Mediterranean Tortoise: Species Characteristics and Rules for Keeping at Home

Imagine a piece of southern sunshine slowly wandering through your home. The Mediterranean tortoise is just such a creature. With its beautiful shell decorated with intricate patterns and its calm, unhurried disposition, it has long won the hearts of many nature lovers.

However, behind this cute appearance lies a wild animal with its own special needs. The decision to get such a turtle is a serious responsibility for decades to come, because in captivity they can live for a very long time. They need not just a terrarium, but a properly equipped space that will replace their native habitats.

In this article, we will explain in simple terms what makes this turtle unique, how to create comfortable conditions for it, and how to avoid common mistakes in caring for it. If you dream of having such a pet or already have one, you will find it useful to learn a few important things to keep your friend healthy and happy.

Habitat and lifestyle

The geographical range of the Mediterranean tortoise includes North Africa, Southern Europe, and Southwest Asia. The species is widespread on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, from Anapa to Sukhumi in southern Abkhazia, in Georgia, Armenia, and Iran.

The Mediterranean tortoise is found in Cyprus, Sicily, Sardinia, the Canary Islands, and Majorca. Its habitat can be seen in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. In Russia, it lives in the foothills of the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Dagestan.

Note! Turtles choose to live in semi-arid shrublands, meadows, coastal dunes, rocky and shrub-covered hills, marshy areas, and pine forests. In the Middle East, the species is found on barren hillsides, dry open steppes, and wastelands.

Testudo graeca

The main biome consists of:

• mediterranean forests, sparse forests, and shrubbery
• moderate broadleaf and mixed forest;

• moderate coniferous forest;
• temperate meadows.

Interesting! Sometimes the reptile is found in gardens, vineyards, or on mountain slopes, but no higher than 800 m above sea level.

During the cold season, the Mediterranean tortoise hibernates in old burrows, rock crevices, or burrows into the ground. The tortoise is active in the early morning and at dusk. At night and during the day, it sleeps, hiding between rocks or burrowing into the sand. In winter, it hibernates, emerging only in late March or early April. This is when the mating season begins.

Mediterranean tortoise

The Mediterranean tortoise is listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Appendix II of CITES, and Appendix II of the Bern Convention. The species is protected in the Caucasian Tiso-Samshitovaya Grove Reserve and the Pitsundo-Mussersky Reserve.

These animals differ from their Central Asian relatives in that they have 5 toes on their front paws instead of 4.

Protected in the Khosrov Forest Reserve, Shikahog Reserve, Arevik National Park, Dilijan National Park, and several other reserves.

Appearance

The Mediterranean tortoise is a medium-sized reptile. Its shell, or carapace, is oval in shape, slightly raised, and slightly serrated along the rear edge. The head and legs are covered with overlapping scales. The shell reaches a length of 35 cm in males and 20–25 cm in females.

Only very old turtles, whose age is measured in decades, reach the maximum size of the shell. The horny shields of the shell have a complex pattern consisting of dark concentric rings of irregular shape along the outer edge, the number of which does not correspond exactly to the number of years, but indicates the age of the animal: the more rings, the older it is.

Please note! The plumage of this species of turtle is much brighter than that of its relatives.

The shields of the shell usually have two brown spots, which often merge, making it appear as if the entire shell is dark in color. The shape and size of these dark spots vary greatly, so it is impossible to describe a specific color pattern. The underside of the shell is either solid in color or has irregularly shaped dark spots.

Important! Female and male Mediterranean turtles do not differ in the shade of their shells. Distinctive features of males are a pronounced depression on the plastron and a larger tail.

Popular subspecies

It is difficult to divide Mediterranean turtles into subspecies. Due to their large range, covering three continents, as well as their location in different landscapes and climatic conditions, their biotopes have produced a huge number of variations.

At least twenty subspecies have been discovered to date.

The most well-known of these are:

Keeping at home

To keep a Mediterranean turtle, you need a terrarium 60-70 cm wide and 1 m long. This size will be enough for your pet's entire life, with a bottom area of at least 0.4 square meters per pair.

