibark alot doesnt seem like it holds moisture as good.. You said you were in Oregon right? Where do you get most of your food for yours? I saw a website that sells like a bundle of different types of plants and stuff I was thinking of ordering from kapodolofarms I think is what it was called.. I wasnt sure where to find like worms and snail and proteins that hingbacks eat. Thank you for your responses its MUCH APPRECIATED

Hi again; Can't remember what I said in PM but wondering how is your tortoise doing and what is it eating(hopefully)?

 

[Wgina32]

Hi again; Can't remember what I said in PM but wondering how is your tortoise doing and what is it eating(hopefully)?
[/QUOTE


Honestly all is good.. My little guy eats on his usual schedule each day I bath him every other day sometimes I may skip a day.. He LOVES a spring mix and mushrooms.. I give him a tiny bit of strawberry's as a treat every once in a while..he comes out super fast for those lol. He is not a fan of the cuddlebone or any proteins ive tried giving him , I do sprinkle calcium powerdwe every few days on his food.... He hates the tortoise food pellets mushed up.. He seems to be ok .. Ive had him since mid December and so far so good ?I've been using a mix of bedding I think he likes.. Hes the happiest and most active after a bath he will walk around nonstop for a long while after his baths ?