Comparison Sheet
Charting out differences and experience levels needed for each species of Tortoise available.
Desert & Grassland Tortoises
Scientific Name
Size
Level of Difficulty
Behavior
Located
Eating Habits
Physical Attributes
Greek's
Testudo G.
Ibera
<10"
Beginner
Very hardy.
Serbia to Iran
Herbivore
Oval in body shape, sometimes sporting a large flare at the end of their shells.
They can be extremely yellow or rusty orange in base color with deep brown to even nearly black all over.
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Most have a high contrast bright yellow chevron on the tip of their noses.
Goldens Greeks's
Testudo G.
Terrestris
<7"
Intermediate - Expert
Delicate but outgoing.
Syria
Herbivore
We Are selectively breeding for two varriants of Golden Greek.
Peach phase and Banana phase.
Higher grades have no dark coloration on them.
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Breeding males during breeding season will have peach colored skin.
Russians's
Testudo
Horsfieldii
<8"
Beginner
Very outgoing and hardy.
Western Asia
Herbivore
Round tortoises in shades of yellow, tan to peach -tan.
Sometimes they will have dark brown splotches on their shell.
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The females will be much larger than males, nearly doubling in size.
Leopard's
Stigmochelys
Pardalis
<15"
Beginner - Intermediate
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Even tempered and aloof.
East Africa
Herbivore
Very high contrast of either white or egg white with black hashes or rings across their shells.
Pyramiding is not a healthy characteristic of this species, although they can be very susceptible to it.
Leopards can be very delicate to water based bacterium's and unsanitary conditions so being on top of cage cleaning in a must.
Star's
Geochelone
Elegans
<7"
Intermediate - Expert
Can be extremely shy and introverted
India and Pakistan
Herbivore
Very high contrast and small, Stars are black and white with a star burst pattern on each of their scutes.
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These animals are highly social and organized in their established groups.
Like Leopards, they can also be susceptible to water based bacterium's.
Hermann's
Testudo
Hermanni
<7"
Beginner
Even tempered and outgoing.
Eastern Europe
Herbivore
Very high contrasting yellow and black hash marks across their oval shells.
Usually sporting dark black noses.
Some will have pure black skin while others have varying shades of browns and yellows to their skin, face and neck.
Tropical Tortoises
Scientific Name
Size
Level of Difficulty
Behavior
Located
Eating Habits
Physical Attributes
Cherry Head's
Chelonoidis carbonaria
<10"
Intermediate
Very hardy.
Brazil
Omnivorous
Oval in body shape. Usually black shell with radiating white pattern. Bright red or orange face scales, and arm and leg scales.
Elongated's
Indotestudo elongate
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<14"
Intermediate
Delicate but outgoing. Very active at dusk
Southern China to Vietnam
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Omnivorous
Paleyellow skin with a pale yellow shell. Sometimes the shell may have dark hashing on it depending on locality of the Elongated.
Emy's
Manouria emys
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<24"
Intermediate
Very outgoing and hardy.
Malaysia, Sumatra, Brneo
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Herbivore
Called the brown mountain tortoises for the dark brown, almost black shell.
Red Foot's
Chelonoidis carbonaria
<15"
Beginner
Even tempered and outgoing.
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Guyana
Omnivorous
Black to brown shell coloration with little to no radiation. face, neck, arm and leg scales can be yellow, white, orange or pink.