Black Greek Tortoise Care Sheet

The Black Greek Tortoise (Testudo graeca ibera) is a medium-sized tortoise, 6-10 inches long, with a dark, domed shell. Native to the Balkan and Eastern European regions, it thrives in dry, rocky habitats with vegetation. Preferring warm climates, it seeks shade in heat and may brumate in winter. They thrive in environments that mimic their natural habitat and make excellent long-term pets with proper care.

Care sheets are only to be taken as guidelines. Just as with all animals, each reptile will have unique traits and personalities special to the individual animal that may require adaptation in their husbandry and care. The following care sheet will address basic requirements but as the primary caretaker of your pet, we encourage you to take notice of your pet's behaviours and preferences and make adjustments as they grow with you and your family. Please also keep in mind that unlike mammals, most reptiles change their behaviour according to the weather seasons even if you keep them indoors all year round.

We keep tortoises and turtles in stock at our Toronto store and ship across Canada.

Enclosure: Ample space to roam is essential to accommodate their activity level. Greek Tortoises are roamers and grazers, they need lots of space to explore and have high activity levels. A 20-40gal terrarium is adequate when they are young but eventually, they will need a custom space ideally measuring around 4' x 2'. Greeks are very long living which means they have a relatively slow growth rate and take 15-20 years before they reach full size. They also benefit from plenty of hiding spots and opportunities to dig and forage in their habitat.

Substrate: Black Greek Tortoises thrive in environments that closely resemble their natural and diverse grasslands, shrublands, and humid Mediterranean woodlot habitats. We prefer to recommend ZM Forest Floor as the beginner substrate for this species but if done right, a wide myriad of substrate mixtures can be safely used to mimic the balance of semi arid grasslands and humid Mediterranean woodlots.

Temperature & Humidity: Black Greek Tortoises are well-adapted to cooler climates with mild to hot humid summers. In captivity, it is best to provide them with consistent areas of humidity so that they do not have to struggle for it even if they can. The basking area should be heated to 90-95°F (32-35°C) to allow the tortoise to regulate its body temperature, while the ambient temperature of the enclosure should remain between 75-85°F (24-29°C) during the day. Black Greeks have a high tolerance to cooler temperatures and at night, the temperature can safely drop to 60-70°F (16-21°C). Humidity is equally important and should be kept around 50-70%, which helps prevent dehydration. To achieve this, misting the enclosure regularly, using moisture-retaining substrates like soil or cypress mulch, and possibly using a humid hide are all helpful. They also need a shallow dish of water for them to drink from and sometimes sit in to cool off. Monitoring both temperature and humidity levels with thermometers and hygrometers ensures a comfortable, healthy environment for your tortoise.

Lighting: Provide UVB lighting for 10-14 hours a day to support proper calcium and vitamin D3 metabolism and overall health. Use a full-spectrum UVB bulb specifically designed for reptiles. UVB lighting can be provided in the form of linear fluorescent, compact fluorescent, mercury vapour, and more recent technology provides UVB lighting in LED form as well. Heating bulbs can be provided by basking heat bulbs, heat emitters, or deep heat projectors. The amount of lighting you need will depend on the size of your setup and temperature of the room the enclosure stays in. Typically, the larger the enclosure, the more lighting you will need.

Decor: Black Greek Tortoises will likely try to trample anything you place into its terrarium due to its high activity levels and bulldozer like personalities. Provide some shaded areas in the enclosure and anything else should be strong and sturdy to withstand your tortoise's movements. Otherwise, provide lots of open space for roaming and foraging.

Feeding: Black Greek Tortoises are herbivores, requiring a high-fiber, calcium-rich diet. Feed dandelion greens, collard greens, clover, endive, bok choy, kale, and swiss chard as staples, with occasional treats like hibiscus flowers or small amounts of fruit (10% or less). Avoid foods high in protein, sugar, or oxalates.

Supplementation: Provide calcium supplements to support shell health in the form of calcium blocks or cuttlebones. We advise against D3 supplements as long as you are using the correct UVB lighting. Calcium powders and liquid calciums are also acceptable.

Water: Provide fresh water daily in a dish that is easily accessible to drink safely from and soak in.