Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im researching to purchase a small tortoise. So far I have read a Golden greek stays some what smaller then other tortoises.... How hardy are Golden Greek? Where could I purchase one? How many people dont reccomend this how many do? Thanks everyone for your help

Golden Greeks are fantastic if you get them in good shape. The seem to be real simple to keep if you keep them hot and dry. The crash quickly of you try and keep them too cool or too moist.
Ed

Do Golden Greeks usually stay pretty small? What do they eat? I want to know almost everythign before I get one. Do you know where to find a healthy one i.e. breeders online?

http://tortoisetrust.org/ has articles on Greek care.
I haven't seen any captive bred Goldens myself, but then again, I haven't been to a show in a long time that allowed hatchlings.

Katrina

Most, if not all, of the advice given on the TT list is directed towards the northern forms of T. graeca. The 'Golden' Greeks and the ones that are being imported with them seem to be quite different in their requirements as far as habitat and temperature.
Ed

Nobody really knows how big they get because of the limitation of the the size of the animals being imported and there is little or no information of where they occur in the wild. So, your guess is as good as anyones. It would seem that they do get to be 8 inches or so based on those that have laid eggs in captivity (which has not been very often).
Email me if you are looking for some sources of these.
They make fantastic pets. They are very active and personable it you have them set up right and that seems to be quite easy.
Ed

It depends on where you live and how you keep them. I live in coastal southern California where it is fairly humid. I have had a devil of a time keeping them healthy outdoors. They were always coming down with respiratory problems. Now, they have adapted pretty much, but it was only after I lost a couple of them. Indoors, it is dryer and they may have less health problems.

The females get a lot bigger than the males, and my largest female is about 8 inches long. I don't think they get too much larger than that. Maybe another inch or two.

This thread is very interesting. iw as under th impression that nobody had kept any healthy for more than a couple of years (they haevn't even been known long 5 year maybe?) and that none were bred in captivity. I guess some wc gravid females laid? I thought these were considered pretty difficult species and definitely not for beginners? Corect me if this is inaccurate ot outrdated.