The terrarium should have soil, a 40–60 W incandescent lamp, an ultraviolet lamp for reptiles (from 10% UVB), and a bathing area with fresh water. Turtles spend a lot of time in the sun. The UVI range for them is 1.0-2.6 average, 2.9-7.4 maximum (Ferguson's 3rd zone). Daylight hours in summer are 13 hours, in winter 11 hours.

What does a Mediterranean turtle look like

This is important! The daytime air temperature is +20 to +30 degrees, at the heating point (under the lamp) – +35 degrees, nighttime – +10 to +15 degrees. In winter, during hibernation, the temperature should be +18–+20 degrees.

Setting up a terrarium for a Greek turtle

The temperature under the lamp can be adjusted by changing the bulb in the lamp (using bulbs of different wattages) or by lowering or raising the lamp. Any drafts and sudden temperature changes, even in a terrarium, can cause reptiles to catch a cold.

Please note! The bottom of the terrarium must have a thick layer of soil where the turtle can burrow completely.

Coconut substrate or garden soil without seeds or fertilizers is recommended as soil. Wheat or oats are sown into the soil for design and additional feeding. It is advisable to place a humid chamber in the terrarium to prevent the shells of growing turtles from becoming pyramidal.

Feeding features

In nature, Mediterranean turtles feed on succulent and dry vegetation, mainly composite and leguminous plants. Occasionally, their diet includes fruits, vegetables, insects, and slugs. The turtles' favorite food is the leaves of trees and shrubs, apricots, plums, and apples.

In captivity, it is recommended to feed the turtle mainly romaine lettuce, which contains a large amount of moisture, vitamins, and calcium, which is so necessary for reptiles. The food is given to the turtle in a bowl. It is not recommended to feed the pet by hand. On average, an adult turtle eats 1 head of lettuce per day, and a young turtle eats ½ or 1/3 of a head.

These turtles are herbivorous.

Important! Young turtles should be fed every day, older ones every other day. The amount of food should be based on satiety, but in reasonable quantities, approximately 1/2 of the shell in volume.

The turtle's diet can sometimes include local forage grasses: clover, alfalfa, dandelions. Very rarely, no more than once every 30 days, reptiles can be fed insects: mealworms and earthworms, slugs, small snails, and crickets. Once a week, vitamins and calcium in powder form are added to the food. Brands recommended by experienced breeders: Wardley, Sera, Tetrafauna.

Turtles do not need to drink regularly. It is pointless to put bowls of water in the terrarium: they will trample, spill, and overturn them, and excessive humidity is harmful to reptiles. It is not necessary to bathe turtles if they are not dirty and are fed juicy food.

The older the turtle, the more convex its shell becomes.

It is strictly forbidden to feed the turtle food from the table, or to give it dog or cat food. Reptiles should not be fed milk, cottage cheese, eggs, meat, or fish.

Reproduction

Some collections and zoos have achieved great success in breeding this turtle in captivity. In nature, the species reaches sexual maturity at 12-14 years of age, with a shell length of 16-18 cm.

Mediterranean turtles begin to reproduce in March and continue to lay eggs until mid-June. In captivity, males remain sexually active until the end of summer, but after such attempts, females no longer lay eggs. Trying to escape from annoying males, females hide in bushes and thick grass, while excited males force them to leave their hiding places by striking them with their shells and biting their hind legs. They either run ahead or try to climb on top of the female.

Please note! Mating occurs up to 8-10 times a day, and there are cases when one female is fertilized by several males.

A month and a half after mating, the female lays two or three clutches of 1-3 eggs each in the sand, weighing 19-23 g. Turtles prefer places with soft soil that are exposed to the sun for 5-7 hours. There are three clutches per season, and thus each female lays an average of 15 eggs during the summer. The depth of the pit is about 22 cm. The female tamps down the surface by crawling over it several times. This is where all care for the offspring ends. Nature takes care of the rest.

Turtles begin to hatch from July to mid-September.

Incubation of eggs lasts from 70 to 90 (115) days at 70% (up to 50%) humidity and an average temperature of +27 degrees.

