Flat-tailed Tortoise
Pyxis planicauda
The Flat-tailed tortoise is quite easily one of the most beautiful small tortoises in the world. They inhabit the forested western coast of Madagascar and share the Pyxis species with the more commonly seen Spider Tortoises (Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides, P. a. brgooi, and P. a. oblonga). Flat-tails are beautifully patterned and colored with black edged, yellow to brown centered scutes with lines radiating from the center. Some exceptional specimens will have very contrasting colors with the addition of some yellow, orange, and white. The carapace is more compressed than the other Pyxis subspecies. Adult size is between 5.5 and 6.5 inches and 350 to 500 grams.
Flat-tails are found in habitats experiencing wide climactic ranges of below 45F to more than 100F. At these temperature extremes, they become inactive and enter a dormancy period known as aestivation. Despite the low temperatures sometimes encountered in the wild, Flat-tails do not hibernate. Their aestivation is a period of reduced metabolic activity, exposure to sunlight, and activity, but true hibernation is not known to occur. Captive specimens in my care seem to be most active at a temperature range of 75F to 82F, occasionally basking in areas up to 95F. During the summer, these small tortoises seem most active during and after rains and at dawn or dusk.
Flat-tails are very rare in captivity and are unfortunately becoming equally so in the wild. They are listed as CITES ONE animals and there legal import and export is now prohibited. It is imperative that this species be established in captivity and we are hoping that we can contribute to that task. The export ban on Madagascar was removed in 2000 and many Flat-tails and other Spider tortoises were imported only to meet their doom. It was soon realized that the numbers being harvested for export were enough to completely strip these tortoises from the face of the Earth, so the quota was dropped to zero at the urge of conservationists around 2003. Of the many exported, few were properly acclimatized and still survive today. We are very fortunate to have as large and healthy a group as we do of these fascinating tortoises.
The diet for these tortoises should be similar to any other forest species and be high in fiber and calcium rich, but low in phosphorous and protein. We offer a salad consisting of leafy greens, enrichment items, and supplementation every other day. The recipe varies week to week, but always contains a one or more greens such as Romaine, Edive, Escarole, Dandelion, and Turnip and Collard Greens. For enrichment we use mushrooms, yellow squash, zucchini, red pepper, honey dew, apple, prickly pear, hibiscous, and other edible flowers (see safe plants list). Mushrooms and honey dew are particularly favored and are useful in tempting stressed or stubborn feeders to eat. For supplementation we use powdered calcium added to the salad. When the tortoises are inside for the winter months, calcium containing Vitamin D3 is used. For the warmer months when the animals are exposed to natural sunlight, calcium without Vitamin D3 is used. Mine prefer to eat in the early morning, so I offer the salad just after sunrise or the lights come on (winter). The salad is prepared in a large food processor so that these sometimes picky tortoises can't easily pick out their favorite foods and leave the rest. I also offer Mazuri Toroise Chow once weekly to provide a boost of fiber and small touch of protein for growth. They seem to love the stuff, but I wouldn't recommend offering it more than once weekly. It makes a great weekend feeding when we are normally busy and it is easily offered by caregivers when we are away from home.
Hydration should always be on the mind of a tortoise keeper of any kind and Flat-tails are no exception. At all stages of life, planicauda should be given access to suitably shallow water bowls. In addition to a water dish, babies up to one year should be soaked in luke warm water for 20-30 minutes every other day. For the second year, soakings should be twice weekly. After two years of age, I soak once weekly. Humidity is very important for Flat-tails and they should always have access to a humid hide of some kind and misted frequently. High humidity helps to prevent low level dehydration as well as preventing pyramiding of the scutes.
Housing these tortoises is a matter of where you live and how elaborate you wish to get. I think it is important to allow these tortoises to act naturally and therefore keep them in outside pens most of the year. These pens house 3 adults each and measures 8 feet by 5 feet. I also use a pen measuring 10 feet by 8 feet when all the animals are put together for breeding in the spring. The pens are well planted with red and white clover and various grasses for grazing. They also have sunken water bowls that are large enough in diameter for the tortoises to all be in at once, but shallow enough to prevent drowning. An overturned plastic garbage can lid or the top of a concrete bird bath work perfectly. Naturally, the pens must be predator proof and escape proof. This can be done easily enough by making a top out of wood and chicken wire to cover the top. Even with a secure pen, don't second guess about bringing these tortoises inside at night if you have a problem with native predators such as coyotes, hawks, owls, and vultures.
In winter, the Flat-tails are brought inside and set up in a tortoise table. The table measures 8 feet by 4 feet and up to six adults can be kept in this for their dormancy period. The table should be set up to allow each specimen it's own hide area. I use a mix of cork bark, half logs, and inverted cat pans with an access hole all over substrate about 3" deep with a scattering of dead leaves and cypress mulch over the top. A basking spot should be provided by a hardware light suspended over part of the cage. The bulb wattage should be adjusted to provide a heated area of about 95F. A UVB bulb is another must. It should be suspended near the basking light to help the tortoises metabolize vitamin D3, even if D3 is added by food supplement. It is also important to maintain consistent humidity of around 70% indoors. This can be done by cutting down a tarp and duct taping it over the cool side of the table. I know of several keepers who keep their planicauda like this all year round and it seems to do them no harm. It is just my preference to see them outside and acting more naturally.
Something should be said regarding the personality of Pyxis planicauda. These are, for the most part, not social and outgoing tortoises. They are very shy and become easily stressed and should not be expected to act like a Hermann's Tortoise or Redfoot. That being said, they are one of the most uniquely mysterious and beautiful chelonians I have experienced and I highly recommend them to those desiring a small, easily managed tortoise.
I must stress again that the Flat-tailed tortoise must be established in captivity if the species is to continue to survive at all. Conservationists have estimated an extinction time of less than 30 years. These amazing animals are in immediate danger of vanishing forever and the agricultural practices of Madagascar make this fact a "when" and not an "if". Their are many obstacles to overcome with breeding this species, including a low reproductive rate of single egg clutches, the necessity to break diapause prior to incubation, and the methods used once incubation is commenced.