Room for
a tortoise’s pace.

Marginated tortoises are found in southern Greece, as well as in some areas of the Balkans, Italy and north-western Sardinia. Unlike the related Hermann’s tortoise, this species also inhabits more mountainous areas. Its dark shell absorbs substantial heat from the sun, helping it regulate body temperature at higher altitudes where the air is cooler.

Hermann’s tortoises live across much of southern Europe: in Spain and southern France, Corsica and Sardinia, Tuscany in Italy, and Macedonia, Greece and Bulgaria. They can also be found in nearby Croatia. In the wild, they mainly inhabit dry environments with grass and low scrub.

An outdoor enclosure should have a sunny position while also allowing the tortoise to retreat into shade. Tortoises need plenty of sunlight and warmth for normal activity, but spend the hottest hours in the shade. Include plants they can shelter under, and hiding places made from wood, stones or larger branches. Provide a suitable sleeping area that is covered, protected from wind and rain, and lined with dry leaves or hay. There should also be a suitable area of loose soil or sand where mature females can lay eggs. Remember a place for food and water. The enclosure must be large enough for the animal, which may grow to 20 cm or more in length. More space is always welcome; the original guidance suggests at least five square metres. The boundary should be solid and at least half a metre high, preventing tortoises from seeing through it and trying to climb over. If other animals have access, an additional, much higher fence, which may be mesh, helps prevent animals such as dogs from jumping in. Burying the boundary at least 10 cm into the ground is also recommended, because tortoises dig and may otherwise make a passage underneath.

Indoor housing must also provide enough space. The original guidance gives an example of around 100 × 60 cm and at least 30 cm high for a tortoise measuring 10 cm, while recommending more space wherever possible. Tortoises enjoy exploring, so a larger enclosure is preferable. Substrates may include soil, humus or wood chips, with different surfaces in different parts of the enclosure. Soil, sand and peat can also be mixed. Provide hiding places, such as a flowerpot or a suitable stone shelter, as well as food and water. Appropriate lighting and temperature are also essential; the original notes describe an 8–10-hour daily lighting period using UVA/UVB lighting and a heat lamp. In nature, the sun provides the light. Such lamps are sold in pet shops. Although the original notes mention a distance of 30 cm above the substrate, the correct distance must follow the individual lamp manufacturer’s instructions.

The original guidance recommends keeping the substrate beneath the lamp no hotter than 34 °C, adjusting the lamp’s height to regulate temperature; excessive heat can cause burns. It describes warmer and cooler areas so the animal can choose, with a minimum of 24 °C in the coolest area. These figures are general guidance rather than a universal prescription and should be checked for the species and housing conditions. Concrete or tiles are not suitable as the tortoise’s entire living surface. Aim to make the terrarium resemble its natural habitat. The original notes recommend a thorough clean and substrate replacement every three to four months.