Turtle hatching begins in July and continues until mid-September, peaking in mid-August. Under the warm rays of the sun, which heat the damp earth well, a small turtle forms in the eggs after 70–90 days. At the end of the upper jaw, turtles have a so-called egg tooth, which they first use to pierce the egg, and then, turning inside the egg around its axis, cut the shell along the circumference.

Photo of turtles

Then they stick their paws into the gap that has formed and, after resting for a while, come out and immediately try to burrow deeper into the ground. Most of them do not come out, but burrow even deeper and hibernate near the nesting chamber.

Young turtles

This is important.! The following spring, young turtles appear on the surface. At this time, they are tiny: their still very soft shells are just over three centimeters long, and they weigh about 15 grams. They grow quite quickly, and after six months, their shells are already 7 cm long and they weigh 80 grams.

The Mediterranean tortoise is a small land tortoise that lives in the warm regions of Southern Europe and is well suited for keeping at home with proper care. It is calm and undemanding, but requires a spacious enclosure, good lighting with ultraviolet rays, dry soil, and a proper diet — mainly plant-based food without protein. In winter, it enters a period of hibernation, which must be carefully organized. If these conditions are met, the tortoise can live for more than 50 years, becoming a long-lived member of the household and a true member of the family.

Diseases and health maintenance

Central Asian tortoises are caught for sale in their natural habitats. During transportation and storage, many individuals develop respiratory diseases, hypovitaminosis, and rickets. Most of them have worm infestations.

All these factors, plus improper care, lead to various degrees of pathology. Several types of diseases are most common.

Colds

This disease is facilitated by keeping the animal without a terrarium and, accordingly, not maintaining the proper temperature. Walking on the floor, the reptile is exposed to drafts and hypothermia. Symptoms of colds in turtles:

• difficulty breathing and wheezing;
• mucous discharge and the appearance of bubbles in the nose or mouth;
• poor appetite or complete refusal to eat.
• apathy.

Mediterranean tortoise in its natural habitat (Krasnodar Krai)

Rectal prolapse

Rectal prolapse is a common problem in Mediterranean tortoises. Causes of the disease:

• constipation or enteritis
• anatomical abnormalities of the intestine;
• the reptile eats sand or soil.

Please note! Males also experience prolapse of the reproductive organ.

Rectal prolapse requires immediate veterinary assistance. It is contraindicated to insert the organ yourself. The doctor returns the intestine or genital organ to its place and secures the tail with adhesive tape. The pet must be closely monitored for a week to prevent recurrence and disruption of the defecation process.

Mediterranean tortoise (Testudo hermanni)

Diarrhea

Digestive system disorders usually occur when a turtle eats poor-quality food or as a result of intestinal trauma. The main signs of the problem are mushy and liquid feces with a very sharp, unpleasant odor. How to help your pet with diarrhea:

• limit the amount and frequency of feedings for 7 days
• the tortoise needs to be bathed every day.
• the animal needs to be given as much water as possible to flush out toxins.

Monitor your turtle's health

Remember! It is essential to monitor the weight of your amphibian. It is advisable to weigh it every day. If there is no improvement with self-treatment, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.

Parasites in the gastrointestinal tract

Various parasites in the gastrointestinal tract can be found in individuals of different ages. Usually, roundworms and tapeworms enter the turtle's body along with food. The following signs indicate the presence of worms:

• abnormal stool.
• rapid weight loss;
• complete apathy: the turtle may be passive, constantly sleeping or sitting in one place.
• sunken eyes.

To establish a diagnosis, it is best to have a stool test done and visit a veterinarian. In these cases, constant medical supervision is required.

Worms can be eliminated quickly in the earliest stages of infection with the help of special medications. The dosage will be determined by a veterinarian. But it is important to remember that the more advanced the disease, the more difficult it will be to cure.

Photo of a turtle

Conjunctivitis

Tortoises often suffer from eye inflammation. The main signs of conjunctivitis are:

• turtles cannot open their eyes normally; they may stick together due to pus discharge.
• swollen eyelids with fluid accumulation underneath that resembles pus;
• loss of appetite.

The disease can be caused by a lack or excess of vitamin A.

Rickets

The cause of the disease is a lack of calcium and vitamin D3. This disease is considered very common and can occur when keeping reptiles at home. It can be caused by an improper diet that includes foods low in calcium, as well as a lack of ultraviolet radiation. The main symptoms are listed below.

