Marginated Tortoise Complete Guide
The Marginated Tortoise is a very special type of tortoise, so called because the edges of its shell protrude outwards. Tortoises are found in Europe. Among them, this is a huge tortoise.
They are found all over Greece and have spread to Italy and have also been seen in the Balkans. If we talk about its nature, it is a very gentle and herbivorous animal. It mostly likes to eat grass and other vegetables. These tortoises are very beautiful and popular with pet owners because they have a long life span.
Information about other reptiles Click Here
Habitat and Range:
These tortoises are mostly found in the regions of Greece and also in Italy and these animals like to live near green areas mostly because these animals are herbivores and they like vegetables very much. They also like to live in mostly dry and rocky areas because they have plenty of hiding places to find a place where they can easily hide and arrange their food. Some say that it was introduced to the island of Sardinia, so it is found there too.
Physical Description:
If we talk about the physical description of Marginated Tortoise i.e. what it looks like, first of all, its head is black or black in color and its eyes and jaws are quite big. And its nails are quite sharp which helps it to walk on the ground and dig the soil.
Reproduction System:
Marginated tortoises reproduce sexually as soon as they are out of the brumation period. Male tortoises call female tortoises with a specific sound and attract them. The process that takes place continues for several hours. The females lay most of the eggs in the summer season and these eggs are usually dug in soft soil or sand with their clawed nails and lay three to 15 eggs there. They are very protective of their eggs and cover them with soil to protect them.
Lifecycle of Marginated Tortoise:
As soon as they emerge from the eggs they need places to hide and search for their food their first moments and stages of life are very difficult and they have to face a lot of difficulties and the young ones. Tortoises occur when they reach the age of at least three to four years when they reach sexual maturity.
Behavior of Marginated Tortoise:
Marginated Tortoises are mostly solitary animals and they like to be alone they don’t like to go to the place of other Tortoises and prefer to stay in their own place because they don’t like to socialize with other Tortoises. They have to protect themselves a lot and they face a lot of dangers, they hide in holes whenever there is any danger and they like to eat mostly vegetables.
LifeSpan of Marginated Tortoise:
In Wild:
When these turtles live in the natural environment i.e. forests, their age ranges from about 35 years to 50 years. Because they are not properly cared for there they become victims of predators and lose their lives due to diseases.
In Captivity:
When kept in captivity or as pets, these turtles can live for about 50 to 70 years and have been heard to live for over 100 years. They should be properly cared for and their diseases should be treated.
Housing of Marginated Tortoise:
Here are some factors for Tortoise housing, by following which we can take good care of our Tortoise Pet and give it a good environment.
Enclosure:
When we talk about his housing, the first thing that comes to our mind is what kind of box should keep him in, so we tell you that a box that is quite open is better for him because It can move freely and freehand in it. About a 4×2 feet box is best, but if you want to keep it bigger, it will be better for them.
Substrate:
You can use organic soil, i.e. soil that has been grown naturally without the use of artificial fertilizers, and a mixture of sand and peat moss for the turtle to dig or eat. Coconut coir is a good substitute that helps retain moisture and is very soothing and comforting to the tortoise.
Food and Diet of Marginated Tortoise:
These tortoises are herbivores i.e. they mostly get their food from plants and eat vegetables, they eat different types of leaves, grasses, vegetables, fruits, etc. Leaves i.e. carrot leaves, eat coriander leaves and they also eat grass in their diet. They like mostly fresh vegetables that are green and fruits like apples, cucumbers, strawberries, squash, etc. It is very important to take care of their diet now and avoid giving them foods that are full of fat which increases their fat intake.
Water:
Water is also very important for them. You have to take care that whenever you give them water, it should be a clean vessel and a big and strong vessel so that whenever they drink this water and keep their existence inside the bowl that has water in it, The bowl cannot fall. Try that the container you are giving them water in should be about two to two and a half inches deep so that they can easily dip into it, which helps them in hydration especially when the environment is quite dry.
Lighting for Marginated Tortoise:
Lighting is very important for them, they should be given about 11 to 13 hours of lighting in a day to keep their bones strong. We can do this process with UVB light. Which will be very helpful in keeping them healthy.
Heating for Marginated Tortoise:
Heat is essential for a Marginated tortoise to maintain their body temperature. The temperature should be around 32- 36 degrees Celsius to give it the proper temperature. Make a place for him to sit in the sun with the help of a bulb and keep the temperature of a place between 20- 25 degrees Celsius so that if the tortoise needs less heat, it can go to the other side, where it needs more heat. Being comfortable, he kept changing the place according to himself. At night, temperatures drop to around 16- 21 degrees Celsius.
Keeping Marginated Tortoise Outdoors:
Marginated Tortoises require a special climate to be kept outside, a climate in which they can get sunlight and a cool place i.e. shade is also available and the area where they are kept is large enough. He may not go out and be prey to predators, and he may have easy access to water that is given to him to drink and to bathe in, and whenever it becomes cold, Take it to give it a warm environment. When a juvenile turtle reaches about four and a half inches in length, it also learns to cope with harsh conditions.
Handling and Care of Marginated Tortoises:
Raise them gently, provide a clean and dry environment, fresh vegetables, and fruits and the vessel in which water is given is clean so that they can avoid various diseases, and arrange proper light and heat in the place where they are kept. Temperature should be given to them according to and checked from time to time so that they are not suffering from any disease, if they are, then they should be treated. They like to live in a clean and dry environment, so give them a suitable environment that can strengthen the bond between you and your beloved pet friend.
Common Health Problems:
Parasites:
They get worms from eating contaminated food or drinking dirty water and you can tell when they start to lose weight and feel lethargic.
Breathing Problem:
They are also more susceptible to respiratory diseases as soon as the environment is cold or damp and they have panic attacks and difficulty breathing.
Dehydration:
If they are not given clean water, if you give them water in a dirty vessel, and you give them water very little, that is, they cannot even soak their bodies, then some diseases will occur in them, such as dry eyes and dry skin. Includes fading and laziness.
Conclusion:
These tortoises are very beautiful and long-lived animals, most people keep them as pets and they are herbivores and love to eat leaves and fruits. They can live for over a hundred years and have long claws that help them dig in the ground and require special lighting and heating if they are kept as pets.
