Care sheet

Greek Tortoise

Testudo graeca

Also known as: Spur-thighed Tortoise

Testudinidae · Testudines

BeginnerCITES IIIUCN VU

Activity: ☀️ Diurnal
Temperament: Hands-off
Adult length: 5–10 in
Lifespan (captivity): 50–75 yrs
Native range: North Africa, southern Europe, and Middle East — dry scrub and grassland

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Care guide

Overview

Greek Tortoise (Testudo graeca) — a hardy, moderately sized Mediterranean/North African tortoise and a strong beginner species alongside Hermann's. Weed/green herbivore diet, UVB, warm basking, and ideally outdoor time. Most forms hibernate seasonally.

Environment

Climate

Cool side

65–75 °F

Warm side

78–85 °F

Basking spot

90–95 °F

Nighttime

60–70 °F

Humidity (ambient)

40–65%

Environment

UVB lighting

Required?

Yes — provide UVB

Fixture type

T5 HO

Replacement interval

Every 12 months

Housing

Enclosure

Orientation

Terrestrial

Bioactive setup

Suitable

Minimum size by life stage

HatchlingNot specified
JuvenileNot specified
AdultOutdoor pen preferred; indoor min ~4x2 ft with solid opaque sides

Housing

Substrate

Safe options

organic topsoilcoco coirplay sand blend

Avoid

pinecedar

Nutrition

Diet & feeding

Dietary type

Herbivore

Feeding frequency by life stage

AdultFresh high-fiber greens and weeds daily

Supplementation

Supplemental calcium (especially indoors); favor broadleaf weeds/clovers; limit fruit and protein.

Care

Water & behavior

Water

Shallow water dish always available (no drowning risk).

Soaking behavior

Soak juveniles 3-4x weekly, 15-20 min in lukewarm water.

Legal & ecology

Conservation

CITES

Appendix II

IUCN Red List

VU · Vulnerable

Wild populations

IUCN Vulnerable; CITES Appendix II / EU Annex A. Many subspecies with differing sizes. Most (temperate) forms hibernate ~2-3 months under vet guidance; some southern forms do not.

Citations

Sources

Every husbandry parameter on this page is backed by the references below. Click through to read the originals.

Testudo graeca — species account
Animal Diversity Web, U. Michigan
academic
Range, subspecies variation, herbivore biology.
Published: 2020-01-01
Testudo graeca — IUCN Red List (VU)
IUCN
government
Vulnerable; CITES Appendix II / EU Annex A.
Published: 2019-01-01
Greek Tortoise Care Sheet
ReptiFiles (Mariah Healey)
breeder community
Enclosure, UVB, basking, weed/green diet, subspecies/hibernation notes.
Published: 2022-01-01