Help make a hingeback caresheet

TheLastGreen

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Joined
Aug 3, 2021
Messages
929
Location (City and/or State)
Johannesburg
As the title says, we need an updated hingeback caresheet.
It is a weird situation, most hingebacks undergo horrible importation standards and most don't make it, but where they do survive, and perhaps thrive, experience is abound.
Hingebacks aren't the most commonly kept tort species, but at the end of the day a caresheet would really help all those who have this species.
There are two types, forest and grassland hingebacks (with multiple subspecies each), so some care may deviate, but other than that everything should match up.
As always we need temps, enclosure size, substrate, lighting etc. etc. The usual caresheet things
If you do have even a single tip, please do mention it, anything will help tremendously, and it'll be worked into the caresheet.
(Later things can be made prettier, this thread may be deleted and replaced as a full caresheet when it's done)
*I do hope I didn't step out of place mods/admins, but I saw a genuine need for it, no offence is ment
 
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TheLastGreen

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2021
Messages
929
Location (City and/or State)
Johannesburg
Ok, so here's what I got
Hingebacks, scientific name Kinixys, have multiple subspecies.
Notably
Kinixys homeana
Kinixys erosa
Kinixys belliana
Kinixys nogueyi
Kinixys spekii
Kinixys zombensis
Kinixys natalensis
Kinixys lobatsiana

All of these are seperated into two groups. Forest and grassland.
Forest are two subspecies:
K homeana and K erosa

The rest are grassland

*K spekii is a mix between both of the devisions mentioned above

Now hingebacks like temperatures between 23-27C
Humidity should be between 60-90%
Grassland species need to be kept at the lower end.
Forest species can be at the higher end (for forest species you'll also need to mist their carapace a few times a day)

Food
Kinixys are omnivorous. They love to eat mushrooms and earthworms, even snails.
Other items that can be fed are
Butter nut and gem squash.
Salads like endive, red leafed salad etc.
They need a diverse diet to thrive.
Cuttlefish bone should always be provided.
A bit/pinch of calcium powder can be sprinkled on their food every 2-3 days.

UV
UV is *extremely* important. Even though they dwell beneath thick cover, they still need loads of UV to survive and have strong bone growth.
Arcadia forest dweller HO halogen tubes will do the trick. Follow the enstructions on the packet.
In the case of an outdoor enclosure, multiple hours of outside time will need to be provided to ensure enough UV is consumed. Ensure the habitat has enough shade. *Overheating is the number one cause of death for hatchlings, read tge blueprint linked below for further instructions*

Habitat
Substrate should be coco coir, or coco chips, fine grade orchid bark should also work.
Multiple hides should be provided. It can be via cutting a plastic planter in length, or a terracota plant pot.
Water dishes should be provided. Use an unglazed terracota saucer with with smaller and flatter edges.
With higher edges they can flip and drown. Do not use pet store water dishes.
Steralized leaves can be placed in the enclosure to ensure more cover.
Lighting should be dappled and an incandecent bulb should be used.
The enclosure could have natural plants like pothos, spider plants etc.
Kinixys love cover, so it's extremely important.
The substrate shouldn't be wet as this can cause shell rot or other problems.
A rule is that for every inch of shell in length, a square metre should be provided for their enclosure.
In the case of hatchlings, humidity should be around 80% to prevent pyramiding.

NB
Most kinixys shipped outside of Africa will be labled spekii, due to certain importation bans, use the identification guide below to identify Screenshot_20220326-183858_Samsung Notes.jpgScreenshot_20220326-183925_Samsung Notes.jpgScreenshot_20220326-184001_Samsung Notes.jpgScreenshot_20220326-184134_Samsung Notes.jpgScreenshot_20220326-184215_Samsung Notes.jpgScreenshot_20220326-184231_Samsung Notes.jpgScreenshot_20220326-184251_Samsung Notes.jpgScreenshot_20220326-184316_Samsung Notes.jpgScreenshot_20220326-184020_Samsung Notes.jpg
You will most likely not have a Natalensis or Lobatsiana as they are mostly found in SA, which has strict exportation laws.

