Captive care of Testudo spp.

Abstract

Testudo species are popular pet animals. Housing requirements of captive chelonians are well established. On the contrary their exact nutritional needs including the mineral and vitamin requirements are not well known. Wild population feed on a wide range of plant species, with dietary shifts among fruits, leaves and sometimes opportunistic mushrooms depending upon seasonality, but in captivity these wide range of food is reduced. The inadequate housing and nutrition lead to common health problems such as metabolic bone disease, accelerated growth rate or gout. Therefore, the aim is this thesis is to summarize the basic requirements of captive Testudo spp.