Spur-thighed tortoise – Golan (Testudo graeca terrestris)

Short answers

Spur-thighed tortoise – Golan: How big does the enclosure need to be?

An outdoor enclosure from 10 m² plus a cold frame.

Spur-thighed tortoise – Golan: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–32 °C, basking spot 40 °C, at night 14–19 °C.

Spur-thighed tortoise – Golan: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0–12 %).

Spur-thighed tortoise – Golan: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 60–100 years.

Spur-thighed tortoise – Golan: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–32 °C

Night temperature

14–19 °C

Basking spot

40 °C

Humidity

40–55 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0–12 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

an outdoor enclosure from 10 m² plus a cold frame

Substrate

Sand-loam they can dig in, wild herbs growing, stone slabs

Feeding

Food

Wild herbs, grasses, hay – purely plant-based and rich in calcium

Feeding interval

plant food daily

Key facts

Adult size

15–22 cm

Life expectancy

60–100 years

Origin

The Levant (Israel, Lebanon, Syria, southern Turkey)

Protection status

CITES II / EU Annex A – sale only with a valid EU commercial-use certificate plus photo documentation

Brumation

A winter rest of 10–14 weeks at 4–8 °C

Cohabitation

Keeping it singly is the least stressful option – tortoises do not need company. A harem of one male with at least two, preferably three females is possible in a large outdoor enclosure divided up with visual barriers; the drawback: males ram and bite, and under constant courtship females visibly lose weight, so plan a way to separate the male temporarily. Never keep two males together.

Notes

A small, often yellowish subspecies from the Near East. Like all Testudo in EU Annex A: sale only with yellow papers. Outdoor keeping in summer is the way that suits it best.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Spur-thighed tortoise – Golan (Testudo graeca terrestris) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) – Intermediate to expert
• 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 – Iberian (Testudo graeca graeca) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Spur-thighed tortoise – Golan (Testudo graeca terrestris) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (an outdoor enclosure from 10 m² plus a cold frame), substrate (Sand-loam they can dig in, wild herbs growing, stone slabs), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.