It is a little misleading to refer to the Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise as the Greek tortoise, as it occurs naturally across a wide section of the rest of the Mediterranean, including in Turkey, Spain and North Africa. There are a huge variety of subspecies to this kind of tortoise and the northern ones are more tolerant of cool temperatures than the southern variant.Several aspects combine to make this species seem like an ideal pet to keep. Firstly they are relatively small, which makes them a little easier to accommodate. The size averages between 8 and 10 inches (20.3 and 25.4cm) and their life expectancy is around fifty years. Their shells are distinctively domed. While they are similar in appearance to the Hermann tortoises, there are a few differences. Unlike Hermann tortoises, they do not have a divided anal scute over the tail. Another characteristic is the presence of large scales on the legs.
As the male Greek tortoise can be quite territorial, make sure that you do not house more than one of them in the same enclosure. This type of tortoise needs an enclosure that is at least 4ft by 2ft in size and a temperature gradient that varies between 95 Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) for basking and 75 Fahrenheit (23.8 degrees Celsius) for cooling.
The Greek tortoise needs a diet that is rich in fibre, but low in protein. They prefer broad leaf plants to grasses and like most tortoises can be fed Romaine lettuce, Kale, mustard greens, Turnip greens, Collard greens. Feed cabbage very sparingly as it can lead to thyroid problems.
A suspected subspecies that has gained some attention are the Golden Greeks. Some argued that this is merely a color adaptation of Greek tortoises native to sandy territory. The light golden color certainly does help them to blend in with their environment and escape the notice of predators and the absorption of too much heat. This type is fond of burying themselves in topsoil or below grass. For this reason their environment needs to be fairly dry, as too much humidity will result in a respiratory ailment. The variant does not in fact originate from Greece, but rather from the Middle East. It had been suggested that the Golden Greeks in fact belong to the species Testudo ibera. They have finally been called Levantine Nikolski’s tortoise or the Middle Eastern Greek tortoise, with the Latin name Testudo terrestris.
Although Greek tortoises are listed by CITES, the reality is that many of those offered for sale were captured in the wild and sometimes carry a load of parasites. This requires medical attention, as it can lead to diarrhoea and subsequent dehydration. The greek tortoise makes an outgoing pet for someone who has not kept a tortoise before.