Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's Discussion thread

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Pokeymeg

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

How young can you tell if your tortoise is Eastern or Western? Mine is only about 4 months old, but I'm curious to know which type of Hermann it is!
 

GBtortoises

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

If you'll post some photos of your Hermann's carapace (top shell) and plastron (bottom shell) from straight on someone here should be able to identify the subspecies for you.
 

Pokeymeg

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

Ok! Here are the pictures of my turtle, I'd love if someone could tell me if he/she is Eastern or Western! If my turtle is too young to tell, that's ok :)
 

Ozric

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

Chris is the specialist in these tortoises and his diagrams are the bees knees. I had the pleasure recently of visiting a breeder that I know in France and added to my little group of hermanni hermanni's (westerns). This breeder also keeps 'easterns' and just for the sake of a few photos we put some young eastern and western hermanns together. Now that you have seen Chris' diagrams, can you tell which 2 of the tortoises in this photo are westerns?

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GBtortoises

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

Ok! Here are the pictures of my turtle, I'd love if someone could tell me if he/she is Eastern or Western! If my turtle is too young to tell, that's ok

Your Hermann's looks to be either a Dalmatian or an Eastern/Dalmatian hybrid. A good shot of the head (extended) would tell better.
 

Pokeymeg

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

GBtortoises said:
Ok! Here are the pictures of my turtle, I'd love if someone could tell me if he/she is Eastern or Western! If my turtle is too young to tell, that's ok

Your Hermann's looks to be either a Dalmatian or an Eastern/Dalmatian hybrid. A good shot of the head (extended) would tell better.

@Ozric--Your pictures make it very easy to see the difference! I think if I had a different tort for comparison I'd have an easier time with identification.

@GBtortoises--Thanks for your help! I never would have guessed Dalmatian! Attached are some head shots, hopefully that'll help.
 

GBtortoises

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

Looks to be a Dalmatian Testudo hermanni hercegovinensis to me. Although, baby Easterns and Dalmatians can sometims be deceiving when it comes to identification since both can often display a lot of yellow on their skin.

I'm also wondering though if your tortoise has a "keyhole" pattern on it's rear most vertebral scute?
 

mking

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

Can you verify that I have a Hermann's from this picture? He is 9 years old and 5 inch shell length. I have more pictures if you need. Someone recently told me that he is a greek. He does look a little different from my female Hermann so now I am all confused.

thank you!

Mary
 

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GBtortoises

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

"Can you verify that I have a Hermann's from this picture? He is 9 years old and 5 inch shell length. I have more pictures if you need. Someone recently told me that he is a greek. He does look a little different from my female Hermann so now I am all confused."

You tortoise is definitely a Hermann's! If you want to post a clear photo of his plastron we can probably figure out if he is an Eastern Hermann's, Testudo hermanni boettgeri or a Dalmatian Hermann's, T. h. hercegovinensis.
 

Pokeymeg

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

GBtortoises said:
Looks to be a Dalmatian Testudo hermanni hercegovinensis to me. Although, baby Easterns and Dalmatians can sometims be deceiving when it comes to identification since both can often display a lot of yellow on their skin.

I'm also wondering though if your tortoise has a "keyhole" pattern on it's rear most vertebral scute?

Hi GBtortoise, I don't see one.
 

anol03

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

Hi!
Can you help me with mine?
The paper (EU paper) says T hermanni hermanni south italy.
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Br
Anders
 

Yvonne G

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

mking said:
He does look a little different from my female Hermann so now I am all confused.

thank you!

Mary

Hi Mary:

Won't you please take a few moments to start a new thread in the "Introductions" section and tell us a bit about yourself?
 

dixon shells

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

I have two Hermann youngsters both different colours and shape.
Popeye (rear) is a bright yellow and has a much flatter shell where Olive like her name has a much more pointed shell any ideas eastern or western??
I am still very much learning so any reply's will be very interesting
clocks change 30th october 2011-10-30 004.JPG
Olive
TTs Olive climbing 2011-10-08 002.JPG
Popeye
TTs 2011-09-30 001.JPG
 
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GBtortoises

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

Both appear to be Eastern Hermann's, Testudo hermanni boettgeri. Based on their appearance you might want to dramatically increase their overall hydration. They are showing signs of pyramiding. With moisture in their substrate, increased ambient humidity and either constant access to drinking water and/or frequent soaking. What does their diet and day/night temperatures consist of?
 

dixon shells

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

Hi.....

they have a dish of water in their run and have a soak (20 mins) either every other day or 3 days. The day time temp under the lamp ranges from 22 to 26c + but at night it falls to 16c the breeder said no heat needed at night (they are next week to loose their light along with daily baths for the next couple of weeks in readiness for hibernation)
They live on the wood chips (from reptile shop) and eat Dandelions etc
How would I increase their humidity in their home
Goodness you think you have grassped it then you learn something else :)
 

GBtortoises

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

Julie--I'd very much like to continue our conversation if you would. Please either pm or email me personally or start a new thread on the forum and let me know which one. This is so that we don't "clog" this thread which is intended for identification rather than husbandry information.

Gary B
 

Kelly_H

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

How about my Hermanns, Norman?
It's be great to get a second opinion.... I was told that he may well be a mixture of the two sub species.... what do you think?

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HermanniChris

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

It may be a cross between Eastern (T. hermanni boettgeri) and Dalmatian (T. hermanni hercegovinensis). I do not see any Western in it.
 

Yellow Turtle

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RE: Western Hermann's vs. Eastern Hermann's

Hello, please help to identify my Hermann's species. And do you see bit sign of pyramiding on it?

Upper.jpg

Plastron.jpg


Thank you in advance :)
 
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