The Greek Tortoise is found in the wild in northern Africa and along the Mediterranean coast. They are very social reptiles that readily interact with members of their own species, but males are sometimes aggressive. Careful consideration should be given to the purchase of such a pet: assess whether you can provide suitable living conditions for the duration of its life – a loggerhead turtle can live for as long as 50 years, or dor longer. The sale of walruses as pets began in the 1950s, but most of these reptiles died early due to poor care. The most important thing is to ensure that the tortoise receives enough UV light and to take care of other basic care principles.
Characteristics of the tortoise
Like most reptiles, the Greek tortoise does not appreciate human companionship very much – they only tolerate people. What’s different – the company of another tortoise, with which such a reptile will surely be satisfied. Greek tortoises can become aggressive if left alone, so it is best to keep at least two pets: females get on well with each other, but males can fight. It is best to choose turtles of the same species – this way you can be sure that there will be no deadly fights.
Terrarium lamps
Although the gopher tortoise is a relatively small reptile, growing to about 30 cm, its terrarium should be sufficiently ertwo. The terrarium must be equipped with thermoregulation to help the pet maintain a suitable body temperature. As the tortoises are diurnal, they will need to be equipped with UVA/UVB lamps (diurnal reptiles suffer greatly from the loss of the UVB source, so they should be exposed to UVB for 8 to 9 hours a day). Artificial light should be provided for approximately 14-16 h/day – this will require not only a UV lamp but also another light source.
Suitable temperaturesperature support
It’s important for every reptile to have several different heat zones, and so walruses are no exception. The terrarium will need to be equipped with a hot zone and a cool zone, between which there should be a gradual change in temperature. The tortoises like high temperatures – the hot zone should be around +45° C and the cool zone – at least +25° C. During the night, the temperature in the cool zone may be slightly lower, but should not dropfall below +20° C (heat sources should not be switched on during the darkest hours of the day). To maintain the temperature properly, you will need two good quality thermometers to monitor the temperature in the cool and hot zones.
Which substrate to choose?
Select a substrate for the tortoise that is easily digestible and easily eliminated into the body, as the reptile will sooner or later taste it. These turtles may mash the food into the substrate and then eat it, or they may deliberately eat the substrateThe substrate is a good source of vitamins and minerals. One of the best choices – coral sand.
Turtle diet
The diet of a loggerhead turtle should be high in fibre and low in protein. It is best to choose a turtle-specific feed that not only contains all the necessary nutrients but also vitamins and minerals. These reptiles can be fed a variety of vegetables – courgettes, broccoli, pechips, shredded carrots, etc. Fruits and berries should make up no more than 5-10% of the total diet (apples, pears, peaches, strawberries, etc.) During the summer, dandelions, clover and thistles can be given. Crushed eggshells can also be given to ensure sufficient calcium when mixed with the feed (crushed chalk can also be given).Feeding should be done every day unless the reptile refuses to eat.
Žiemos sleep
Although it is commonly believed that all turtles hibernate, this is far from true. Greek tortoises come from a very warm environment, so a drop in temperature is not natural for them. Our national climate causes an unnatural six-month period for Greek tortoises, so it is important to ensure that the reptile is provided with conditions that are as close as possible to the natural environment. Sometimes reptile keepers decide to take the reptiles to a farm and there theyThey can be kept from early spring to late autumn, but this should not be the case – sooner or later, the tortoise is bound to get sick. However, it is sometimes necessary to provide suitable hibernation conditions for these turtles (usually by a vet who assesses the reptile’s condition). During hibernation, the tortoise is placed in a box lined with straw or hay and maintained at a temperature of +5° C to +10° C. The tortoise must be examined at least once a year