Nellie Rose
Member
Hello, I'm new here.
I have had my Hermann's tortoise, Hermann (super creative I know), for almost seven years, which means he is almost seven himself. I got him as a hatchling when he was the size of a fifty cent coin. He was cute and tiny and seemed to like interacting with me. I buried myself in research and I think I've taken pretty decent care of him over the years, my vet says he is in good health despite being just a little overweight. He also had some pyramiding on his shell when he was younger, but it hasn't progressed and his shell has been good looking since I introduced a humid hide to his enclosure.
Hermann introduced me to the world of animal husbandry, one tortoise turned into two lizards and a colony of hermit crabs, five tropical fish tanks between 60 and 5 gallons, fifteen chickens, and a dog (my one and only mammal I always say lol). In many ways he sent me on the path to where I am today, there are so many things I never would have done or learned without Hermann.
Long story short, over time we grew apart. Maybe that's a weird way to put it, but Hermann grew up and became territorial and now runs over to bite me anytime I maintain his enclosure. He used to stretch out his neck to be rubbed but now he pulls inside his shell and only pokes his nose out to snap. For the most part I give him his space as to not stress him, except for enclosure maintenance, bath time, and anytime I take him outside or check him over. He seems more content when I watch him from afar.
Over time my interaction with him has dwindled to the bare minimum. I feed him daily and change his water, as well as spot clean, but that's it. And admittedly, I find myself forgetting to feed him more and more often, especially as I just started a new job and got a dog in Feburary (who is now an eighty lb puppy who takes a lot of my time). Don't get me wrong, Hermann is still healthy, but I probably forget to feed him two to three days a week mostly depending on how many hours I work. My job is physically demanding and most days I come home and pass out.
Anyway, here are my questions.
I recently started preparing all of Hermann's meals at the beginning of the week and storing them in the fridge. I enjoy meal preping for myself and my dog, who eats a raw diet.
It's definitely helping me to remember Hermann as it's sort of fun to weigh out all of his food and pack it into his little containers, I can also make sure he is getting his calcium/vitamin powder on the correct days whereas before I often forgot to give it to him.
My question is, is there a set of rules to follow when feeding a grassland/Hermann's tort? Like for dogs on a B.A.R.F diet (biologically appropriate raw food diet) you follow a set of rules, typically you feed 3% of the dogs body weight, 70% muscle meats, 10% raw meaty bone, 7% vegetables 5% liver, 5% other secreting organ, 2% seeds/nuts, and 1% fruit, all aiming to balance a specific nutritional profile.
Is there a guide like this for tortoises? I have been looking and looking and can't seem to find something that is clear.
Currently I am feeding Hermann a varied salad of mostly dark leafy greens, some other veggies and usually a small slice of fruit, and a cup of zoo med grassland tortoise food soaked and mashed.
I subscribe to a farm share so I get organic veggies and fruits every week, far more than I could eat. Hermann gets a wide variety of foods.
My other question is if anyone has any thoughts on how I can revamp his care, so to speak. He has a fairly large tortoise table, but I am going to double it when he moves outside next summer. I only just brought him in a week ago when the nighttime temps dipped into the 50s. I'm looking for things I could do to enrich his life further. I try to rearrange his box every once in a while, and I keep rocks with different textures and colors, smooth pebbles and large sheets of slate for him to bask on.
I was wondering if there are any plants I could keep in a pot in his box (since he without a doubt would trample anything I plant) that would provide a sort of hiding spot for him but is also able to survive the heat from his lighting? Some kind of fern would look nice.
Anyway, sorry this is so ridiculously long, any input or knowledge is more than appreciated.
I have had my Hermann's tortoise, Hermann (super creative I know), for almost seven years, which means he is almost seven himself. I got him as a hatchling when he was the size of a fifty cent coin. He was cute and tiny and seemed to like interacting with me. I buried myself in research and I think I've taken pretty decent care of him over the years, my vet says he is in good health despite being just a little overweight. He also had some pyramiding on his shell when he was younger, but it hasn't progressed and his shell has been good looking since I introduced a humid hide to his enclosure.
Hermann introduced me to the world of animal husbandry, one tortoise turned into two lizards and a colony of hermit crabs, five tropical fish tanks between 60 and 5 gallons, fifteen chickens, and a dog (my one and only mammal I always say lol). In many ways he sent me on the path to where I am today, there are so many things I never would have done or learned without Hermann.
Long story short, over time we grew apart. Maybe that's a weird way to put it, but Hermann grew up and became territorial and now runs over to bite me anytime I maintain his enclosure. He used to stretch out his neck to be rubbed but now he pulls inside his shell and only pokes his nose out to snap. For the most part I give him his space as to not stress him, except for enclosure maintenance, bath time, and anytime I take him outside or check him over. He seems more content when I watch him from afar.
Over time my interaction with him has dwindled to the bare minimum. I feed him daily and change his water, as well as spot clean, but that's it. And admittedly, I find myself forgetting to feed him more and more often, especially as I just started a new job and got a dog in Feburary (who is now an eighty lb puppy who takes a lot of my time). Don't get me wrong, Hermann is still healthy, but I probably forget to feed him two to three days a week mostly depending on how many hours I work. My job is physically demanding and most days I come home and pass out.
Anyway, here are my questions.
I recently started preparing all of Hermann's meals at the beginning of the week and storing them in the fridge. I enjoy meal preping for myself and my dog, who eats a raw diet.
It's definitely helping me to remember Hermann as it's sort of fun to weigh out all of his food and pack it into his little containers, I can also make sure he is getting his calcium/vitamin powder on the correct days whereas before I often forgot to give it to him.
My question is, is there a set of rules to follow when feeding a grassland/Hermann's tort? Like for dogs on a B.A.R.F diet (biologically appropriate raw food diet) you follow a set of rules, typically you feed 3% of the dogs body weight, 70% muscle meats, 10% raw meaty bone, 7% vegetables 5% liver, 5% other secreting organ, 2% seeds/nuts, and 1% fruit, all aiming to balance a specific nutritional profile.
Is there a guide like this for tortoises? I have been looking and looking and can't seem to find something that is clear.
Currently I am feeding Hermann a varied salad of mostly dark leafy greens, some other veggies and usually a small slice of fruit, and a cup of zoo med grassland tortoise food soaked and mashed.
I subscribe to a farm share so I get organic veggies and fruits every week, far more than I could eat. Hermann gets a wide variety of foods.
My other question is if anyone has any thoughts on how I can revamp his care, so to speak. He has a fairly large tortoise table, but I am going to double it when he moves outside next summer. I only just brought him in a week ago when the nighttime temps dipped into the 50s. I'm looking for things I could do to enrich his life further. I try to rearrange his box every once in a while, and I keep rocks with different textures and colors, smooth pebbles and large sheets of slate for him to bask on.
I was wondering if there are any plants I could keep in a pot in his box (since he without a doubt would trample anything I plant) that would provide a sort of hiding spot for him but is also able to survive the heat from his lighting? Some kind of fern would look nice.
Anyway, sorry this is so ridiculously long, any input or knowledge is more than appreciated.