Also called Western Hermann's tortoise (T. h. hermanni), Eastern Hermann's tortoise (T. h. boettgeri), Dalmatian tortoise (hercegovinensis form), Griechische Landschildkröte (German), Testuggine di Hermann (Italian)
SpeciesDeep profile
From Southern Europe along the northern Mediterranean: eastern Spain and the Balearics, southern France and Corsica, Italy with Sardinia and Sicily, and across the Balkans (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania) into European Turkey123
A compact, high-domed land tortoise. Its signature features are a hard, horn-tipped spike at the end of the tail and a supracaudal scute (the shell plate above the tail) that is usually split into two. Males have noticeably longer, thicker tails than females. Western animals tend to have a slim, smoothly shaped head, while eastern animals have a shorter, rounder head.134
Coloursbright golden yellow with bold black markings (western)greenish-yellow to olive with softer markings (eastern)black and yellow patterned carapace in juvenilesgrey or straw tones in older adultsplastron with two dark lengthwise bands (western)143
Personality what they are like
An alert, curious tortoise that spends its day basking, browsing on plants and exploring its pen. Males are the busier sex, patrolling their space and chasing females in spring, and they can be pushy with each other. Females are generally calmer. Wild individuals are often found by listening for the rustle they make moving through leaf litter.783
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Active by day, especially in the cooler morning and late afternoon, with a quieter spell in midsummer heat. Needs room to walk, graze and dig, so a large, varied outdoor area in warm months suits it best; small pens and glass tanks are not recommended.438
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Offer fresh water every day in a shallow dish; regular shallow soaks encourage drinking. Hermann's tortoises naturally go through a winter dormancy, which in captivity should be managed carefully: Tortoise Trust advises keeping it at about 4-6 C (never near freezing and not above 10 C for long), with constant temperature monitoring and a weight check before and during. Typical duration is about 8-10 weeks for small tortoises up to about 16 weeks for large ones.861
Home where they are happiest
Ideally a secure, predator-proof outdoor enclosure with sun, shade, planted cover and hiding places, plus an indoor 'tortoise table' (an open-topped pen) for cooler weather. Indoors give about 14 hours of light and heat a day: a basking spot of 32-35 C directly under the lamp, a gradient down to around 24 C, and UVB lighting 30-45 cm above the basking area. Night temperatures can drop to about 15 C.58
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Herbivore that grazes on wild flowers, leaves, stalks and weeds. Aim for a high-fibre, low-protein, calcium-rich diet built on safe garden weeds and flowers. Keep fruit to a minimum and leave out pet food, bread, dairy, peas and beans. In the wild it may also nibble the odd snail or slug.813
Company who they like around
Does well kept alone or in small groups with plenty of space. Avoid housing two males together, keep species apart, and do not overcrowd. Groups work best with more females than males and enough cover for each tortoise to get out of sight.85
The story where it all began
Johann Friedrich Gmelin gave the species its scientific name in 1789 in the 13th edition of Systema Naturae, naming it after Jean (Johann) Hermann, a natural history professor in Strasbourg; the original reference specimen, a plastron, is kept at the Strasbourg natural history museum. Soon after, an illustration by Schoepff in 1792 mistakenly labelled it Testudo graeca, which is why older French texts call it the 'Greek tortoise' and why German still uses Griechische Landschildkröte. For a long time the subspecies names were muddled, until Roger Bour's 1987 work fixed the French population as the true western form, T. h. hermanni, with the eastern form T. h. boettgeri (named after German herpetologist Oskar Boettger in 1889) spreading from the Balkans to the Black Sea. A third Dalmatian form, hercegovinensis, is now usually treated as a local variant. Today it is one of the classic pet tortoises of Europe, and international trade is regulated under CITES Appendix II.421
Fun facts for the dinner table
1
The tip of the tail ends in a hard, horny spike, a handy way to tell it apart from similar Mediterranean tortoises.3
2
The sex of hatchlings depends on incubation temperature: around 26 C mostly produces males and around 30 C mostly females.1
3
Eggs take about 90 days to hatch, and a clutch can hold between 2 and 12 eggs.1
4
The heaviest Hermann's tortoise noted by Tortoise Trust was an eastern female 26.4 cm long weighing 3.42 kg.4
5
In the wild it spends around four to five months in winter dormancy at temperatures near 5 C.1
6
Its German name translates as 'Greek land tortoise', a leftover from a labelling mix-up in 1792.4
7
Wild individuals in Corfu were easiest to find by standing still and listening for them moving through dry leaves.7
Recognised by the official bits
The Reptile Database
Valid species Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789, with two subspecies: T. h. hermanni Gmelin 1789 and T. h. boettgeri Mojsisovics 18892
IUCN Red List
Listed as Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1 per Wikipedia); Animal Diversity Web gives Near Threatened1
A typical home-care rhythm for a Hermann's Tortoise. A starting point, not a vet's advice.
