Species - recognition & requirements

As a responsible tortoise owner it is absolutely imperative to know the exact species of the animal one is caring for. Only when this knowledge has been gained can one start to offer the correct husbandry relevant to the particular animal's needs..........

There are literally hundreds of different species of tortoise. Some are tiny, some grow huge. Some hibernate, others aestivate, some don't do either. Some tortoises are omnivorous, some herbiviorous. Some love direct sunlight, others aren't far from being nocturnal. Some live in rock crevices, others dwell in tropical rain forests.

However, it is the tortoises belonging to the "Mediterranean group" that were the most popular to be imported and kept as pets in the UK and Northern Europe, and it is this group of animals which this website is primarily concerned with.
If you do not recognise your charges as being part of this group then you could possibly own a species with completely different accomodatory and dietary needs. Do not be tempted to offer any husbandry methods contained within this website to any other kind of tortoise.

The following species are the most likely pet tortoises to be encountered in exisiting captive situations in Europe, or ones which are finding their way in to the pet trade through recent breeding projects.

click on any of the links below for information on the different species

The Egyptian Tortoise  

The Hermann Tortoise  

The Horsfield Tortoise  

The Marginated Tortoise  

The Spur-thighed Group