Mediterranean and Russian tortoises (Testudo spp.) are popular companion animals (pets), despite ongoing controversy concerning privately keeping reptiles. The arguments used during these controversial discussions have often been based on outdated facts. Therefore, a survey was developed to evaluate the current population structure, husbandry conditions, diet regime, and health status of Testudo species in captivity. More than 75% of the 1075 respondents housed their tortoises in an outdoor enclosure containing a greenhouse or cold frame, which is considered the most species-appropriate way of husbandry. Of the respondents, 67.7% fed their tortoises with the optimum diet of more than 80% grasses and weeds during the summer vegetation period. Only 8.2% of respondents owned a tortoise with a diagnosed disease. According to the results, the likelihood of tortoises developing pyramidal growth syndrome, which can be used as an indicator of the quality of tortoise husbandry, was high in tortoises kept in a terrarium and/or fed a diet of less than 80% grasses and weeds in summer. This likelihood varied among species, with a higher incidence in Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni).

地中海和俄罗斯陆龟（陆龟属）是关于私人饲养爬行动物流行的伴侣动物（宠物），尽管持续的争论。这些有争议的讨论中使用的论点通常是基于过时的事实。因此，进行了一项调查，以评估当前的人口结构，饲养条件，饮食制度和睾丸的健康状况被圈养的物种。在1075名受访者中，有超过75％的乌龟被放置在带有温室或冷框的室外围栏中，这被认为是最适合物种的饲养方式。在受访者中，有67.7％的乌龟在夏季植被期以超过80％的草和杂草的最佳饮食喂养它们。只有8.2％的受访者拥有一只被诊断出患有乌龟的龟。根据结果​​，乌龟发展成金字塔形生长综合症的可能性可以用作乌龟饲养质量的指标，在​​陆龟饲养的乌龟中和/或饲喂草和杂草的食物不足80％的乌龟的可能性很高。在夏天。物种之间似然率变化，随着赫尔曼的龟发生率较高（陆hermanni）。