What is best to feed my hermann tortoise?

Answer 1

When I was a child tortoise could be bought in any pet shop for half a crown each.
(12.5p).
They were usually left to roam free in the garden and fed on leaves from the kitchen
or ones that you collected.
Everybody painted thier house number on their tortoise so that if it wandered of your
mates would bring it back.
In the winter they were brought in, put into a box full of hay and left in the garden
shed for the winter.
If they survived the winter that was great, but if they died you could always get
another one. Most did not come out of "hibernation".
To get to this country they were collected in the wild from the eastern mediteranean
countries, packed into boxes in their hundred and shipped on a long slow voyage
to the U.K..
Some did not survive the journey, the ones that did (about 60%) were sent to the
pet shops.
After the first winter about another 25% had died of starvation as the were packed
in to a box with news paper or some such inedible packing material for their
"hibernation".
This was all stopped in the late seventies when they were brought under the
protection of the United Nation CITIES Charter.
CITIES means the convention in international trade in endangered species.
It protects endangered animals, birds and plants from being traded unless they are
captive bred by licensed breeders.
All animals that are offered for sale from these lists must have a certificate that
identifies where the specimen has come from and the species,this is called an
Article 10 certificate.
Some species are not lised under cities and do not require an article 10.

In the wild tortoise mostly came from Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia and North Africa
for the pet trade.
Now most people know that these are quite warm countries, the winters in these
places are not as cold as ours and not as long, usually about two months of
cooler weather in January and February.
This is when the tortoise naturally go into hibernation.
If the weather is warm enough they wil come out and feed.
The cold weather hibernation also prepares the tortoise's body for the
breeding season.
So you can see that a six month forced hibernation is not really needed and could be
detremental to the tortoise.
Now most of us go to these countries for the sun shine and that is exactly what the
tortoise need to keep them healthy, lots of sun shine.
We do not get enough sunshine to keep a toroise healthy in this country normally.
What turns us brown is the ultra violet radiation from the sun light, this make
vitamins A & D in our system.
It is the same for your tortoise, they need these vitamins made by the UV light to
absorb calcium from their food to make their shells and bones.
This can be recreated in the home by the use of a reptile flourescent tube.
The warnth of the sun can be simulated by using a heat mat or a basking lamp.
These would need to be fittted in an escape proof and safe enviroment, such as a
vivarium.
Tortoise are naturally vegetarian so will eat almost any vegetation given to them.
Try them with leaves such as letuce of varoius diferent types not just iceberg.
Also try thing like carrot grated and apple sliced.
I know they like peas in the pods and corn on the cob.
As an emergency food frozen mixed veg in great, the mixture is usually peas,
corn, carrots, green beans and broad beans.
Defrost it and feed dressed with calcium powder, as all their food should be.
Remove all uneaten food from the vivarium daily and clean any dropping from
the cage daily also.
Cleaning should be done regulary and a reptile safe disinfectant should be
employed to sterilise the vivarium.
There are many types of flooring, shredded paper, hay, wood chip or calcium sand.
Please do not use beach sand, bird sand or childrens play box sand as this is made
of silica and will cause problems if it is ingested. I find the wood based cat litter can
be a problem as it breaks down in to saw dust when it is wet.
I use beech wood chips for my tortoise and have no problems.
It is large enough that if the tortoise gets it into its mouth it will feel it and spit it out.
It is dry and aborbent so drying the dropings quickly.
Tortoise can be kept warm all year round in this way and do not need to be
hibernated unless you are going to breed them.
Remembr these are long term pets that can live over fifty years.

Answer 2

My Hermann loves anything bright and colourful like grapes, corn, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, ect. But most tortoises prefer lettuce.

Answer 3

I also have a herman tortoise. His favorites are tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber. If yours is a baby peel the tomato skin off, but as he gets older leave the skin on. Also,, apple may be good. I have only ever fed mine this once or twice, but it was different for him. I sometimes even get dandelion leaves. My tortoise loves them. Mix and match his food, it will interest him more. You can also get a powder that you sprinkle on his food, it has all the goodness that he will need whilst he is young. :) Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Lettuce, and most things green. You might also ask at the pet shop if they do a mix for tortoises. I'm sure they'll have something.

