Do you mind having a pet with whom you won't be able to interact much?
Do you have a backyard where the Hermann's tortoise can run, dig, forage, and sunbathe?
Adult Hermann's tortoises do not fare well indoors. Can you at least provide a large enclosure (2-feet by 4-feet at minimum) inside your home?
Does your outdoor climate resemble the Mediterranean region's climate or can you provide temperatures around 80 F to 86 F if you plan to keep Herman's tortoise indoors?
Can you provide a basking light or heat lamp that mimics the sun if you plan to keep Herman's tortoise indoors?
Can you provide a variety of leafy greens and grasses to feed Herman's tortoise?
Do you have an exotics veterinarian who specializes in reptile care in your region?
This tortoise does not like handling, it prefers to stay safely grounded. Handling can cause undue stress for them. They are not aggressive but they are known to bite other tortoises, pets, or humans in defense. If you wish to have a cuddly pet like a dog or cat, Herman's tortoise is not for you.
If you do not have a backyard for Herman's tortoise and you cannot provide a large enclosure indoors then Herman's tortoise is not a good pet choice for you.
Outdoor climate should closely resemble the Mediterranean region's (Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania) climate. Daytime temperatures should average around 80 F to 86 F and shouldn't fall below 65 F to 70 F at night. When kept indoors, Herman's tortoise needs the same temperature ranges.
If kept outdoors, the sun will provide adequate lighting. Indoors, provide a basking light or heat lamp that mimics the sun, complete with a basking spot (a set of low, flat rocks work well) with an ambient temperature of about 95 F. Tortoises require UVB light to synthesize vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 helps the tortoise absorb calcium, which is crucial for bone structure and growth. All indoor enclosures should include a 10 percent fluorescent UVB tube light with a reflector to spread the UVB rays downward to the tortoise.
A tortoise's diet should replicate wild foraging. Choose a variety of leafy greens and grasses to feed your pet. Supplement greens with smaller quantities of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, and carrots, apples, apricots, grapes, melons, peaches, and strawberries. An indoor tortoise requires nutrient boosters to make up for its lack of direct sunlight. Give your pet a high-quality tortoise food that includes calcium and vitamin D3 supplements.
You can take care of Herman's tortoise as a pet!
Herman's tortoises are prone to health issues that require veterinary inspection. Respiratory infections are caused by inadequate lighting, heating, fresh food, clean water, or environmental stressor. Metabolic bone disease is caused by a lack of calcium or a problem absorbing calcium. Cloaca prolapse is commonly caused by dehydration. All these common illnesses require a veterinarian's intervention.
https://www.thesprucepets.com/hermanns-tortoise-1237262
Sreten null
Hi! I’m Sreten Filipović. I graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Belgrade, with a master's degree in Environmental Protection in Agricultural Systems. I’ve worked as a researcher at Finland's Natural Resources Institute (LUKE) on a project aimed at adapting south-western Finland to drought episodes. I founded a consulting agency in the field of environment and agriculture to help farmers who want to implement the principles of sustainability on their farms. I’m also a founding member of the nonprofit organization Ecogenesis from Belgrade whose main goal is non-formal education on the environment and ecology. In my spare time, I like to write blog posts about sustainability, the environment, animal farming, horticulture, and plant protection. I’ve also published several science-fiction short stories.
You can find me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreten-filipovi%C4%87-515aa5158/
