Lauraine31
New Member
Hi I need help identifying species and approx age / sex of this tortoise. He was found in a field one month ago by a friend, no owners have been located so I have agreed to take the tortoise. Thanks Lauraine
Hi thanks for your message he hasn’t been delivered to us yet I will post a photo when he arrives thanksPlease show us the bottom shell (underneath)
Hello and welcome to the Forum!
This looks to be a Hermann’s tortoise and likely a male from the looks of the 2nd picture. I’d need clearer pictures to tell for sure though.
Here is a link to an excellent thread with the care information for your tortoise. Parts of it are geared towards babies, which yours isn’t, but still a lot of useful information.
The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...tortoiseforum.org
Thanks so much x
Thanks so much for this information it has been suggested that he is an adult so I need to hibernate him or should I watch him for a year or so? I am collecting him at the weekend so I will post some more photographs.I would say it's an Eastern Hermann's. Based on the curving-under shape of the supracaudal scutes near the tail, it's most likely a male.
Hi Krista thanks so much for this info when he arrives I will take some more photos many thanks x
This is a photo of the underside of the tortoiseI would say it's an Eastern Hermann's. Based on the curving-under shape of the supracaudal scutes near the tail, it's most likely a male.
Yup, male Eastern Hermann's.
It's up to you whether or not to hibernate (brumate) the tortoise. To keep him up, you will need to provide everything in post #5. Brumation will require a consistent temp of about 40 F for several months. Most people use a separate fridge for this.
Ahh okay thanks glad to know his gender so probably best not to put in with my two 18 month olds!! I don’t need to hibernate my tortoises as we can care for them all year round just wanted to know that I am doing what’s best for them. Do you have any idea of his approximate age or is that an impossible question ? XExcuse me???….
A fridge???
Like an honest to goodness fridge? ??