Freshwater environments: lakes, ponds and slow-flowing, muddy rivers with an abundance of aquatic plants. Very common in fountains and lakes in public parks.
Omnivorous: it feeds on a wide variety of plants and animals: filamentous algae, macrophytes, snails, larvae, insects, crustaceans and small vertebrates.
Due to their appearance and aquatic habits, they can be confused with the indigenous European marsh tortoise (Emys orbicularis), which, however, does not have large spots behind the eyes or yellow stripes on the neck or patterns on the carapace, but a fine, diffuse yellow blotchiness. It is a biological indicator for water health.
