Spur-thighed tortoise – Turkish (Testudo graeca ibera)
Turtles & tortoises · Difficulty: Beginner
Key facts and care guidance for Spur-thighed tortoise – Turkish (Testudo graeca ibera) (origin: Eastern Turkey, north-western Iran, north-eastern Greece, southern Bulgaria, the Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan)). Adult size around 20–35 cm carapace length (females noticeably larger; the largest graeca form, over 5 kg). Life expectancy 60–100 years, and even longer in human care (individual animals over 100 years documented). The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
Spur-thighed tortoise – Turkish: 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 – Turkish: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 25–30 °C (outdoor enclosure/cold frame), basking spot 38–42 °C (basking spot under a heat emitter), at night 15–20 °C (night-time drop).
Spur-thighed tortoise – Turkish: 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 – Turkish: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: 60–100 years, and even longer in human care (individual animals over 100 years documented).
Spur-thighed tortoise – Turkish: Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 25–30 °C (outdoor enclosure/cold frame)
- Night temperature
- 15–20 °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
- 20–35 cm carapace length (females noticeably larger; the largest graeca form, over 5 kg)
- Life expectancy
- 60–100 years, and even longer in human care (individual animals over 100 years documented)
- Origin
- Eastern Turkey, north-western Iran, north-eastern Greece, southern Bulgaria, the Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan)
- Protection status
- CITES Appendix II / EU Annex A: an EU certificate (the yellow CITES form with photo documentation), plus registration and marking duties
- Brumation
- Yes – brumation of 3–5 months at 4–6 °C (below 8 °C the metabolism shuts down); unlike the North African forms, this Eurasian form is overwintered
- 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
A robust subspecies suitable for beginners; it overwinters like the European Testudo. A common mistake: overfeeding and protein (pyramiding), and a lack of UVB. Susceptible to herpesvirus – quarantine new arrivals, and do not mix it with hermanni.
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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 – Turkish (Testudo graeca ibera) 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: 9 October 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).