It’s crucial for you to establish a suitable environment, plan a balanced diet, and take care of any health issues that pop up.īelow are some established care guidelines for you to follow throughout the ownership process. While their care requirements aren’t particularly difficult or challenging, you will need to spend a bit of time setting everything up (and maintaining it). Greek tortoise care can be both simple and time consuming. They often have a wider shape towards the rear of the shell with plates that flange outward. Generally, males are smaller and have a longer tail. That’s because they have raised, pointy scales on both sides of the scales and their inner thighs.Įxpert Tip: There are a few noteworthy differences between males and females. Greek tortoises are sometimes referred to as Spur-Thighed Tortoises. The species is also identifiable for the symmetrical markings on the head. The scales are biggest around the legs, which also have sharp claws for digging into the soil. The legs and head of the body are covered in thick scales. It has a pretty steep curve, which is common in many tortoise species. Overall, the shell is tall and rectangular-shaped. Instead, it’s named after Greek mosaics, which look a lot like the turtle’s shell! Contrary to popular belief, the Greek tortoise isn’t named after the country. The scutes take on an interesting design that looks like a work of art. The individual scutes also incorporate hues of black and brown. The carapace can range in color from yellow gold to tan. Green Tortoises are beautiful creatures with eye-catching shells. This makes them a very approachable pet tortoise when it comes to their habitat setup (more on that later). They’re not enormous like other species with a long life expectancy. These tortoises are very manageable when it comes to size. In some instances they can reach 11 inches, but you shouldn’t expect this. The average Greek tortoise size is between 5 or 8 inches as a fully grown adult. Poor living conditions and a lackluster diet could lead to premature death. A tortoise can only reach a ripe old age if it receives pristine care. In the wild, many don’t live beyond 20 years due to predators.īecause of this impressive lifespan, these tortoises are often lifelong pets. However, those claims are not verified.Įxpert Tip: These reptiles typically live longer in captivity than they do in the wild (which is not the case with many animals). Some reports have even claimed that they can live up to 200 years. These reptiles are fully capable of living upwards of 125 years. The typical pet Greek tortoise lifespan is around 50 years! But that’s not the limit. This is especially true when kept in captivity. These are one of the longest living tortoise species on the planet. Lifespanīefore you get a Greek tortoise, make sure that you’re ready for a commitment. As long as you’re covering their basic needs, they can thrive in a man-made environment. The only real preference they have is an arid climate.īecause of their wide distribution and undemanding habitat needs, these tortoises do well in captivity. You can find these tortoises dwelling in environments ranging from rocky hillsides to lush meadows.
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