DESCRIPTION
Common Name: " EGYPTIAN TORTOISE
Scientific Name:Testudo Kleinmanni
Current Size: 6-8CM
Average Adult Size:3.5-5" (females larger)
Area of Origin:Libya/Egypt/Israel
Description:Very light sandy tan color with bold black markings on the shell. This is an extremely rare tortoise in the United States and in the wild, and is considered critically endangered. Egyptian tortoises are thought to tolerate (and prefer) slightly warmer overall temperatures than other tortoises in the testudo group. Egyptians are somewhat of a high domed tortoise. As babies, Egyptian tortoises look very similar to baby hermanns and greek tortoises.
Habitat:These animals live in sandy desert areas with high daytime temperatures. Babies generally live in washes and lower areas that maintain a little more moisture and humidity, and adults are more open-dune tortoises. There is some debate whether this species hibernates naturally, and it's likely that some areas do go down for short periods of time in the winter, while warmer areas stay active during the coldest months (which aren't that cold). Summer highs up to 120 degrees can be tolerated as long as there is a cooler, shaded retreat the tortoise can get into. In hot climates, they will spend much of the summer days in burrows or simply buried under an inch or two of earth.
Diet:This tortoise is naturally a browser, eating broadleaf weeds and low leaves from bushes and shrubs. In captivity, Egyptian tortoises will graze on leafy weeds, dandelion, clover, and most other leafy greens provided to them. As babies, we focus more on feeding them a wide mix of leafy greens (spring mix). Vegetables can be added to the diet for variety, but fruit should generally be avoided or given as no more than 5-10% of the diet.
Our Current Care:Use a substrate of dry sand, earth or coco husk. The kleinmanni hidden cave must be ensured to be shady, cold, and humid, so provide a water dish. Do not forget to provide objects such as hidden caves, pieces of wood / bark or dry plants as a resting place for the Testudo kleinmanni turtle.
