Hermann's Tortoise Testudo hermanni
A small-to-medium European tortoise — hardy, with a simple diet. But it is CITES Appendix II listed, so proving the animal's legal origin is the first problem you have to solve, before anything else.
⚖️ Legal status · Restricted / permit required
Listed on CITES Appendix II. Legal keeping depends on the animal having a lawful, traceable captive-breeding origin and the accompanying paperwork. Insist on complete documentation before purchase and walk away from any animal that lacks it. Requirements follow the current official rules — consult your local wildlife authority if in doubt.
Check another species →Key parameters
- Lifespan
- 50-90 years — a timescale that will likely outlast your intention to keep one
- Adult size
- 15-20 cm carapace length, females slightly larger
- Diet
- Strictly herbivorous. Weeds such as dandelion and plantain plus dark leafy greens, with long-term calcium supplementation
- Temperature
- Daytime basking spot 32-35 °C, ambient 24-28 °C, not below 18 °C at night
- Humidity
- 50-60%; juveniles need more to avoid pyramiding
✅ Suits you if
Keepers with outdoor or balcony space, who can commit for decades and are willing to handle the paperwork
🚫 Do not get one if
Anyone renting and moving frequently, wanting a few-year pet, or unwilling to deal with provenance documents
Starter equipment list
Buy all of it before the animal arrives, not after.
- Tortoise table or enclosure: 120×60 cm minimum for an adult, bigger is better; height is irrelevant
- UVB lamp (10.0 or desert-spec) plus a basking lamp. The UVB must be replaced every 6-12 months
- Thermostat and timers to reproduce a day-night cycle
- Substrate: coco coir mixed with topsoil, deep enough for digging
- Shallow water dish it can climb into, with water below chin height
- Calcium powder and a cuttlebone left available at all times
Most common beginner mistakes
- 1 Buying an animal of unknown origin — this is an Appendix II species, so it is a legal risk, not a way to save money
- 2 Feeding fruit and high protein — tortoises cannot process it, and it causes stones and kidney strain
- 3 Not replacing the UVB — a tube that still lights up may emit no UVB at all. Replace it after 12 months regardless
- 4 Casually attempting hibernation — it requires a health check, correct weight and controlled cooling. Done wrong it kills. Overwinter warm in your first year
- 5 Underestimating the lifespan — it will very likely outlive your patience for keeping it. Think this through properly first
Common illnesses
| Illness | Common cause | What you'll see |
|---|---|---|
| Pyramiding | Low humidity as a juvenile, excess protein, insufficient UVB | Scutes rise into a pyramid shape — permanent and irreversible |
| Respiratory infection | Temperatures too low or swinging too widely | Bubbles at the nostrils, open-mouth breathing, laboured neck extension |
| Metabolic bone disease | Insufficient UVB or an expired tube left in place | Soft shell, weak limbs, deformed growth |
| Bladder stones | Chronic dehydration, a diet high in oxalates | Straining to defecate, reduced appetite, hind-limb weakness |
Frequently asked
How do I verify a seller's animal is legally sourced?
Ask for captive-breeding documentation and a traceable origin record, then check that the paperwork actually matches the animal in front of you. Any “papers to follow” or “it's through a friend” framing is a red flag. When unsure, ask your local wildlife authority.
Does a Hermann's tortoise have to hibernate?
In the wild yes, in captivity no. Hibernation requires a prior health check, adequate weight, gradual cooling and monitoring throughout. For a first year, overwintering warm is the safer choice.
Can it live with other tortoises?
Not advisable. Tortoises from different origins carry different pathogens and mixing invites cross-infection, and males will fight persistently.