Hermann's tortoise – eastern (Testudo hermanni boettgeri)

Short answers

Hermann's tortoise – eastern: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Outdoor keeping is mandatory: an outdoor enclosure of at least 10 m² for the first adult animal, at least 5 m² more for each additional one, plus a cold frame or greenhouse with a heat lamp. Indoor winter/bad-weather quarters per the official formula length = 8 × carapace length, width = half the length (so for a 25 cm carapace, about 200×100 cm for two animals), at least 1.5–2 m² per animal.

Hermann's tortoise – eastern: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–28 °C (outdoors / cold frame), basking spot 40–45 °C (basking spot under a heat emitter), at night 15–20 °C (night-time drop).

Hermann's tortoise – eastern: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB essential when kept indoors (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5); outdoors the sun covers it.

Hermann's tortoise – eastern: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 50–90+ years.

Hermann's tortoise – eastern: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–28 °C (outdoors / cold frame)

Night temperature

15–20 °C (night-time drop)

Basking spot

40–45 °C (basking spot under a heat emitter)

Humidity

40–60 % (juveniles need a humid microclimate of 60–80 %)

UVB

UVB essential when kept indoors (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5); outdoors the sun covers it

Enclosure

Minimum size

outdoor keeping is mandatory: an outdoor enclosure of at least 10 m² for the first adult animal, at least 5 m² more for each additional one, plus a cold frame or greenhouse with a heat lamp. Indoor winter/bad-weather quarters per the official formula length = 8 × carapace length, width = half the length (so for a 25 cm carapace, about 200×100 cm for two animals), at least 1.5–2 m² per animal.

Substrate

A garden-soil, sand and loam mix they can dig in; leaf litter or hay for structure

Feeding

Food

Strictly herbivorous: fibre-rich wild herbs (dandelion, plantain, clover, thistle) and flowers; no fruit and no animal protein; calcium (cuttlebone)

Feeding interval

wild herbs freely available every day, no overfeeding, one fasting day a week; juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

males 13–21 cm, females 16–26 cm carapace length; individual females over 30 cm (the largest hermanni form)

Life expectancy

50–90+ years

Origin

The southern and south-eastern Balkans: Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, European Turkey, Romania

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex A: an EU certificate (the yellow CITES form with photo documentation), plus registration and marking duties

Brumation

Yes — annual winter dormancy, 3–5 months at 4–6 °C (roughly late October/November to March) in moist substrate or in a fridge; officially prescribed as overwintering and essential for metabolism and life expectancy.

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is straightforward. Group keeping only as one male with several (2–3 or more) females in a large outdoor enclosure with visual barriers; never two males (territorial fights, and constant courtship stresses the females)

Notes

The most commonly kept tortoise, robust and beginner-friendly. Common mistakes: overwintered too warm or too damp, overfeeding and protein (pyramiding, kidney damage), and vitamin D deficiency without UVB or sun.

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Related species

• Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) – Intermediate to expert
• Marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata) – Beginner to intermediate
• Hermann's tortoise – Dalmatian (Testudo hermanni hercegovinensis) – Beginner
• Hermann's tortoise – western (Testudo hermanni hermanni) – Beginner to intermediate
• Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) – Beginner
• Spur-thighed tortoise – Armenian (Testudo graeca armeniaca) – Intermediate
• Spur-thighed tortoise – Golan (Testudo graeca terrestris) – Intermediate
• Spur-thighed tortoise – Iberian (Testudo graeca graeca) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Hermann's tortoise – eastern (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (outdoor keeping is mandatory: an outdoor enclosure of at least 10 m² for the first adult animal, at least 5 m² more for each additional one, plus a cold frame or greenhouse with a heat lamp. Indoor winter/bad-weather quarters per the official formula length = 8 × carapace length, width = half the length (so for a 25 cm carapace, about 200×100 cm for two animals), at least 1.5–2 m² per animal.), substrate (A garden-soil, sand and loam mix they can dig in; leaf litter or hay for structure), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.