Hermanns Tortoise

Hermann’s Tortoise Care Guide

Testudo hermanni

Size

• Adult: 15–25cm
• Lifespan: 50–75+ years
• Males are usually smaller than females.

Housing

• Outdoor housing is strongly recommended during suitable UK weather.
• Secure, escape-proof tortoise garden with sun, shade, hides and natural vegetation.
• Indoor: large, open-topped tortoise table, not a glass vivarium.
• Use a deep, soil-based substrate allowing digging and burrowing.

Temperature

• Basking spot: 30–32°C
• Warm area: 24–28°C
• Cool end: 18–22°C
• Night: allow to cool naturally; additional night heat is generally unnecessary indoors if temperatures remain safe.

Lighting

• High-quality UVB is essential when indoors.
• Provide approximately 12 hours of UVB/light daily.
• Natural sunlight outdoors is the best UVB source when conditions allow.

Humidity

• Generally 40–60%, with slightly more moisture available in the substrate/hides.
• Young tortoises can benefit from a slightly more humid microclimate.
• Avoid permanently wet conditions.

Food

• Primarily weeds and leafy plants.
• Good choices include:
  • Dandelion
  • Plantain
  • Sow thistle
  • Clover
  • Chickweed
  • Mallow
  • Dandelion flowers
• Feed a high-fibre, low-sugar diet and avoid fruit as a regular food.
• Provide suitable calcium supplementation.

Water

• Provide a shallow dish of fresh water at all times.
• Young tortoises are particularly prone to dehydration.
• Regular shallow bathing can be useful for hatchlings and juveniles.

Shedding

• Small amounts of skin shedding are normal.
• Ensure good hydration and appropriate humidity.
• Never pull loose skin off.

Handling

• Handle gently and only when necessary.
• Support the entire body with both hands.
• Avoid frequent handling, especially while settling into a new home.
• Never allow children to carry the tortoise unsupervised.

Health

• Watch for:
  • Soft or deformed shell
  • Abnormal shell growth/pyramiding
  • Runny nose
  • Swollen or closed eyes
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lethargy
  • Difficulty breathing
• Regular weighing is useful for monitoring growth and health.
• Seek a reptile/exotics vet if concerned.

Cleaning

• Remove uneaten food and faeces daily.
• Replace soiled substrate as required.
• Clean and disinfect water dishes regularly.
• Keep the enclosure dry and well ventilated.

Before You Bring Your Animal Home

• Large tortoise table and secure outdoor enclosure.
• UVB tube/appropriate UVB system.
• Basking heat lamp and thermostat.
• Digital thermometers.
• Soil-based substrate.
• Hides and shaded areas.
• Shallow water dish.
• Calcium supplement.
• Safe weeds/plants.
• Outdoor enclosure must be escape-proof and predator-proof.

Important Bits

• ☀️ Outdoor access is extremely important for Hermann’s tortoises.
• 🥬 Diet should be based around weeds and high-fibre leafy plants, not supermarket vegetables.
• 🦴 Correct UVB, calcium and diet are essential for healthy shell and bone development.
• 🐢 Hermann’s tortoises hibernate naturally, but hibernation should only be undertaken when the tortoise is healthy and the process has been properly planned.
• 🇬🇧 Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni) is an Annex A/CITES species in the UK. Commercial sale requires the appropriate Article 10 documentation