Greek Tortoise Breeding

Greek tortoises are commonly known as spur thigh tortoise and mostly found in southern Spain, northern Africa, Eastern Europe and Middle East. They usually grow up to 6 – 7 inches in length and can live up to 650 years or more if provided with care. The color of Greek tortoises is uniformly a brown to golden yellow. Owner should provide proper care and attention Greek tortoise and especially when they are ready for the breeding process. It is important for owner to fulfill all the basic requirements of Greek tortoise.

Breeding Greek tortoise is not an intricate or tedious task to do. Owners have to take care of several things while breeding Greek tortoise. You have to manage things like regulation of water, healthy diet, cleaning of the enclosure. It is important for an owner to make their tortoise feel comfortable before starting the breeding process. You have to provide proper temperature, protein rich food and incubator to the Greek tortoise so that they can complete the breeding process successfully. Healthy diet is very essential for the Greek tortoise if you want them to tolerate the entire situation. Healthy diet will help in completing breeding process smoothly.

Greek tortoise mating:

Mating process in Greek tortoise starts immediately after waking from hibernation. During the mating process male Greek tortoise opens its mouth and shows his red tongue to female one and makes squeaking sounds. Male Greek tortoise follows the female one with great interest, encircling them¸ biting them in the limbs, butting them and trying to mount them. During that period female Greek tortoise stands still, bracing herself with her front legs, moving the front part of the body to the left and right. The female Greek tortoise will lay eggs after successful mating.

Nesting for Greek tortoise eggs:

It is important for an owner to provide proper nest where their pet Greek tortoise can lay eggs. After the successful mating process, female Greek tortoise will lay one or more clutches each with 1 – 12 eggs in the nest. Make sure that the nest you provide to your Greek tortoise eggs is safe.

Incubation of Greek tortoise eggs:

It is a good idea to provide incubator to tortoise eggs to hatch. Make sure to maintain the temperature in the incubator. The ideal temperature for Greek eggs incubation is 82 – 86 degrees. The eggs should be incubated for about 65 to 75 days. Greek tortoises breed in the spring season and a nesting will take place a few weeks later. It is essential for you to provide and healthy food to parent and baby spur thigh tortoise. Greek tortoise continue to eat but at a very reduce rate whereas baby greek tortoise usually takes 2 week or a month to start eating.