Hermann’s tortoise

While talking about the Mediterranean species of tortoises in the article on Greek tortoise, I narrated that five species live there, and one of them was the Greek tortoise. Today, I will write about another species from the Mediterranean, and its name is Hermann’s tortoise. It is considered different for its name, Hermann, which admires French naturalist “Johann Hermann.”

It is a species from the genus Testudo. Currently! Only two subspecies have been recognized by the name Western Hermann’s and Eastern Hermann’s. 

How big does Hermanns tortoise get?

They are not-so-big-sized tortoises; rather, Hermann’s tortoise size is 6 to 8 inches, it has a small to the medium-sized body. Some of this species tortoise has an attractive black and yellow pattern on its carapace. It is seen that this brightness fades away in most of the tortoises, when they became old, and thus, switches to a dim gray and yellow color. Along with this fascinating feature, this tortoise has thick scales and strong legs, and thus extremely wanted for its mild nature and its sheer beauty. 

They have slightly curved upper jaws and has spurred on its tail’s tip. Male tortoises have long tail relative to female ones. Males can easily be distinguished from females, as they possess well-developed spurs. Overall, its size varies with species. Western subspecies are smaller than the eastern ones.

Hermann’s tortoise diet

If you want to own this as a pet, then you must be aware of its diet. So let me tell you, What are the essential items it requires to maintain a healthy diet. A mix of leafy greens, melons, carrots, cabbage, grasses, and peaches should be provided on daily basis. If you’ve read anything related to tortoises, you would know that they have no teeth and has just powerful, horny beaks to eat. 

Being in the wild, tortoises are used to of sunlight, thus when kept indoors, they need food rich in calcium and vitamin d3 supplements. Along with this, whenever you give them food, spread it throughout the enclosure. 

How long does Hermann’s tortoise live for?

Hermann’s tortoise lifespan is observed to be up to 30 years. It can be even longer than this if it manages to save itself from a predator. Especially, baby tortoises are vulnerable and it’s difficult for them to survive from predators. But once a tortoise becomes an adult, it can even live up to 90 years or more. 

Hermann’s tortoise habitat

It is disseminated all over Southern Europe. Western Hermann’s can be observed in Eastern Spain, Balearic Islands, Southern France, Corsica, Sicily, South, and Central Italy. However, Eastern Population can be located in Albania, Turkey, Greece, Romania, and North Macedonia. 

Throughout the night, they rest inside their shelters, covered by bushes or maybe hedged, and decides to come out of it in daylight to warm their bodies from direct sunlight.  When the sun goes down, they return to their shelters with the help of direction sense. 

Hermanns tortoise humidity

The humidity level for this tortoise should lie between 40% to 80%. So how can you maintain their humidity level?; Keep the water dish full and mist your tortoise and the enclosure on daily basis. To track the moisture level, the use of a hygrometer would be a plus point. However, Humidity is not an essential matter for most of the tortoises, but to control it properly, provide proper heat and light. 

Hermann’s tortoise food

When they are hungry and want some food, they come out of their shelters and roam around In the meadows of the Mediterranean. Their nose is very active when it comes to filling their tummy. Surprisingly!  by the sense of smell, they recognized what to eat and what not to. 

A variety of wildflowers are eaten by them, but some flowers can even be toxic to them such as buttercups, dandelion, and kale as they are enriched with oxalic acid which if eaten can build up causing renal failure. 

Hermanns tortoise baby

When winter season passes, and they raise up from their hibernation, they start to mate. Aggression can easily be observed when two male tortoises confront each other when matting is started. Hatching of eggs takes place during the months of May and July when a female tortoise digs 10cm nests into the soil and lay about 2 to 12 eggs. 

After the incubation period of 90 days, babies come out of eggshells. According to the research, the temperature at which eggs incubated can determine the sex of the baby inside the egg. Male babies undergo incubation at 26oC while females at 30oC. 

How do you take care of a Hermann tortoise?

Hermann’s tortoise care is very important because you own it and now it’s your responsibility to keep it healthy and disease-free. Don’t worry! I will tell you how u can take good care of them by following some steps mentioned below:

1. Before having contact with your pet make you wash your hand thoroughly.
2. Carefully pick tortoise in a way your hands are fully supporting its body.
3. Give them a diet enriched in fiber and lessen in protein, it would be beneficial for them.
4. Having physical contact with a tortoise could result in a fungal or might be bacterial disease to you. So after making the contact, make sure to wash again your hands. 
5. Clean the enclosure on daily basis.
6. Make sure the enclosure is not confined otherwise it will affect its behavior can make it depressed.

Hermann’s tortoise facts

1. When Winter season comes and the temperature starts to fall down, these tortoises possess hibernation and even sleep four to five months long. 
2. When aggressive, It can bite other pets and even humans.
3. Hermann’s tortoise as a pet is also sold in the market in the price range of $224 to $849.
4. To be safe from predators, they hide inside the burrows dig on their own.
5. Protective shells and scales on their body protect them from serious injury.
6. They are not yet declared as threatened but are near to threatened. 

Are Hermann tortoises friendly?

Tortoises are generally solitary creatures by it is observed that they become friendlier and socialized when developing a bond with their owners. Most tortoises don’t like to be handled, they take time to adapt to a new environment. Hand feeding them would be a great idea to develop a bond. Once it develops, it can even recognize its owner.