Speedy
Yellow footed tortoise
Chelonoidis denticulatus
Born:
1998
Tropical South America
Native range:
My story:
Speedy joined me from Cheshire Reptile Rescue around ten years ago. When he arrived, he had a severely overgrown beak and considerable pyramiding on his shell—lasting signs that he had not received the right care during his early life.
Today, Speedy lives a life of luxury in a spacious 28-square-foot enclosure, complete with his own pond, plants, caves and plenty of room to explore. He is a much-loved member of Wriggly Roadshow and enjoys coming out to meet new people.
His favourite foods include blueberries, banana and cactus pads!
DId you know?
Most people assume that tortoises are strict vegetarians but yellow footed tortoises are opportunistic omnivores! In the wild, they eat fallen fruit, leaves and fungi, but will also tuck into insects, snails and carrion. Researchers have even recorded a wild yellow-footed tortoise eating a dead fish beside a drying rainforest pool. That explains why Speedy occasionally enjoys something a little meatier too!