If you’re in the market for a low-maintenance reptilian pet, you couldn’t ask for a better animal companion than the trusty tortoise. Travelling as they do with their homes on their backs, these slow-moving creatures are easy to care for and a lot of fun.
With so many different species to choose from, however, it’s hard to know where to start when it comes to tortoises, but if you’re looking for a reptile that’s a manageable size and temperament, an excellent choice would be the Marginated tortoise, also known by its scientific name, Testudo marginata.
The unique beauty of this species is most readily seen in adults whose shells flare out in the rear with a scoop effect that resembles an elegant skirt.
With a maximum growth of 12 to 15 inches in length, the size of the Marginated tortoise is also ideal for most reptile enthusiasts, with many amateur collectors choosing it over all other species as their first tortoise.
The Marginated tortoise is native to areas of Southern Europe, such as Greece and Italy and is regarded as a hardy breed by many reptile experts.
Its Mediterranean origins mean that it can adapt and survive in a wide range of settings, but to fully thrive, it will need access to plenty of sunlight, or artificial UV lights if you plan to keep it indoors.
Looking after a Marinated tortoise can be a big commitment. They’re not especially difficult to house, feed, and hydrate, but because they can live up to one hundred years in captivity. So, if you’re hardy enough to look after a pet for the long haul, the Marinated tortoise may be just what you’re after.
What follows is a detailed list of requirements you’ll need to remember when considering whether adopting a Marinated tortoise is right for you. Let’s dive in!
Housing Requirements
If you’re planning on rearing your tortoise indoors, you should make sure to furnish them with a 12” high plastic tub measuring roughly three square feet in area.
A base at least two inches thick of cypress mulch or a 50/50 mix of organic soil and coco coir would be ideal for these reptilian youngsters to romp. You can also buy tortoise bedding such as Tfwadmx reusable pine bark chips although I find these work out more expensive compared to making my own mix.
Make sure this base remains moist in the morning to keep them hydrated and have time to dry in the afternoon.
Hatchlings need to be about four inches long before they can be moved to a larger outdoor enclosure where they will quickly enjoy the fresh air.
Temperature
Tortoise care is reliant on being able to replicate their natural habitat. These Mediterranean tortoises are adapted to warm, sunny days of between 90 and 100°F, more relaxed summer nights of around 60°F to 70°F, and winter temperatures dropping to lows of 50°F.
Their enclosure needs a basking area that provides sufficient heat to warm their cold-blooded bodies up, plus more ambient and more fabulous spots to cool them down.
If the temperatures in your region are lower than what they need to thrive, you’ll need to install a basking UV light such as the Reptiking 100w Basking Light. This should be fitted with a dimmer switch if temperatures get too warm.
Humidity
Keep humidity levels in the region at sixty per cent to avoid the potential for respiratory problems. Despite their requirement to stay hydrated, this is a common problem for Marginated tortoises who cannot tolerate consistently moist conditions.
If you need to increase humidity levels, misting the substrate in the morning is best. Avoid misting in the afternoon, as this will lead to damp conditions overnight when temperatures are lower.
Lighting
UV Light is fundamental to the health of all tortoise breeds. Without it, they cannot absorb the calcium required to develop and maintain strong bones and shells.
If your tortoise lives indoors or in an enclosure with insufficient lighting, you must provide artificial UV lighting. I recommend the 100-watt Zoo Med Powersun mercury vapour bulb because they provide light, heat, UVA and UVB in a single bulb.
Position these bulbs in the basking area where you want the temperature beneath to reach between 90 and 100°F.
Substrate and Enrichment
When laying down a substrate for your Marginated tortoise, you can use an even mix of organic soil and coco coir or cypress mulch at a depth of at least two inches thick.
Including items in your indoor enclosures that will mentally and physically stimulate your pet is also a good idea. This species is particularly fond of tight hiding spaces, so well-placed ceramic caves or flat rock arrangements can provide plenty of stimulation and hollowed-out logs that will provide shade when they need to cool down.
Diet and Nutrition
Marginated tortoises are herbivorous creatures, so you will need to provide a variety of leafy greens, weeds, and herbs. Some of the best foods you can provide include dandelions, endive, watercress, carrot tops, parsley, Timothy hay, orchard grass, Bermuda grass and fescue grass.
As far as how frequently you should feed Marginated tortoises, hatchlings and juveniles need feeding once a day where you should give them as much food as they can eat in twenty minutes. Sub-adults and adults should be fed every other day.
Be sure to keep their menu as varied as possible, this will ensure they receive a range of nutrients and enough fiber in their diet.
Unsafe Foods
Avoid offering leafy greens that are high in oxalates such as spinach, Swiss chard, sorrel and rhubarb leaves. Along with foods rich in protein, these are not well tolerated by tortoises and can cause digestive system issues and even kidney stones.
I’m not a huge advocate of commercially sold tortoise pellets because they don’t offer enough nutritional value and they are thought to be highly addictive which can lead to obesity.
