Traits & behavior
They eat only plant matter; mostly vegetables and some fruits.
This means that they are active during the day and sleep at night.
They like to dig and burrow into the sand.
With proper care, your tortoise could live to be more than 50 years old.
Things to remember
Always supervise children when they're interacting with your tortoise.
Wait 3-4 days for your pet to adjust to his new surroundings. Then try holding him for short amounts of time, and offering food by hand.
Greek tortoises need to live in a warm, dry environment.
Allow your tortoise to roam in the yard or house under close, constant supervision a few times a week.
Fresh fruits and vegetables require their own dish and should be removed from the habitat after four hours to prevent spoilage.
Safety & cleanliness
Please remember that all pets may bite or scratch, and may transmit disease to humans. Keep your pet's home clean and wash your hands before and after handling your pet or cleaning his home. Infants, young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and the infirm or elderly are at greater risk of infections and should use caution when in contact with the pet or its habitat. Consult your doctor for more information.
80% of your tortoise's diet should be fresh, raw or cooked vegetables. Choose dark green varieties like kale or collard greens, along with green or yellow peppers; cooked sweet potatoes, squash and cauliflower.
About 20% of the diet should be fruit like red berries, melon and apple. Offer fruit only every third or fourth feeding.
Feeding frequency & amount
Start by feeding one cup of food per day. Then offer more or less based on feeding response.
"Dust" the food with calcium supplement twice a week - ask an associate for details.
A diet rich in red and yellow colored foods will help keep your tortoise's shell from fading.
Provide a shallow dish with water for drinking and soaking and change it daily.
Signs of a healthy Greek tortoise:
- Clear, alert eyes
- Solid, well-formed shell
- Eats and drinks normally
- Breathes easily
- Well-formed droppings every 2-3 days
Things to watch for:
- Runny droppings or red streaks in droppings for more than two days
- Soft or cracking shell
- Eating or drinking less; weight loss
- Swollen joints
- Discharge from the eyes, nose or mouth
If you notice any of the signs above, please consult an experienced Reptile Veterinarian as soon as possible.
Use a 40-gallon or larger, glass terrarium with a screen top for ventilation, or, use a waterproof container, at least 2' x 4', with 1.5'-2' high sides. Be sure to provide a hiding place large enough for your tortoise to be completely concealed.
Maintain a level between 25-50%. Use a hygrometer (humidity gauge) to keep track.
- Day - Temperature between 75-85° F
- Basking - Provide a basking spot lamp to create a localized basking area of 95-105° F
- Night - Temperature between 65-75° F
- Place a thermometer at each end of the home to monitor temperatures
Use a daytime UVA/UVB fluorescent bulb for approximately 12 hours of light per day to help maintain shell structure.
Line the home with a 50/50 mixture of sterile soil and calcium sand (a 2"-3" layer). Remove waste weekly and change substrate at least once a month.