The Greek Tortoise

The Greek tortoise is spread in northern Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, Asia, and in the Balkans. It is a middleweight tortoise with a green, yellow color. They live in dry areas, on hills and in places with rich vegetation, such as the forests. Contrary to the legends, this tortoise is a fast one. During the day, it runs after food all day long, and during the night or when the weather is really hot, it stays under bushes, stones, or in the call caves appeared in mountains. It usually eats vegetal components, but accidentally, it can eat worms. If the food is not enough, it can eat mud, which has an increased concentration of nutritive substances. Practically, the Greek tortoise can’t die of hunger in natural habitats.




It has a solid shell, and only a few enemies. Only the young tortoises are vulnerable to attacks, as their shell is softer and it can be cracked. In June. The female lays 2-5 eggs, which will hatch in August or September. Sometimes, the babies will enter directly in hibernation until the next spring, if they are born during the winter. The problem is that many tortoises that enter directly in hibernation will die, because they don’t have enough fat reserves to get over the winter. The ideal scenario is the one in which the baby turtle is born with one or two months before hibernation, so it would have time to prepare.



The Greek tortoise can be found in Greece, but it is often found in Eastern Europe and Northern Africa. It is one of the most common types of tortoises that can be used as pets. They are not pretentious to alimentation, they are also resistant to diseases, and they are also friendly. The problem is that you will need a special place for your pet, an enclosed surface of 2 square meters at least.




Greek tortoise habitat

black Greek tortoise

Greek tortoise size

full grown

greek tortoise care

Related Posts:

The Russian Tortoise

The Egyptian Tortoise

Common Types of Tortoise

The African Spurred Tortoise

 Common Tortoises in Europe