Supplements and Vitamins
If you are unsure that their diet is providing the variety needed, then it can be worthwhile dusting your pet tortoise’s food with a mineral supplement high in vitamin D3 and calcium.
The reason for this is because the Marginated tortoises’ natural habit is high in Ultraviolet-B solar radiation. If you live in a climate where the sunlight isn’t as intense as this reptile is used to, vitamins and mineral supplements can make up for what’s missing.
Common Health Issues
When bred in captivity, Marginated tortoises can develop a range of health issues from respiratory problems to certain types of metabolic bone diseases such as shell rot.
Most of these diseases can easily be prevented with good husbandry and by always making sure to adhere to the right combination of lighting, heating and humidity requirements as well as maintaining good hygiene and spot cleaning substrate.
Keep a careful watch for mucus from the nasal cavity (respiratory) and white spots or other discolorations on the skin or shell of your Marginated tortoise. If the condition persists, you should consult a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
Routine Care and Monitoring
Regular checkups with your veterinarian can be beneficial as well in making sure your pet is in good health. Often, an examination by a trained medical expert can pick up on things an ordinary pet owner might overlook. Additionally, tortoises are good at masking symptoms for weeks and even months.
At the very least, a regular clean bill of health from a professional can reassure you to keep providing your reptilian friend with the right care it requires.
Marginated tortoises are generally a low-maintenance species of reptile. Nevertheless, regular monitoring of their enclosures is essential to guaranteeing a long and healthy lifespan.
Spot cleaning and providing fresh water daily will help reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses, and you should always wash your hands before and after handling your tortoise.
Always be mindful to check and ensure the substrate you’re using is sufficiently moist (not damp) and that the nighttime temperature level is regulated to counteract any harmful effects of humidity.
Avoid deviating from your Marginated tortoise’s naturally varied vegetarian diet, specifically taking care to only give them leafy green foods full in fiber.
Although they may enjoy the occasional bit of windfall fruit in the wild, it’s best to let them find this on their own while foraging outdoors.
Above all, never give them any meat. The high level of protein in a carnivorous diet can be extremely dangerous for a Marginated tortoise, slowing down their digestion and leading to serious health problems.
Handling and Behavior Management
If you own more than one Marginated tortoise, it’s a good idea to separate males and females, especially during mating season. This is because competition between the males can often lead to open hostility and aggression.
Aside from this periodic aggressive behavior, Marginated tortoises are generally friendly and know to get used to your company with time, even coming out to see you when they can sense you’re nearby.
Like most tortoises, this breed doesn’t enjoy being handled, so it’s a good idea to avoid picking them up whenever it can be avoided.
As much as you might wish to cuddle or pick them up to check on them, it’s best to operate a hands-off approach with them. If you do, you’ll have a much easier time winning their respect in the long run.
Behavioral Issues
Thanks to the unique feature of all tortoises, it can be straightforward to determine if your pet is suffering from any behavioral issues. There’s a reason for the old saying “out of one’s shell”.
If your tortoise is happy and content, you’ll see its head and limbs outside of its shell, exploring the environment surrounding it with a natural curiosity. On the other hand, if your tortoise is stressed or depressed, you won’t see the head or limbs at all. They’ll be withdrawn inside the shell for extended periods of time.
Other behavioral patterns you’ll want to watch out for are a lack of appetite, lethargy, or even gently rocking backwards and forwards. All of these can be a symptom of stress which can be caused by changes in their environment, health issues, the introduction of new pets, or frequent handling.
If you are sure that they are being taken good care of, and their environment is right, you should consult with your veterinarian for further investigation and treatment.
Breeding
Mating season generally occurs after hibernation between the months of April and June. Marginated tortoises are considered extremely energetic breeders and don’t need any excessive encouragement regarding copulation.
If you are planning on breeding, you should keep a close eye on your tortoises during this time. Not only do males become aggressive towards each other, they can be just as aggressive towards the females with whom they choose to mate. Don’t be surprised if you see the male ramming against a female with his shell or even nibbling at her front legs. Along with high pitched noise such as low grunting or vocalizing sounds, this is all part of courtship.
In tortoises, vocal communications are not as sophisticated as in many other animals, but they are significant and serve multiple purposes, from attracting a mate, expressing interest, and even asserting dominance over a competitor.
Once pregnant, the female will tend to lay her eggs at any point between six to eight weeks after mating, although don’t be concerned if she doesn’t lay them after this time. Believe it or not, if she doesn’t find an ideal place to make her nest, she can continue carrying the eggs inside her into the following year.
When she finally does lay her eggs, these will come in two to three clutches, with an average of three to twelve eggs in each clutch. After depositing her eggs in an appropriately dug nesting site, she’ll quickly cover the chamber and leave them to incubate, providing nothing in the way of future care for her youngsters.
Once hatched, baby Marginated tortoises are entirely self-sufficient and quickly begin to fend for themselves.
Citations and References
- Basel Zoo – Marginated Tortoise Conservation
- Tortoise Protection Group – Marginated Tortoises
- Reptiles Magazine – Marginated Tortoises
- Academic Edu – Vocalizations in Tortoises
