Hermanns Tortoise (Eastern) 4"+ Young Adults

Common Name: Eastern Hermanns Tortoise
Scientific Name: Testudo hermanii boettgeri
Current Size: 4"+
Average Adult Size: 6-9" (females larger)
Area of Origin: Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia, and Albania

Description: Light brown color with brown to black bands around each scute of the shell. These pretty tortoises are very similar in look to some localities of Greek tortoises, but lack the spurs on the rear thighs that Greeks have, as well as different colorations on the belly. 

Natural Habitat: Mediterranean tortoises, these animals live in rocky hillsides and scrubland where they come and go from their hides in order to maintain the ideal temperatures. They do brumate/hibernate naturally, and will brumate in captivity if those proper conditions are given. As adults, they can safely handle body temperatures as low as 35 degrees during hibernation, and on cold spring or fall days, they will retreat underground to maintain some warmth. Summer highs up to 110 degrees can be tolerated as long as there is a cooler, underground, or damp retreat the tortoise can get into. In hot climates, they will spend much of the summer days in hide areas or simply buried under an inch or two of earth aestivating to conserve energy and resources. 

Natural Diet: This tortoise is naturally a browser, eating broadleaf weeds and low leaves from bushes and shrubs. Their natural diet is very high in fiber and low in proteins and sugars. Some individuals will eat grass while others prefer not to. 

Adult Behavior: Adult tortoises are active, busy tortoises when the temperatures are in their ideal ranges (60-85 degrees). They can be somewhat aggressive towards each other particularly during breeding season (spring), but usually can be kept in small groups without any major problems, particularly animals that have been raised in groups. Most will eagerly come to their keepers looking for food once they are comfortable in their environments. They can be good climbers and will make attempts to escape, so perimeter fences should be buried at least 6-12" underground, and sidewalls 12-16" above ground will normally contain them. Constant attempts to escape can sometimes be corrected by enlarging the enclosure and adding visual barriers within it (logs, boulders, more plants, etc).