Spider tortoise care sheet

Housing We keep our spider tortoises in a custom-built melamine enclosure measuring 3 feet long by 2 feet wide by 1 foot high. Spider torts are not a very active species most of the year so this provides ample room for these small tortoises.

Substrate We’ve tried a few different types of substrate but find the best is either coco coir or cypress mulch. Both hold humidity well and are mould-resistant. We provide a layer about 3 inches deep so they can burrow into it if they desire.

Lighting and heating We use mercury vapour bulbs for lighting and heating. They emit heat and u.v.b which is essential for proper bone and shell development. We place the light at one end of the enclosure and the temperature is about 110F directly under it. The other end of the enclosure is usually about 80-85F. Humidity We try to keep humidity fairly high by misting the enclosure daily. We do this every season with the exception of winter. During the winter the substrate is allowed to dry out.

This mimics the dry season they would naturally have. At this time they become inactive.

Once spring arrives and we begin misting, they start becoming more active again.

Hide box We provide the tortoises with a small Rubbermaid as a hide box. The box is approximately 12 inches long by 6 inches wide by 6 inches high. The tortoises use this regularly to sleep in.

Water Water is very important for all species of tortoise and should be provided at all times. We use a small dish that is 6 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep. We also soak the tortoises a couple times a week in shallow warm water. They usually urinate and defecate at this time, which helps keep their enclosure from getting dirty.

Cleaning Spider tortoises are one of the smallest species and don't make much of a mess. Soaking them a few times a week also helps to keep their enclosure clean. We spot clean areas of the enclosure daily to remove any substrate that has been soiled but complete substrate changes are only done about 2 or 3 times a year.

Feeding Spider tortoises will eat a variety of greens including dandelion, kale, collards, endives, grasses, clover and hibiscus leaves and flowers. They also enjoy squash, pumpkin, yams, mushrooms, papaya, cantaloupe and strawberries. We also sprinkle calcium with vitamin D3 on their food twice a week.

Handling This is a shyer species that will often hide in their shell if picked up. We try to limit handling as much as possible to minimize stress.

Potential health problems The only potential health problem we have encountered was during egg laying. The egg was too large for the female to pass so our vet had to break the egg in order for her to pass it.