Hermann’s Tortoise

Hermann’s tortoise is commonly known as European tortoise. They are quite admired by people as a pet because of their small size, ease of care and ease of breeding. The Hermann’s tortoise color ranges from straw-yellow to beige/brown with some darker color on each scute. The can grow up to 7 inches in length and can live up to 35 years. Proper Care should be taken to make them survive for long. It is essential for one to fulfill all their basic requirements to make them feel comfortable. Some of the basic care tips on Hermann’s tortoise are mentioned below that will help you in keeping your pet healthy.

Hermann’s tortoise care tips:

1. Diet of Hermann’s tortoise:They are herbivore animals and require natural diet that is high in fiber and calcium and low in proteins and fats. Their diet should consist of leafy greens, and grasses with vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, carrot etc. You can also include fruits like apple, apricots, grapes, melons, peaches and strawberries in your Hermann’s tortoise diet. Try to avoid feeding dog or cat food to your pet Hermann’s tortoise. It is essential for you to provide proper and healthy food to your pet Hermann’s tortoise. You can also include packaged food in your pet diet.
2. Habitat of Hermann’s tortoise: A safe and comfortable habitat is essential for pet Hermann’s tortoise. One can decorate their pet enclosure with plants and grass. These animals love to hide in their enclosure, so one should include lots of hiding places in their enclosure. One can add basking, bushes and rocks for them to hide in their enclosure. The day time temperature of outdoor enclosure should be 80 – 86° Fahrenheit and can fall up to 65 – 70° Fahrenheit at night. They require large enclosure so that they can stay comfortably in it. It is important to maintain cleanliness in the pet Hermann’s enclosure.
3. Breeding Hermann’s tortoise: breeding of Hermann’s tortoise is quite easy. Male and female Hermann’s tortoise will engage in mating process. After the mating process female Hermann’s may dig several trial nests in suitable mounds of warm friable soil and then it will deposit around 5 to 10 eggs in it. Incubate those eggs at a temperature of 80 – 85°Fahrenheit or 26 – 31° Celsius. It is important for one to provide proper care and attention to baby Hermann’s tortoise until they grow big.
4. Heating and lighting: Heating and lighting is important for pet Hermann’s tortoise. It will help to maintain the long term health of your pet and will drastically reduce its life expectancy. This tortoise requires humid environment of around 55-80% and UVB lighting (10%) for about 10 to 12 hours a day. One should regularly put them into sunlight in the summer so that they can have necessary ultraviolet radiation.

It is important to fulfill basic requirements of pet Hermann’s tortoise. You should try to supplement Hermann’s tortoise with calcium and vitamins in order to keep them healthy.