Indian Star Tortoise

The Indian Star Tortoise is one of the most beautiful tortoises. The scientific name of the Indian Star Tortoise is Geochelone Elegans. It is called Star Tortoise because of the star radiating pattern on its shell. It is a native to India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. This tortoise is a favourite among tortoise pet owners since more than 30 years ago.

Male vs Female

The male tortoise can grow up to 20cm. The female tend to be larger, growing up to 30cm and weighing up to 7kg. Female tortoises also have shorter tails. The lifespan of the star tortoise can be anywhere from 30 to 80 years depending on its habitat and nutrition.

Personality

If you are lucky enough to own an Indian Star Tortoise as a pet, you will find that it has a shy personality. Once it gets to know you, it will be more outgoing when it recognises you. This tortoise is not aggressive so you would not get your finger bitten off if you handle it.

Habitat

In the wild, the Star Tortoise can be found in forests, shrublands and semi-desert areas which have day temperatures ranging from 27º to 30º C. It likes warm and humid conditions, and it is most active during the day. The Indian Star Tortoise does not hibernate, it is just less active when the surrounding area is very hot or very cold. When kept indoors, it is important to provide dry substrate and a water bowl as it likes to sit in the water quite frequently.

Diet

The diet of this tortoise is mainly vegetarian and herbivorous. In the wild, it eats plants, grasses, flowers, berries and fruits. It also has an appetite for cactus plants. Those tortoises kept in captivity are usually fed with supplements like calcium and multivitamins in addition to the vegetarian food.

Endangered

The natural population of the Star Tortoise is declining rapidly in the wild due to illegal collecting. The tortoise has also been eaten by the locals in the area and this has caused the Indian Star Tortoise to become one of the most endangered tortoises in the world.