Fresh food and waterevery day
Temperature checkevery day
Spot cleanevery day
SoakA shallow lukewarm soakevery week
UVB bulb changeFollow the bulb maker's adviceevery 6 months
Outdoor time summerSupervised sunshine on warm daysevery day
Weigh inevery month
Full cleanevery month
Vet check-upFind a vet who sees exotic petsevery year
Treats they will love homemade and simple
Dandelion and Clover Salad
Dandelion and clover are safe, nutritious weeds that tortoises love. Dandelion provides calcium and vitamins, while clover adds variety. Feed only young, fresh leaves and as part of a wider diet.
You need
A handful of fresh dandelion leaves and flowers
A handful of fresh clover leaves and flowers (young, undamaged)
How
Wash the dandelion and clover thoroughly under cool running water to remove any soil or insects.
Pat dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Mix the leaves and flowers together in a clean bowl.
Offer a small portion to your tortoise as a treat, ensuring the rest of the meal is varied.
How much: A small handful per tortoise, no more than once or twice a week as part of a varied diet.
Hibiscus flowers are a safe, colourful treat that many tortoises enjoy. They are low in oxalates and provide a source of hydration and natural sugars. Feed sparingly.
You need
1-2 fresh hibiscus flowers (washed)
How
Pick or purchase fresh hibiscus flowers that have not been treated with pesticides.
Rinse the flowers gently under cool water to remove any dirt or insects.
Offer the whole flower to your tortoise, or tear it into smaller pieces if needed.
How much: One or two flowers per tortoise, no more than once a week.
Not veterinary advice. Check with your vet first if your pet has allergies, a health condition, is on a special diet or is pregnant. Treats should stay a small part of the daily food. Cut to a safe size and supervise. Terms of use
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Hermann's Tortoise?
Offer fresh food daily, focusing on safe garden weeds and flowers. Furry Diary's starting plan includes daily fresh food and water. Keep fruit to a minimum and avoid pet food, bread, dairy, peas and beans.81Pet Wiki plan
What does a Hermann's Tortoise eat, and what should it never eat?
Hermann's tortoises are herbivores that graze on wild flowers, leaves, stalks and weeds. They should never eat pet food, bread, dairy, peas, beans, or much fruit. A high-fibre, low-protein, calcium-rich diet is best.813
How much space does a Hermann's Tortoise need?
They need a large, secure outdoor enclosure with sun, shade, planted cover and hiding places. Small pens and glass tanks are not recommended. Indoors, use an open-topped 'tortoise table' for cooler weather.4385
What temperature, light or water does a Hermann's Tortoise need?
Provide a basking spot of 32-35C directly under a lamp, with a gradient down to about 24C, and UVB lighting 30-45 cm above. Night temperatures can drop to 15C. Offer fresh water daily in a shallow dish and weekly shallow soaks.586Pet Wiki plan
How often should I clean a Hermann's Tortoise's home?
Spot clean the enclosure daily and do a full clean once a month. Furry Diary's plan also includes a weekly soak and daily temperature checks. Pet Wiki plan
Can a Hermann's Tortoise live with others?
Yes, they do well alone or in small groups with plenty of space. Avoid housing two males together, and keep groups with more females than males and enough cover for each to hide.85
How long does a Hermann's Tortoise live?
With good care, Hermann's tortoises can live between 30 and 90 years.13
Can I handle a Hermann's Tortoise?
Handling preferences vary by individual. It's best to ask a vet or experienced breeder for advice on how to handle your tortoise gently.
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Pet Wiki's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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