How to Breed Radiated Tortoises

Radiated tortoises are popular pets that are generally friendly to humans. They can grow as large as 40 pounds and require large enclosures and lots of exercise. Breeding these tortoises is relatively easy because they will naturally mate without human intervention when kept in an appropriate enclosure. However, because of the large size of these tortoises and their unique care needs, owners should think carefully before incubating tortoise eggs. Hatchlings grow quickly and will need lots of space and lots of food to develop into healthy adults.

Things You'll Need

  • Male radiated tortoise
  • Female radiated tortoise
  • Egg incubator
  • Substrate
  • Vermiculite or peat moss
  • Water mister
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a male and female tortoise to breed. Only healthy adult tortoises should be allowed to breed. Do not breed any tortoises that have pyramiding shells, metabolic bone disease, intestinal parasites or any other health conditions. Tortoises will be ready to breed when they are just over 12 inches long. The time it takes for tortoises to grow to this size is heavily dependent upon environment and diet, but most radiated tortoises should be a foot long by the age of 5.

    • 2

      Place the breeding pair in a large pen together. If the tortoises are housed outdoors, they will attempt to breed from late Spring through late Fall. Radiated tortoises do not need to be encouraged to mate and will begin mating when they are ready. The male will walk around the female in a circle while bobbing his head, and may engage in a complex mating ritual during which he tries to tip her over and head butts her. This may look aggressive, but avoid interfering unless the female is obviously in distress or has been tipped over and cannot right herself. When the male mounts the female he will inseminate her, and the two may remain locked together for several minutes or even hours.

    • 3

      Provide the female with extra substrate to build a nest. After mating, she will begin digging and lay 2 to 12 eggs. After egg laying, she will bury the eggs and walk away. Retrieve the eggs from the nesting location, being careful not to shake or turn them.

    • 4

      Place the eggs in an egg incubator filled with vermiculite or peat moss. Cover the eggs with this substrate 3/4 of the way to the top of the egg. Eggs should be incubated at 84 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintain the eggs at 50 to 60 percent humidity by misting the substrate with water whenever it dries out. If the eggs begin to look dry, mist them thoroughly. Dry eggs can crack or result in deformed and unhealthy hatchlings.

    • 5

      Wait for the babies to hatch. Incubation time for radiated tortoises is variable, ranging from 140 to 250 days, so begin checking the eggs daily at about 130 days incubation. Baby tortoises will use their egg tooth to crack the top of the shell and slowly climb out of it. Do not pull hatchlings out of the egg or try to rush the hatching process. Leave babies in the incubator for 24 hours. This allows them to fully absorb their yolk sacs, which they must do before they can eat real food.