LoL Picture Collection: Common Tortoises in Europe

Testudo Graeca can be found in Eastern Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea, where the climate is proper for its development. It is a protected species. Kidnapping such tortoise from its natural environment is considered a criminal offence. Moreover, buying one without documents attesting the origins of the tortoise, from an authorized breeder is also forbidden. It is a dry tortoise with small dimensions. An adult can reach 20 centimeters or even 30. The males are smaller than the females. The shell is rectangular, and if has a brown color with different nuances. The young ones have a light brown shell. The sides of the shell are big, and they are contoured in black. The head is covered with large scales and the legs are also covered with scales of a light color.

The Greek Tortoise comes from the arid zones with a sandy field, and with high temperatures. It is ideal to offer the tortoise some space that imitates the natural conditions. The Greek Tortoise CAN’T live in the interior, no matter if you have a generous space or aquarium. For the entire hot season, you can keep her outside in a designed space in the yard. Surround it with big stones or with a fence, at least two square meters for an adult. Those tortoises can climb really fast, so the fence must be high and vertical. The area must have two zones: one with grass and another one with sand. Make sure that the ground under it is not humid, as this damages the health of the tortoise. Breathing problems that are often lethal occur. The dry tortoises are shy animals, so they need places to hide. Give them two or three places of this kind. Leave your imagination to guide you. Contrary to the general belief, the dry land tortoises drink water. You need a large vessel for water, but don’t choose a deep one. The torto
ise might fall in it and it might not be able to get out. Birds and foxes are ferocious hunters of tortoises, so make sure you protect it against those also.

The Greek tortoise needs natural light to produce D3 vitamin, under the influence of the UV rays. This is important for the metabolism of Calcium. A tortoise without natural light and exposure to the sun can lead to affection of bones. The place where the tortoise stays must have sunny and shadowed areas.

The Greek tortoise is herbivore. It needs fibers, and fewer proteins. Only a few people know this and they offer the turtle all kinds of animal originated snacks, which affect the digestive system. The Greek turtle must be fed with vegetables, salad, green onion, spinach, pumpkins.