Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca)
Turtles & tortoises · Difficulty: Intermediate
Key facts and care guidance for Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) (origin: North Africa, southern Spain, the Balkans, Turkey, the Caucasus, the Levant to northwestern Iran). Adult size around 10–35 cm carapace length depending on subspecies (Tunisian forms the smallest, the Turkish form ibera the largest, over 5 kg). Life expectancy 60–100 years, and even longer in human care. The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
Spur-thighed tortoise: How big does the enclosure need to be?
Outdoor keeping is compulsory: a cold frame/greenhouse plus an outdoor enclosure of at least about 10 m² for the first adult animal, +5 m² for each additional animal; keeping it purely indoors in a terrarium is not appropriate.
Spur-thighed tortoise: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 22–32 °C depending on subspecies (outdoor enclosure/cold frame), basking spot 38–42 °C (basking spot under a heat emitter), at night 10–20 °C (night-time drop).
Spur-thighed tortoise: Does it need UVB lighting?
UVB: UVB essential when kept indoors (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5); outdoors the sun covers it.
Spur-thighed tortoise: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: 60–100 years, and even longer in human care.
Spur-thighed tortoise: Is it suitable for beginners?
Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 22–32 °C depending on subspecies (outdoor enclosure/cold frame)
- Night temperature
- 10–20 °C (night-time drop)
- Basking spot
- 38–42 °C (basking spot under a heat emitter)
- Humidity
- 40–60 % (juveniles need a humid microclimate of 60–80 %)
- UVB
- UVB essential when kept indoors (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5); outdoors the sun covers it
Enclosure
- Minimum size
- Outdoor keeping is compulsory: a cold frame/greenhouse plus an outdoor enclosure of at least about 10 m² for the first adult animal, +5 m² for each additional animal; keeping it purely indoors in a terrarium is not appropriate
- Substrate
- A garden-soil, sand and loam mix they can dig in; leaf litter or hay
Feeding
- Food
- Strictly herbivorous: fibre-rich wild herbs and flowers; no fruit and no animal protein; calcium (cuttlebone)
- Feeding interval
- wild herbs freely available every day, no overfeeding, one fasting day a week; juveniles daily
Key facts
- Adult size
- 10–35 cm carapace length depending on subspecies (Tunisian forms the smallest, the Turkish form ibera the largest, over 5 kg)
- Life expectancy
- 60–100 years, and even longer in human care
- Origin
- North Africa, southern Spain, the Balkans, Turkey, the Caucasus, the Levant to northwestern Iran
- Protection status
- CITES Appendix II / EU Annex A: an EU certificate (the yellow CITES form with photo documentation), plus registration and marking duties
- Brumation
- DEPENDS ON THE SUBSPECIES and must not be done as a blanket rule. European-Eurasian forms (ibera, armeniaca, graeca from higher elevations): winter dormancy 3–5 months at 4–6 °C. North African forms (marokkensis, nabeulensis): NO long cold dormancy — instead a mild winter rest at around 10–15 °C, with a summer rest during the heat instead. Establish the animal's origin before the first overwintering.
- Cohabitation
- Keeping them singly is straightforward. A group only as one male with several females in a large outdoor enclosure; never two males (the males are very insistent)
Notes
Collective entry for all subspecies of Testudo graeca — intended for captive-bred animals from mixed pairings and for animals whose subspecies is not reliably known. Anyone who knows the subspecies should select that entry instead: the figures differ significantly, and for the winter rest even fundamentally.
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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 – Golan (Testudo graeca terrestris) – Intermediate
What you need to start
To keep Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (Outdoor keeping is compulsory: a cold frame/greenhouse plus an outdoor enclosure of at least about 10 m² for the first adult animal, +5 m² for each additional animal; keeping it purely indoors in a terrarium is not appropriate), substrate (A garden-soil, sand and loam mix they can dig in; leaf litter or hay), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.
The complete, interactive care database is in the Reptoria app.
Last updated: 2 November 2026 · Editor: Reptoria editorial team · Sources include: Wikipedia DE, der-zooexperte.de, landschildkroeten-hunsrueck.de, landschildkroeten.de, megazoo-nord.de
All values are non-binding guidance and do not replace expert advice. Research thoroughly from several sources before acquiring and keeping an animal, and observe the applicable law (species and animal protection in particular).