Answer 5

Turtles can make interesting pets. However, few people realize that they require a great deal of care to keep them healthy. Turtles, like all other pets, can carry disease. Therefore, owners should wash their hands after handling their pets, and young children should not be allowed to handle the—or any small animal—without adult supervision.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSING:

The ideal situation for your pet is to duplicate its natural environment as closely as possible.
HEATING:


NATURAL SUNLIGHT:

This is essential to the well being of the average turtle in order to properly utilize calcium and to properly assimilate the food as well as for curing sundry minor scratches or skin ailments. Sunlight filtered through the glass is deprived of its value; sunlight must reach the turtle unfiltered. When placing a turtle in the sun, be sure a shaded area is available to escape the heat, which can kill it quickly. Also watch to see that the water does not become too hot from the sun. UVA/UVB bulbs are good sun substitutes used in conjunction with direct sunlight. They require a fluorescent fixture for installation, and do not give off warmth for basking purposes. If preferred to this lighting arrangement a Mercury vapor bulb may be used that fulfills all requirements.



FEEDING:

Calcium, bone meal and liquid or powdered vitamins should be added to their food to supplement their diet. Small turtles should be fed every day and larger ones at least three times a week. Always remove excess food when the turtle shows no further interest in it. Some turtle keepers prefer to feed their pets in a separate container for easier tank cleaning, but some turtles will not feed when removed for their tank for feeding. Great advances have been made in the last few years with high quality prepared foods, many turtles take readily to these as part of a varied diet.



ILLNESSES:

Most turtle ailments—land and aquatic—are a result of improper diet and lack of natural sunlight. All sick turtles should be isolated from other turtles, and newly acquired turtles (or tortoises) should be isolated for at least three months and watched for disease symptoms before placing them in with others. Fungus appears as white or gray spots, lumps or flakes on the shell and fleshy parts. Adding 1/4-cup plain table salt to each five gallons of water is a good preventative. Fungus remedies sold for tropical fish can be used in the water. Shell fungus can be painted lightly with 5% iodine, allowing it to dry before putting the turtle back into the water. This procedure should be repeated daily. Very clean water and natural sunlight are needed to facilitate healing, which can take up to a year.



A soft shell and swollen eyes are due to improper diet and lack of natural sunlight. Make sure vitamins and bone meal are added to the diet and that the turtle is placed in unfiltered sunlight for several hours each day (a shaded area must be provided when placing the turtle in the sun). Immediately consult a veterinarian experienced in treating turtles and he can recommend the proper treatment. Call another keeper, your Humane Society, or a local club for a referral. If you are online, go to Locating a Veterinarian to find a reptile medicine specialist near you. You can also network to find a vet near you that works with turtles.



Turtles are highly susceptible to respiratory ailments caused by drafts, abrupt temperature changes and improper diet. Symptoms include gasping and runny or bubbly noses. The turtle should be kept warmer than normal and quiet to hasten recovery. If the condition does not improve in short order, consult a veterinarian. Time is always critical in reptile and amphibian illnesses because, by the time the affliction has manifested itself, it has reached a possibly fatal stage.



Flesh injuries resulting from bites, scratches, or cuts can be treated with a variety of antibiotic ointments and/or creams which your veterinarian can recommend. Water soluble antibiotic ointments such as nolvasan ointment or silver sulfadiazine are best as they do not impede healing like oil based creams do. NOTE: Anytime a turtle or tortoise is injured, it MUST be brought into the house immediately to prevent flies from laying eggs on the wound; maggots will result. Basking rocks should be checked for sharpness and replaced if too sharp or abrasive. Remember that water turtles must surface occasionally and can brush the rocks.

Answer 6

mine eats lettuce and loves thick porrige very much. just makes a lot of mess around the house after. also likes cat can food. but not all brands. i also suggest give her cooked meat (well, not fried of course). it will grow faster and bigger

Answer 7

Lettuce.

Answer 8

Lettuce. They F****** Love It!

Answer 9

you better spilt points with ARGENTINA AND HOUSEMUSI,,, THEY BOTH GAVE YOU GREAT ANSWER good luck.