Also, most hingebacks will endure horrible importation conditions. Your tort will need to be checked by an *experienced exotic vet*. Your tort will need to be soaked for a few hours to ensure hydration.
More info can be found on *Hingeback Tortoise Central* on youtube, a youtube channel made by @2turtletom

Soaking
All hingebacks like to be soaked in luke warm water, or around 30C. Ensure the water is where the top and bottom shell meets.

All info provided by the research of David Mifsud, Jeremy Thompson, the kinixys blueprint and multiple other sources.
Images from the kinixys blueprint, linked below for further reading as well

I'll update as I get more info!
 

TheLastGreen

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2021
Messages
929
Location (City and/or State)
Johannesburg
Ok, so here's what I got
Hingebacks, scientific name Kinixys, have multiple subspecies.
Notably
Kinixys homeana
Kinixys erosa
Kinixys belliana
Kinixys nogueyi
Kinixys spekii
Kinixys zombensis
Kinixys natalensis
Kinixys lobatsiana

All of these are seperated into two groups. Forest and grassland.
Forest are two subspecies:
K homeana and K erosa

The rest are grassland

*K spekii is a mix between both of the devisions mentioned above

Now hingebacks like temperatures between 23-27C
Humidity should be between 60-90%
Grassland species need to be kept at the lower end.
Forest species can be at the higher end (for forest species you'll also need to mist their carapace a few times a day)

Food
Kinixys are omnivorous. They love to eat mushrooms and earthworms, even snails.
Other items that can be fed are
Butter nut and gem squash.
Salads like endive, red leafed salad etc.
They need a diverse diet to thrive.
Cuttlefish bone should always be provided.
A bit/pinch of calcium powder can be sprinkled on their food every 2-3 days.

UV
UV is *extremely* important. Even though they dwell beneath thick cover, they still need loads of UV to survive and have strong bone growth.
Arcadia forest dweller HO halogen tubes will do the trick. Follow the enstructions on the packet.
In the case of an outdoor enclosure, multiple hours of outside time will need to be provided to ensure enough UV is consumed. Ensure the habitat has enough shade. *Overheating is the number one cause of death for hatchlings, read tge blueprint linked below for further instructions*

Habitat
Substrate should be coco coir, or coco chips, fine grade orchid bark should also work.
Multiple hides should be provided. It can be via cutting a plastic planter in length, or a terracota plant pot.
Water dishes should be provided. Use an unglazed terracota saucer with with smaller and flatter edges.
With higher edges they can flip and drown. Do not use pet store water dishes.
Steralized leaves can be placed in the enclosure to ensure more cover.
Lighting should be dappled and an incandecent bulb should be used.
The enclosure could have natural plants like pothos, spider plants etc.
Kinixys love cover, so it's extremely important.
The substrate shouldn't be wet as this can cause shell rot or other problems.
A rule is that for every inch of shell in length, a square metre should be provided for their enclosure.
In the case of hatchlings, humidity should be around 80% to prevent pyramiding.

NB
Most kinixys shipped outside of Africa will be labled spekii, due to certain importation bans, use the identification guide below to identify View attachment 342403View attachment 342404View attachment 342405View attachment 342406View attachment 342407View attachment 342408View attachment 342409View attachment 342410View attachment 342411
You will most likely not have a Natalensis or Lobatsiana as they are mostly found in SA, which has strict exportation laws.

Also, most hingebacks will endure horrible importation conditions. Your tort will need to be checked by an *experienced exotic vet*. Your tort will need to be soaked for a few hours to ensure hydration.
More info can be found on *Hingeback Tortoise Central* on youtube, a youtube channel made by @2turtletom

Soaking
All hingebacks like to be soaked in luke warm water, or around 30C. Ensure the water is where the top and bottom shell meets.

All info provided by the research of David Mifsud, Jeremy Thompson, the kinixys blueprint and multiple other sources.
Images from the kinixys blueprint, linked below for further reading as well

I'll update as I get more info!
Just found out these are the feeding ratios
Feed 75% greens, 20% zucchini & yellow squash, 5% other. Mushrooms shouldn't be a staple. Earhworms are great
 
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