Do you mind having a pet with whom you won't be able to interact much?
Can you provide a large (55-gallon) fish tank for an Indian star tortoise?
Can you maintain an ambient temperature of around 90 degrees F and provide a basking site with 95 degrees F?
Can you provide an appropriate UVB lighting for Indian star tortoise?
Can you provide a varied vegetable diet daily?
Do you have an exotics veterinarian that specializes in reptilians?
Indian star tortoises do not like being handled. They can get stressed out and get ill if handled frequently, so these animals should not live in homes with small children or pets like cats or dogs. Although these tortoises tend to be shy and do not like handling, they may grow more comfortable with an owner's occasional handling, especially when that owner brings them food.
Even though they are smaller than most other tortoises, Indian star tortoises still need a lot of space. They can be housed indoors in a large fish tank (55-gallon) or a plastic container, like an under-the-bed box or storage container. They don't need much height in their enclosure.
As cold-blooded creatures, Indian star tortoises need to regulate their body temperature. The temperature in their enclosure needs to reach at least 90 degrees. This tortoise needs a basking spot from 90 to 95 F. At night, the temperature can drop to the 70s, but no lower than that. The enclosure should also have shade spots and a water bowl for the tortoise to fully submerge to control its temperature.
Indian star tortoises prefer the outdoors and need ultraviolet rays provided by the sunlight. If kept indoors, tortoises need UVB lighting. UVB helps the tortoise process vitamin D3, which affects calcium absorption. Inadequate UV exposure can lead to metabolic bone disease.
Star tortoises are herbivores. They should eat plenty of fresh and dark leafy greens and grasses. Timothy hay, Bermuda grass, orchard grass, ryegrass, alfalfa, and fescue are all acceptable. They should never eat dog or cat food. Fresh greens suitable for tortoises include kale, endive, parsley, dandelion greens, escarole, spineless cactus leaves, and mustard greens; these greens have a higher calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which is healthier for the star tortoise. Dust an additional calcium powder on their greens daily.
You can take care of an Indian star tortoise!
Indian star tortoises are prone to health issues that require veterinary inspection. Respiratory infections are caused by inadequate lighting, heating, fresh food, water, or an environmental stressor. Metabolic bone disease is caused by a lack of calcium or a problem absorbing calcium. Cloaca prolapse is commonly caused by dehydration. These medical conditions are treatable by an exotics veterinarian who specializes in reptiles.
https://www.thesprucepets.com/star-tortoises-1239536
Sreten null
Hi! I’m Sreten Filipović. I graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Belgrade, with a master's degree in Environmental Protection in Agricultural Systems. I’ve worked as a researcher at Finland's Natural Resources Institute (LUKE) on a project aimed at adapting south-western Finland to drought episodes. I founded a consulting agency in the field of environment and agriculture to help farmers who want to implement the principles of sustainability on their farms. I’m also a founding member of the nonprofit organization Ecogenesis from Belgrade whose main goal is non-formal education on the environment and ecology. In my spare time, I like to write blog posts about sustainability, the environment, animal farming, horticulture, and plant protection. I’ve also published several science-fiction short stories.
You can find me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreten-filipovi%C4%87-515aa5158/
