Testudo marginata

A planted, secure OUTDOOR enclosure (strongly recommended, essential for adults); a tortoise table or well-ventilated open terrarium for juveniles and cold periods.

Minimum indoor dimensions for one adult; the outdoor space should be far larger (aim for 8-10 m² or more per adult). Provide buried retaining walls (this tortoise digs and climbs well), hides, dry areas and edible planting. Absolutely avoid overcrowding and prolonged indoor confinement.

A rather dry Mediterranean environment for adults. Juveniles need moister microclimates (60-80 % in a humid hide) and regular baths to limit pyramiding and dehydration.

A loose substrate that allows digging and retains a little moisture at depth. Avoid dusty or resinous substrates (pine, cedar) and permanently waterlogged ones, which promote respiratory problems and shell rot.

Essential. Strong desert-type UVB (10-12 % tube/lamp, target UVI 3-5 in the basking zone) replaced every 6-12 months, or better still, exposure to real sunlight outdoors (glass filters out UVB). Without adequate UVB: vitamin D3 deficiency, poor calcium uptake and metabolic bone disease.

Provide a shallow dish of clean water at all times, where the animal can drink and soak without any risk of drowning. Bathe juveniles and new animals 2-3 times a week in lukewarm water for hydration and gut transit.

Southern mainland Greece (the Peloponnese, Mount Olympus region); introduced/naturalised populations in Sardinia and Italy. A Mediterranean species of garrigue scrubland and rocky terrain.

Herbivore (folivore), high in fibre — None (no prey required)

A diet based on fibrous, low-protein wild plants: dandelion, plantain, clover in moderation, mallow, chicory, edible flowers, grasses and hay. A high calcium/phosphorus ratio is essential: cuttlebone available at all times and a calcium supplement. Ban fruit (save for rare exceptions), water-rich vegetables, dog/cat kibble, animal protein and plants high in oxalates/goitrogens. Too rich a diet causes pyramiding, disorganised growth and kidney problems.

Clutch 4–15 eggs/young. Usually 1 to 3 clutches per season, often 3-9 eggs each (up to around 15). Incubation of roughly 60 to 100 days at 30-32 °C. Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD): higher temperatures favour females. Provide females with a deep, loose nesting substrate.

• Shell pyramiding (too rich a diet, unsuitable humidity/UVB)
• Metabolic bone disease (MBD) from calcium/UVB/D3 deficiency
• Chelonian herpesvirus: rhinitis, stomatitis, often fatal and highly contagious, requiring strict quarantine
• Respiratory infections (RI) linked to cold, damp or draughts
• Intestinal parasites and dehydration/kidney damage (often linked to a poor diet)