Hermann's Tortoise — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Hermann's Tortoise — origin: Southern Europe — the Mediterranean rim.

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min15 °C

Cool side18–20 °C

Warm side22–28 °C

Basking spot32–38 °C

Winter brumation, only for a healthy animal

Enclosure (adult)

200 × 100 × 40 cm

Secure, planted OUTDOOR enclosure (ideal); an indoor tortoise table for cold spells

Allow several square metres per adult; protection against predators and escape

Humidity

40–60 %

A humid hide for juveniles (to prevent pyramiding)

Substrate

Soil/sand mixHay

UVB

Recommended

ESSENTIAL (or natural full sun) — Ferguson zone

Water source

Always available

A shallow dish for drinking and bathing

Origin

Testudinidae

Southern Europe — the Mediterranean rim

Feeding & health

Diet

Strict herbivore — Wild plants, flowers and fibre- and calcium-rich vegetation; NO fruit or animal protein

Calcium supplement (cuttlebone); the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is key

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 2–12 eggs/young. Egg incubation; brumation is necessary for breeding; sex is determined by temperature

Health watch points

MBD / pyramiding (diet, UVB, humidity)
Respiratory infections / herpesvirus
Parasites
Death from poorly managed hibernation
Bladder stones

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 2 documented genes for Hermann's Tortoise.

Hypomelanistic / Golden high yellowDom
Albino (T-) amelanisticRec

Pairing calculator

Pick each parent's genotype — clutch probabilities update live. Free, no sign-up.

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Hermann's Tortoise × Hermann's Tortoise

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

Expected clutchSelect at least one gene on a parent.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the hermann's tortoise.

What size does an adult Hermann's tortoise reach?▾

Its carapace usually measures 15 to 25 cm. The western subspecies remains the smallest, while the eastern one tends toward the upper end of this range.

How much living space does it need?▾

The ideal is a secure, planted outdoor enclosure, allowing several square metres per adult (at minimum a footprint on the order of 200 x 100 cm). A mix of soil and sand topped with hay serves as substrate, and an indoor tortoise table helps out during cold spells. The whole setup must be protected against predators as well as escapes.

What is its temperament?▾

Hardy and active, it is a curious grazer that spends much of the day exploring and feeding. Diurnal and heliothermic, it readily seeks out the sun to regulate its body temperature.

What does a Hermann's tortoise eat?▾

It is a strict herbivore: wild plants, flowers and greens rich in fibre and calcium. Fruit and any animal protein are excluded entirely, and the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is managed by offering a calcium supplement such as cuttlebone.

Does it need UVB lighting?▾

Yes, UVB is essential unless the animal has access to full natural sunlight, at an intensity corresponding to Ferguson zone 3 to 4. Without it, vitamin D3 synthesis and calcium absorption are compromised.

What temperatures should be maintained in its space?▾

Provide a basking spot of 32 to 38 °C, a warm zone of 22 to 28 °C and a cool side of 18 to 20 °C, without dropping below 15 °C at night. This gradient allows it to thermoregulate throughout the day.

Does it really need to hibernate?▾

Yes: a healthy animal undergoes winter brumation at around 5 to 8 °C, a natural cycle that is also necessary for breeding. Poorly managed, however, hibernation is among the common causes of death, hence the importance of a rigorous protocol and an animal in good health to begin with.

How long does a Hermann's tortoise live?▾

Between 50 and 80 years, sometimes more: it is a lifelong commitment, often passed from one generation to the next. Its very long-term future must therefore be planned for from the moment of adoption.

How should humidity and water access be managed?▾

Ambient humidity should sit between 40 and 60 %. In juveniles, a humid hide is particularly important to prevent pyramiding of the shell. A shallow dish, which the animal can get in and out of safely, lets it drink and bathe.

Are there legal steps before adopting one?▾

Yes. It is a protected species, listed in Annex A of CITES: in France and the European Union, legal documentation is mandatory (marking and a transfer certificate). Get informed before any purchase and have the animal followed by a veterinarian specialising in exotic pets.

Is it suitable for a beginner?▾

It is classed at the intermediate level. Being hardy, it is not the most delicate to keep, but hibernation, its strict diet and its extreme longevity call for forward planning and a minimum of experience.

What health problems should be watched for?▾

The main ones are metabolic bone disease and pyramiding (linked to diet, UVB and humidity), respiratory infections and herpesvirus, parasites, bladder stones, as well as deaths resulting from poorly managed hibernation.

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