Tortoise Care
Like most pets, rearing a tortoise requires a commitment to its welfare and an initial investment to create the right living conditions. The most crucial aspect of owning a tortoise is establishing the correct setup to ensure they thrive, not just survive. A common misconception among some early tortoise keepers is that tortoises can subsist on fruits, vegetables, or even dog food without the need for supplementary lighting. It's essential to remember that these tortoises originate from the sunny, warm climates of the Mediterranean, not the temperate islands of the Atlantic Ocean. The phrase "surviving, not thriving" is apt; for every tortoise that has survived under such conditions, thousands have not.
For guidance on setting up a habitat for hatchlings, please refer to the setup page. Tortoises should have access to an outdoor area with protection from the damp, cold weather typical in the U.K. If you cannot provide such conditions, a tortoise may not be a suitable pet.
Our tortoises are Testudo Hermanni Boettgeri and Hermanni Hermanni, also known as the Eastern and Western Hermann tortoises.
The Herman tortoise thrives on a high-fiber, low-protein diet, and it is recommended to feed them a variety of weeds and wildflowers. Maintaining this diet is crucial for the health of your tortoise and should not be neglected. Herman tortoises do not naturally consume fruit, and despite images you may see on social media or other platforms showing otherwise, it is advised to avoid offering any fruit, as it can be harmful to their health. During the winter, when overwintering your tortoise, weeds can still be found. Growing your own weeds is simple and does not require a green thumb; they flourish in neglect and poor soil conditions. Weeds are typically considered a nuisance because they emerge everywhere. Don't worry about identifying weeds initially, as there are multiple methods to do so.
1. https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/ (app available on Android & IOS) - Comprehensive identification
2. Facebook group "Tortoise plant addicts U.K." you can take a pic of plant in situ and post someone will identify. Please don't pick
Until plant has been identified.
3. Book by Linda King 'Edible Plants For Tortoises In U.K.
Here are a few examples of wild flowers :
Sow thistle
Dandelion
Ribwort plantain
Broad leaf plantain
Cats ear
Bristly ox tongue
Corn salad
Cranes bill (Geranium)
Dead nettle (Purple and white variety)
Forget me not
Ground elder
We personally grow Campanula, Geranium, Hibiscus, forget me not, Pansy, various Opuntia Cactus (Prickly Pear) Aloe Vera, Sedums and Spider plants.
You can buy seeds of many common weeds/flowers and easily grow them we encourage you to do this.
Among the variety of mixed weeds and flowers, we feed our tortoises with Pre Alpin food, which originates from Germany. Typically, dry food is not recommended. However, Pre Alpin is widely endorsed by breeders and zoological institutions globally. It boasts a vast array of plants and weeds, is high in fiber, and low in protein, which is crucial for a tortoise's health. We often blend this with fresh weeds as a supplement. This combination is particularly beneficial during the months when natural weeds are scarce, just before hibernation. It comes highly recommended.
A good way of telling how your tortoise diet is going is to look at its Faeces. Here is an example of healthy faeces from one of our tortoise (you can see the high fibre that has produced this healthy sample).
You can also check for worms. We don't recommend you worm your tortoise for the sake of it. It can be damaging to the good bacteria in your tortoise gut. We recommend sending a sample off mid summer to .This means you will have time to treat your tortoise in time and get it healthy for hibernation.
Hydration is crucial for hatchling tortoises. We advise a weekly soak in lukewarm water to ensure they stay hydrated. In the wild, they wouldn't experience this, but our use of artificial lights and heat can be more dehydrating than natural sunlight. Place the tortoise in a small container, filling it just to the lower shell with lukewarm water, and supervise for about 20 minutes. Afterward, towel dry the tortoise and place it under a lamp. We do this in the morning. It's also advised to avoid using a completely dry substrate, as it may cause shell deformities in growing tortoises. A substrate with a bit of moisture, like TortoiseMIX, allows them to burrow. This is also a good time to weigh them and record their growth. A hatchling should gain only a few grams a month. More significant weight gain likely indicates overfeeding, which can lead to deformities.
Even our adult tortoises are bathed, though not as frequently as the youngsters in table setups. It's common for them to open their bowels during soaks. In the wild, where water is scarce, tortoises will expel fluids upon encountering water to replenish themselves.
TTortoises should always have access to fresh water in their enclosures, even though they may not be seen drinking frequently. It's crucial to provide fresh water. Here are three of our adults rehydrating.
Supplements
We supplement the tortoises' food with vitamins on a weekly basis to ensure they receive all the necessary nutrients in captivity. Additionally, we incorporate powdered calcium into their diet and provide cuttlebone for them to nibble on. This serves two purposes: it helps maintain their beak's condition, preventing overgrowth, and it supplies additional calcium. The calcium powder is added to the tortoises' food five days a week.
