greek tourtoise?

Question

i just purchased a greek tourtoise yesterday and i was wondering what kind of bedding to use in the cage. the guy at the pet store told me to use soil and keep it moist but dont they usually live in the dessert? also, suggestions on what to feed them and which kind of heat lamps to use would be appreciated. thankk you!

Answer 1

http://www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/turtles/greek-tortoise.php

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/tiberagoldengreekcare.htm

These websites should give you a good idea what you will need! As far as heat lamps, a reflector dome and a regular 100W household bulb work fine. You need to adjust the distance from the basking spot at one end of the enclosure to get correct temps. Or just plug it in to a dimmer switch to adjust the brightness/heat level--this is what I do. Only use a digital indoor/outdoor probe thermometer for measuring temps--dial and stick ons are very inaccurate.

Answer 2

I have a russian tortoise, and I would suggest using bark. I use the forest kind for mine. My tortoise loves it, and she digs in it too. I would not use soil, it's too messy. And not all tortoises come from the desert. As for feeding, try romaine lettuce, kale, collard greens, turnip greens, etc. Remember to sprinkle calcium powder over the food as well. I wuld use an incandesent heat lamp, a flourescent UV lamp, and a heat pad underneath the tank. Lastly, I would definately take your tortoise to the vet within a week or so to get de-wormed. If it's wild caught, it will probably have parasites. If untreated your tortoise will soon stop eating. That happened to mine. Well, good luck.

Answer 3

a mix of 50% soil (one without fertilizer additives) and 50% clean play sand would work well. Tortoises are vegitarians. Feed them dandelions, mustard, collard and turnip greens. Steer clear of iceberg lettuce as a general rule. Too many fruits will result in diarrhea and other health issues,but can be given as a treat.
Fresh water should be offered at all times in a shallow dish. Your tortoise will also appreciate a 10-minute soak in a shallow bath water to ensure proper hydration.
UV lights and specialist reptile bulbs are needed to keep your pet healthy.
I dont recommend buying a pet, particulaly a reptile,without having a basic idea of how it eats, lives and keeps warm. Have a chat to the guy at the petshop before you go to get a new pet.

Answer 4

They are not a desert species, but live in Mediterranean grasslands- and in these habitats, they spend a lot of time in humid microhabitats.

http://www.tortoisetrust.org is a good site for care for this species.