The eastern hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) can be found throughout southern Europe. It is a herbivore and eats green plants, leaves, grasses and flowers.
Herbivores are generally very healthy and can live happily on a diet of green vegetables, fruits and flowers. However, they do need a good calcium to phosphorus ratio and a regular dose of vitamin D3.
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Vegetables
In the wild Hermann's tortoises eat a wide variety of vegetation including dandelion, clover, honeysuckle, leafy salads, curly kale, brussel tops, spring greens and coriander. Carrot, parsnip and courgette are also good additions.
Grass hay is also a staple food for these tortoises, as are broadleaf weeds such as plantains, white nettle and corn poppy. These weeds are high in fibre and will help keep your pet tortoise healthy.
As a rule of thumb, vegetables should make up no more than 10% of your pet tortoise's diet. Dark green leafy vegetables such as cabbage, parsley and kale are good choices for Hermann's tortoises, but be careful not to overfeed them or they can become over-fed and bloated.
In the wild, Hermann's tortoises may eat some animal protein from time to time and earthworms are sometimes added to the diet. However, this shouldn't be necessary in captivity as a well-rounded diet will provide them with all the nutrients they need.
Fruits
Fruits have a high sugar content, so it’s important that you don’t feed your eastern hermann's tortoise too much of it. They also have a delicate balance of gut bacteria and feeding too much fruit can harm these.
Hermann's tortoises have a natural diet of grasses, flowers, and vegetables found in their habitat. They’ll eat dandelions, dandelion leaves, and hibiscus flowers as well as grasses such as wheat grass, buckwheat, clover and prickly pear cactus.
Grassed plants should be planted inside the enclosure in sufficient quantities to allow your tortoise to graze daily. Plants that are good for grazing include dandelions, dandelion roots, wild grape, hibiscus, mulberry and other native plants.
Avoid feeding your Hermann’s tortoise too many protein-rich foods, including dog or cat food and human food. Excess protein can cause pyramiding, which is when the scutes on their shell increase disproportionally during active growth periods. This can lead to poor limb health and lung function problems, and it may interfere with their ability to lay eggs.
Nuts
Eastern hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni hermanni) are medium-sized species that primarily live in the Mediterranean region. They are typically 13-20 cm in length for males and 5-8 inches for females, with smaller or larger individuals not uncommon.
These tortoises are herbivores, consuming a wide variety of plants and fruits in their natural habitat. They are also grazers on grasses, weeds, and stems.
Their diet should replicate wild foraging, and this can be accomplished by providing a variety of leafy greens as well as some vegetables. Supplement these with small quantities of broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, carrots, apples, apricots, grapes, melons, peaches, and strawberries.
Hermann's tortoises are a good choice for a pet because they are easy to care for and generally hardy. They are prone to respiratory infections and intestinal parasites, so it’s important to see a veterinarian if your tortoise suddenly stops eating.
Meat
Hermann’s tortoises are primarily herbivores and require a wide variety of plants to keep their body healthy. These include grasses, weeds, and wildflowers.
Tortoises also eat small insects, earthworms, snails, mushrooms, algae, carrion, dung, and bones. These natural prey items provide the animals with the calcium they need to survive and a nutrient-rich diet helps them stay healthy and disease-free.
The eastern hermann’s tortoise is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean area, including Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and Yugoslavia. They are now threatened by habitat destruction and urban development.
The tortoise’s natural habitat is arid, rocky hillslopes with scrubby vegetation. Ideally, your habitat should mimic these conditions as much as possible.
