Hermann’s tortoises are one of the most popular pet choices among tortoise enthusiasts, and with good reason. These tortoises are small as adults, which means building a suitable enclosure is not nearly as difficult as it is with some larger species. Further, Hermann’s tortoises tend to be friendly and sociable and, when they survive the first year or so of life, are not particularly susceptible to disease and infection. While tortoises are challenging pets and thus no tortoise is really suitable to absolute beginners, Hermann’s tortoises are a good pick for first time tortoise owners. Here’s everything you need to know to care for your Hermann’s tortoise:
Hermann’s Tortoises in the Wild
In order to provide your tortoise the best life possible, it’s helpful to know how and where they live in the wild. They belong to the genus Testudo, which also includes Marginated tortoises, Russian tortoises, Dalmatian tortoises, and Eastern and Western Hermann’s Tortoises. Hermann’s tortoises are Mediterranean tortoises populating Greece, Southern Spain, Italy, and other Mediterranean climates. In some areas the pet trade has caused their numbers to dwindle, which has caused some breeders to attempt to restore the population by breeding tortoises for re-release. As a result of their dwindling wild population, it is extremely important that keepers of Hermann’s tortoises ensure that their tortoises are captive bred and not caught in the wild.
Enclosures for Hermann’s Tortoises
All tortoises are roamers by nature, which means that your Hermann’s tortoise needs ample room for walking around. At a minimum, her enclosure should be 15-20 times the size of her shell. Aquariums are acceptable short-term homes for hatchlings, but can cause health and psychological problems longer term. A better solution is a tortoise table, which is a flat, open-air enclosure with wood sides. You can make a tortoise table by flipping a book shelf on its back and removing the shelves. Other good enclosures can include baby pools and, in temperate climates, outdoor pens.
Your tortoise will need a suitable substrate (this is the material you put on the ground of the enclosure). Ideal substrates are low on dust, non-toxic (tortoises have a tendency to eat substrates), and inexpensive to clean and replace. You should provide ample substrate for your tortoise to burrow and build mounds, which helps mimic their environment in the wild. Some good choices for Hermann’s tortoises are moss, potting soil (make sure it’s non-toxic), and alfalfa or timothy hay.
Temperatures for Hermann’s Tortoises
Hermann’s tortoises do not require the sweltering heat some desert tortoises require, but they still need a basking area that ranges from 90-95 degrees. You can accomplish this with a heat light. Never use a heat rock or under tank heater because these can cause severe burns. You should also make sure the temperature does not exceed 95 degrees. Doing so could cause your tortoise to overheat and die. The cooler side of your tortoise’s enclosure should be kept at room temperature, or about 65-75 degrees. By putting a basking light on one side of the cage you will create a heat gradient that allows your tortoise to properly thermoregulate.
Diet and Nutrition
Hermann’s tortoises need constant access to water and they also like to soak in water and absorb it through their skin and shells. Provide a shallow water dish that your tortoise can fit completely into. The depth of the water should not be higher than your tortoise’s head when sticking out of the shell.
Hermann’s tortoises, like most other reptiles, need Vitamin D3 from sunlight in order to synthesize the calcium that keeps their shell healthy. You can accomplish this by placing a UVB light over your tortoise’s enclosure, but tortoises should be allowed some time several times a week in the sun. Take your tortoise for walks outside to expose him to sunlight. Make sure you do this in an area where there are no pesticides or other dangerous substances on the grass, because Hermann’s tortoises tend to eat everything they come into contact with. You will also need to lightly dust your tortoise’s food with a high-quality calcium supplement dust.
Hermann’s tortoise diets should consist primarily of dark, leafy greens (not lettuce like Romaine) and grasses. Aim for providing your tortoise a wide variety of foods. Good choices for Hermann’s tortoises include:
dandelions, rose petals (flowers only, not leaves), hibiscus leaves and flowers, geranium leaves and flowers (Hermann’s seem to especially prefer red flowers), petunia leaves and flowers, squash, kale, endive, plantain weeds (not the fruit), honeysuckle, bermuda grass, crabgrass, escarole, shredded carrots, and a variety of other nontoxic wild grasses. A good strategy is to grow several weeds and grasses in a small indoor greenhouse so that you don’t have to rely on grocery store food. The cardinal rule with Hermann’s tortoises is that they need diets high in fiber and low in fat. Allowing your tortoise to graze naturally is the best diet option. Hermann’s tortoises can be given fruit in very small quantities- a raspberry or two a week or so, but too much fruit should be avoided. They can become “addicted” to it and it can also cause diarrhea. Avoid store bought tortoise food except as an occasional treat or emergency back up food when you’ve run out of greens.
Hermann’s tortoises can bond with their owners, and hand feeding them is one way to accomplish this. You should be gentle with your tortoises but handle them frequently so they become accustomed to you. With proper care and a focus on good nutrition, these tortoises can make excellent and hardy pets. They live up to 75 years, though, so they require a long-term commitment, and if you are planning on getting a Hermann’s Tortoise, you should also plan on writing that tortoise into your will so that your tortoise has lifelong care.
Sources:
http://www.reptilechannel.com/reptile-species/turtles-and-tortoises-profiles/hermanns-tortoise-2.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann%27s_tortoise
http://www.hermann-tortoise.co.uk/care%20sheets/care_sheets.htm
