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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Testudo hermanni
Hermann's tortoises are small to medium sized tortoises that come from southern Europe. Young animals, and some adults, have attractive black and yellow patterned carapaces, although the brightness may fade with age to a less distinct gray, straw or yellow coloration. They are found in the wild in a variety of habitats including woods, scrub, heath, grassland, and farmland.
Hermann's are very active tortoises. In mornings and late afternoons throughout the spring, summer and fall my males are out patrolling the yard looking for a fight or a chance to court a female. Here in southern California they may remain active even during the winter months, occasionally digging themselves into loose soil or the piles of straw or leaves provided in their "house" during cold spells.
Because Hermann's tortoises lead very active life styles for chelonians they should be given as large and as varied an area as possible. They should be able to run, forage, hunt, dig, climb, sun bathe, hide and have access to drinking water within their enclosure. Although their small size may make them hard to find until you know their habits, allow them the run of your whole yard if possible. Adults do not thrive well when kept indoors for prolonged periods. However, because of their small size hatchlings and young tortoises may have to be kept indoors temporarily. Indoor set ups should be illuminated by a wide spectrum fluorescent light such as a Vitalite and kept at 80°F during the day. Provide a hiding place for security.
Hermann's tortoises are largely vegetarian, and in the wild are known to feed on leguminous plants (beans, clovers, and wild lupines) and flowers, as well as snails, slugs, carrion, wild fruits and even animal feces. In captivity they will eat a wide range of similar foods. They have enormous appetites. Mine subsist on a diet that includes weeds, grass, hibiscus flowers, endive, romaine, dandelion, zucchini, yellow squash, snails, slugs, pill bugs, and a variety of seasonal vegetables and fruits. Favorite food items include ripe figs (that drop from a neighbor's fig tree), strawberries, and snails. Every few days they will take advantage of the sprinklers or the shallow pans of water I provide in shady areas of the yard, to bathe and to take long drinks of water.
a very good description to www.tortoise.org |
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