Star tortoises (Geochelone elegans) are native to India and Sri Lanka, the larger and more strikingly coloured variation being from Sri Lanka. They were recently elevated to CITES1 status. Star tortoises are one of the more delicate species, requiring UV lighting, high temperatures (80-110F) and medium humidity. Ours do well on a diet of dark, leafy greens and cactus pads. Males range in size from 5 to 8 inches while females are larger, Sri Lankan females reaching 13 inches. Males are generally more outgoing, although all our stars greet us and enthusiastically take food from our hands!
Burmese star tortoises (Geochelone platynota) are native to Myanmar and considered functionally extinct in the wild (CITES1). Conservation efforts have focussed on returning captive bred specimens back to their natural habitat. Males range in size from 6 to 10 inches and females reach 12 -13 inches. They thrive on a diet of dark, leafy greens and cactus pads. They're hardier and more outgoing than Indian and Sri Lankan stars.
On December 2019, we hatched four Burmese star tortoises!
This was the first private hatching in Canada that we know of.
