Do Hermann's burrow

[Raymo2477]

Do hermann's torts burrow?

I ask this since I'm making my outdoor enclosure and I need to know if I need to bury chicken wire.

I did the with my box turtles when I was a kid, but I thought hermann's didn't really burrow like boxies or Russians.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Some will, to some extent, but not as much as a Steppes (Russian) will...primarily if they need somewhere to hide and there's no bush, tall grass, or hidey-spot available...my 4 aren't interested in digging much (too much effort), as I supply them with an assortment of places to get out of sight.

OTOH, I bury 1/2' hardware cloth beneath my tortoise enclosures, but more to keep other things from digging in.

 

[GBtortoises]

Hermann's aren't a true burrowing species like Russians are. Some of my Russians dig burrows over 30" long! I have never seen a Hermann's do more than bury themselves straight down in the dirt. I've never had an adult bury themselves except during brumation. That doesn't really qualify them as burrowers. Many other species, especially as babies, do the same.They do however make use of tunnels. Each of my outdoor enclosures have corrugated pipe tunnels in them buried horizontally in the ground. All of my Hermann's, regardless of subspecies, as well as most of the other species that I keep, take advantage of the tunnels at night, in the heat of the day and during heavy rains. Most of the tunnels are about 18-24" long with only the opening exposed to the outside.

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Hermann's aren't a true burrowing species like Russians are. Some of my Russians dig burrows over 30" long! I have never seen a Hermann's do more than bury themselves straight down in the dirt. I've never had an adult bury themselves except during brumation. That doesn't really qualify them as burrowers. Many other species, especially as babies, do the same.They do however make use of tunnels. Each of my outdoor enclosures have corrugated pipe tunnels in them buried horizontally in the ground. All of my Hermann's, regardless of subspecies, as well as most of the other species that I keep, take advantage of the tunnels at night, in the heat of the day and during heavy rains. Most of the tunnels are about 18-24" long with only the opening exposed to the outside.

When I expanded my tort's enclosure, I added 3 tunnels, made from some '30s terra cotta pipe a friend salvaged for me, from a rebuild his company is doing...hopefully, they all get to go out this weekend, to explore their new home.

 

[ScottishFish]

+1 to the above

When out and about my Hermann will dig down into loose soil in the garden, but you can always see most of his shell. For the extra effort it may take you might aswell dig the chickenwiren down, just for peace of mind.


1 Eastern Hermanns Tortoise 2.5yo

 

[kathyth]

Mine will just cover her shell. No deeper than that.

 

[ScottishFish]

Here is as deep as mine will go




1 Eastern Hermanns Tortoise 2.5yo

 

[GBtortoises]

Hermann's aren't a true burrowing species like Russians are. Some of my Russians dig burrows over 30" long! I have never seen a Hermann's do more than bury themselves straight down in the dirt. I've never had an adult bury themselves except during brumation. That doesn't really qualify them as burrowers. Many other species, especially as babies, do the same.They do however make use of tunnels. Each of my outdoor enclosures have corrugated pipe tunnels in them buried horizontally in the ground. All of my Hermann's, regardless of subspecies, as well as most of the other species that I keep, take advantage of the tunnels at night, in the heat of the day and during heavy rains. Most of the tunnels are about 18-24" long with only the opening exposed to the outside.

When I expanded my tort's enclosure, I added 3 tunnels, made from some '30s terra cotta pipe a friend salvaged for me, from a rebuild his company is doing...hopefully, they all get to go out this weekend, to explore their new home.

The interesting bonus I found when I started installing the tunnels was how much the tortoises used them on dry, hot days to prevent dehydration. It can be in hot and dry outside the on the ground but the tortoises near the entrance within the tunnel are cool to the touch and the those at the far back end often have moisture on their shells!

 

[ben32hayt]

When I had my two eastern hermann's they would burrow but unfortunately for them there was a rock wall surrounding them that went underneath the ground so they could not escape but as long as you make the chicken wire go underneath the ground four or five inches you should be good.

 

[GBtortoises]

My enclosure walls are in the ground only about 3". I have never had a single tortoise, of any species atttempt to dig their way out. The only ones that potentially would are the Russian tortoises.

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Hermann's aren't a true burrowing species like Russians are. Some of my Russians dig burrows over 30" long! I have never seen a Hermann's do more than bury themselves straight down in the dirt. I've never had an adult bury themselves except during brumation. That doesn't really qualify them as burrowers. Many other species, especially as babies, do the same.They do however make use of tunnels. Each of my outdoor enclosures have corrugated pipe tunnels in them buried horizontally in the ground. All of my Hermann's, regardless of subspecies, as well as most of the other species that I keep, take advantage of the tunnels at night, in the heat of the day and during heavy rains. Most of the tunnels are about 18-24" long with only the opening exposed to the outside.

When I expanded my tort's enclosure, I added 3 tunnels, made from some '30s terra cotta pipe a friend salvaged for me, from a rebuild his company is doing...hopefully, they all get to go out this weekend, to explore their new home.

The interesting bonus I found when I started installing the tunnels was how much the tortoises used them on dry, hot days to prevent dehydration. It can be in hot and dry outside the on the ground but the tortoises near the entrance within the tunnel are cool to the touch and the those at the far back end often have moisture on their shells!

Excellent!

 

[GBtortoises]

Here's a few pics of the tunnels and greenhouses:

 

[Moozillion]

My Elsa sometimes buries herself completely in her substrate: I have to poke a finger in to find her! But most of the time she only buries herself 1/2 to 3/4, so that at least some of her shell is showing. When she partially buries herself, it's almost always under her Boston fern. I've never know her to dig an actual tunnel.