do they like to be stroked?
Answers:
Greek tortoises (Testudo graeci) are about as intelligent as a pet rat, which is actually quite good.
They recognize regular sources of food pretty quickly, and also learn to associate certain stimuli with food and other things.
Most tortoises like being stroked, but differ in what they like. Some like a little head rub, some like their necks and/or chins stroked, etc. You should be able to figure out your pet's favorites soon enough.
Can you train a turtle? To a limited extent, yes. You train by taking a natural behavior and rewarding it, then rewarding changes in it until they are doing what you want. Turtles don't have a lot of natural behaviors that we can start with for any good tricks, and it is really hard to find things that reward them enough to create the desired behavioral changes.
The easiest trick is to have them come when you tap or knock on a certain spot. Simply knock on the spot every time you bring food and after a while, just the knocking will bring the turtle around.
Intelligent enough to survive in a hostile world. Yes and Yes.
Im thinking you are actually meaning a graeca Tortoise.and they are just as intelligent as other species of tortoise.although I may be biased but I think Hermanns are the most intelligent!
In answer to the other part of your question.alot do like to have their heads scratched..or their chins tickled!!
But strocking their plastron or carapace is not going to have a very big affect!
The best thing to give them for a treat instead of a stroke would be some nice juicy weeds like Dandelion,Plantain,Sow thistle,clover.hibiscus flowers or lavatera flowers!!
So if you really want to treat your tort now you know how too!
I'm not sure about how smart they are, but they are smart enough to know who feeds them!
My Russians come running up to me when they see their green dish in my hands! hee hee! Mine like to be pet.
