Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Got this guy yeserday, unsure what he is, please help.. Thanks

but it looks like a Libyan form of Testudo greaca. Can you give a little history on the animal?
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Sorry about the fuzzy, I could take another and try again if you want.. I don't know anything about his history, got him free with a leopard tortoise I bought yesterday.. He's really friendly...

What would that make the common name for him?? Thanks for your help

Does he or the leopard have a little white number on the shell on the center of the second or third vertabral scute?

For all practical purposes it is Testudo greaca or Testudo terristris. If you call it a Libyan greaca most people will know what that is. I'm also not saying that is what it is. It is what I think it is. That's the problem with Greek tortoises. They are so variable and there are a few varieties.

If it is a Libyan greaca it is going to be tough to pair because they are relatively uncommon although I do know of a person looking for a male.

They also have fantastic personalities.

I'd like to see clearer pictures of top, bottom and side if you can.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Sorry can't get the lighting to work right but here's some more pics, hope it helps.. Thanks

Side view, sorry it's fuzzy

Top veiw

I'll try another camera later, e-mail me damkbm@netzero.com

There is no doubt in my mind that is a Libyan greaca.

They came in as Egyptian greeks shipped out of Cairo until it was discovered that no greaca occured in Egypt. Exports stopped.

It was discovered that they were smuggled from Libya to Egypt and exported from there. A friend traced them to the Cyreaca(sp?) mts in Libya.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

INteresting, when was this.? Where can I find out some info on this tortoise and it's care?? Is t the same as a regular greek?? Thanks for your help...

These guys come from Northern Africa in a mt range that is in the Northeastern corner of Libya. I don't believe they hibernate. I've been keeping them for about 8 years or more. The ones I have are animals that I hatched out and one that I got back from a guy that I sold to.

The last of the group that was WC just died in a friends care. As WC animals they were notorious carriers of the herpes virus. That is what eventually killed my group.

They are otherwise very hardy animals and can be treated as any North African Testudo in that you keep them warm and dry. They are browsers in that they eat dark leafy greens. As mentioned earlier, they do not seem to hibernate. A drop in temperature will actually cause problems.

That's about it in a nutshell.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care