Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni)

Short answers

Egyptian tortoise: How big does the enclosure need to be?

A dry enclosure from ~2 m² (e.g. 200 × 100 cm).

Egyptian tortoise: What temperature does it need?

Daytime summer 25–35 °C, winter (main activity period) 15–23 °C; basking spot 35–45 °C in summer, 25–30 °C in winter, basking spot 35–40 °C, at night 15–20 °C.

Egyptian tortoise: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (desert-grade UVB).

Egyptian tortoise: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: up to ~50 years.

Egyptian tortoise: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Intermediate to expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

summer 25–35 °C, winter (main activity period) 15–23 °C; basking spot 35–45 °C in summer, 25–30 °C in winter

Night temperature

15–20 °C

Basking spot

35–40 °C

Humidity

during the day 50–60 %, noticeably higher at night and in the early morning hours (80–90 %); substrate surface dry during the day

UVB

Essential (desert-grade UVB)

Enclosure

Minimum size

a dry enclosure from ~2 m² (e.g. 200 × 100 cm)

Substrate

A sand-loam mix (about 5:1), deep and diggable

Feeding

Food

Herbivorous: wild herbs, leaves, flowers; very high in fibre and calcium

Feeding interval

Plant food daily, in moderate portions (a small species)

Key facts

Adult size

males 9–11 cm, females up to 13–14 cm (the smallest tortoise)

Life expectancy

up to ~50 years

Origin

Coastal semi-deserts and dry steppe from Libya through Egypt to southern Israel, mostly within a strip up to about 120 km from the Mediterranean; almost extinct in the wild in Egypt

Protection status

CITES Appendix I / EU Annex A – the yellow EU certificate plus a commercial-use permit are mandatory

Brumation

No winter dormancy. Instead a summer rest (aestivation): withdrawal from mid-April, strict rest roughly from June to early September, ending with a good soaking shower from early to mid-September. Main activity runs from October to April.

Cohabitation

Small groups get on; keep the climate strictly dry. Two males harass each other and the females; under constant courtship a female visibly loses condition. One male to several females, and plan for a way to separate them.

Notes

A desert species – permanently warm and dry, and no outdoor keeping in central Europe. CITES I, with strict documentation requirements; only with a legal certificate.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata) – Beginner to intermediate
• Hermann's tortoise – Dalmatian (Testudo hermanni hercegovinensis) – Beginner
• Hermann's tortoise – eastern (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) – Beginner
• Hermann's tortoise – western (Testudo hermanni hermanni) – Beginner to intermediate
• Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) – Beginner
• Spur-thighed tortoise – Armenian (Testudo graeca armeniaca) – Intermediate
• Spur-thighed tortoise – Golan (Testudo graeca terrestris) – Intermediate
• Spur-thighed tortoise – Iberian (Testudo graeca graeca) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a dry enclosure from ~2 m² (e.g. 200 × 100 cm)), substrate (A sand-loam mix (about 5:1), deep and diggable), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.