1. In young turtles, the shell may take a long time to harden. It usually hardens by the end of the first year of life.
2. Deformation of the shell, jaws, and paws.
3. In adult specimens, the structure of the shell becomes soft. Almost a third of the shell may also collapse.
4. Over time, the shell acquires a light shade and becomes flat.
5. The carapace may break or crack for no reason.
6. During examination, soft plastrons are often detected.
7. In older turtles, the plates acquire a thickened and porous structure.

Rickets can also be accompanied by other additional symptoms: the reptile moves only on its front legs, the shape of its snout changes, frequent fractures of the legs occur, which may arise for no reason, and fluid without blood admixtures may accumulate in the shield area.

Note! To prevent this pathology, special attention should be paid to nutrition, which should be balanced. It is also worth giving special vitamins for land turtles. If the doctor detects rickets, he may prescribe vitamin injections.

Dystocia – delayed egg laying.

The pathology may appear due to non-compliance with the temperature regime in the aquaterrarium, as well as due to an increased level of calcium in the pet's body. Symptoms of dystocia:

• the female may dig a hole for eggs, but does not lay them.
• the pet may be apathetic, passive, and lethargic.
• females begin the process of laying eggs, but do not complete it.
• the animals do not want to eat and lose their appetite.
• sometimes there are signs of shortness of breath.

In these situations, it is best to consult a veterinarian. Egg-laying disorders can only be detected through a complete examination using ultrasound and X-rays.

Cracks and fractures of the shell

Damage and fractures of the shell in reptiles usually occur due to accidents – a strong blow, a fall from a height, an animal bite. There may be cracks and severe fractures on the surface of the shell.

Successful recovery depends on the severity of the injury. Usually, during the appointment, the doctor disinfects the wound. After that, he covers it to protect it from negative external influences. The diet must include complexes with a high calcium content.

Kidney failure

The disease is usually caused by failure to comply with the conditions for keeping amphibians:

• prolonged exposure to low temperatures;
• improper nutrition;
• dehydration.

This disease can also occur as a result of calcium and phosphorus metabolism disorders. It can be triggered by various infections of the cloaca and urinary tract, excess or deficiency of vitamin A, or taking toxic medications.

It is worth paying attention to the main signs:

• when examining the turtle's urine, no salts are detected;
• weight loss;
• poor appetite;

• swelling of the neck and limbs.
• problems with urination;
• softening of bones and shell.

Testudo graeca eating

Additional information

The approximate cost of a Mediterranean turtle on the Russian market is between 15,000 and 40,000 rubles. Official pet stores offer reptiles with documents at this price. Buying from private sellers can be significantly cheaper.

Turtles are silent creatures, but if they feel threatened, they hiss loudly. When irritated or frightened, turtles quickly retract their heads and front limbs into their shells, making a “kh-kh-kh” sound. Some individuals, especially males, are prone to aggression and may bite humans.

Attention! According to leading experts, the Mediterranean turtle is one of the most endangered reptile species in Russia and is at real risk of extinction.

The main reasons for the decline in numbers, reduction, and fragmentation of the Mediterranean turtle's range are anthropogenic transformation, destruction of its habitat, and illegal capture of turtles for sale as pets.

Illegal capture and trade of Mediterranean turtles is punishable under the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (Article 8.35).

Keeping a Mediterranean turtle is a long-term responsibility that requires a serious approach. These animals not only live a long time, they are part of nature and need conditions that are as close to natural as possible. Your main task is not just to feed your pet, but to create the right microclimate for it with a warm heating point, UV radiation, and space for activity.

If you are ready for it, a tortoise can become a wonderful and calm friend for many years. It will not require games or walks, but will become a living reminder of the steppes and hills of the Mediterranean right in your home. Observing its unhurried life teaches patience and gives a sense of peace.

Remember that when you bring such an animal into your home, you are taking on the responsibility of caring for a fragile creature. Proper care, attention to detail, and regular consultations with a herpetologist are the key to ensuring that your pet will be healthy and active for many decades. And then this little armored friend will become a true member of the family.