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Greek Tortoises
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Our tortoises will usually lay eggs in specific areas of our yard starting in May. We remove the eggs and incubate at 90 to 93 degrees to produce more females. They feed primarily on Romain lettuce and Flukers tortoise pellets and begin feeding a few days after hatching. We keep the hatchlings indoors for the first winter in tote enclosure with light and heat 12 hours per day. They grow rather quickly and feed during the day time period. The following Spring we move them to an outside enclosure where they are protected. The diet will include the Romain, Flukers, dandelion, hibiscus, ice plant and occasional mixed fruit. The time in the enclosure gives them time to learn to how to navigate obstacles without turning over, finding water and covering up for cool down at night. They hibernate in the enclosure during winter months with only water available. They do not feed during this time. By the third Spring they are ready to roam the yard freely with secure fencing. Males will show breeding behavior by this time and the females are usually larger at this point with a smaller tail. Our yard is planted for them to feed and water in a shallow container. We have a pool and have never had any fall in. They seem to learn their climbing and maneuvering limits early on. Full grown adults are 5” to 8”. They do not dig, except for females when laying eggs. They sleep under plants and leaves at night and roam freely and during the day, finding the first sunny spot to warm up in the mornings before feeding freely. In the hotter summer months they are more active early and later in the day. Life span can be 55 years +.