Found a Hermann's Tortoise?

Question

I found a small tortoise on the side of the road in a residential area of Northern California. It looks to be a Hermann's Tortoise. I have it in a box with grass/turf, some cantalope and honeydew melon and shredded carrots. Until I can find a home for it what else do I do with it? It is outdoors in the shade as it is about 100 here today. Should I just leave it where it is for the evening? Gets down to about 65 at night. As the tortoise appears to be very afraid of people I hate to stress it out but it was going to be a speed bump if we left it there.

Answer 1

I copied this info. sorry it's s long.

The tortoise is a living fossil having survived since the dawn of the age of reptiles, 200 million years ago. Collection for exportation and habitat destruction have dramatically reduced populations in their native countries around the Mediterranean like France, Spain, Italy, the former Yugoslavia, Turkey, Greece and northern Africa. In Britain, with wet summers and cold damp winters, they are outside their distribution range, but if basic guidelines are followed, a captive tortoise can have as long and happy a life as possible.

TORTOISES AND THE LAW

In 1984 it was agreed with the EEC Council to treat three species of Mediterranean tortoise (the Spur-thighed, Hermann's and Marginated Tortoise from Greece) according to Appendix 1 of the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The Egyptian Tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) was added to Appendix I in 1994. This meant that these four species were protected and commercial trade strictly prohibited. For the sale, exchange or barter of these protected tortoises by private individuals a licence is required, obtainable from the Department of the Environment in Bristol. This licence applies to the selling of eggs as well, but not to the giving away of either tortoises or eggs. When answering advertisements ask for the licence number. The ban does not apply to some tortoises from tropical and non-temperate areas imported into Britain after 1984. Three American Box Turtles, (Terrapene carolina, T ornata and T nelsoni) are now included in Appendix II in which trade is closely monitored.

COMMON MEDITERRANEAN TORTOISES SPECIES

The species of Mediterranean tortoise most commonly imported into Britain have been the Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca) and the Hermann's Tortoise (Testudo hermanni). The Spur-thighed Tortoise is further divided into sub-species with a main division between Europe and northern Africa. They are in an active state of evolution and not fully understood. The Hermann's tortoise, with two recognised sub-species, exists in the south of France, on the coastlines of Italy and the former Yugoslavia and on islands in the Mediterranean. The Spur-thighed Tortoise has a spur on either side of the tail, whereas the Hermann's Tortoise has a single horny claw at the tip of the tail (see diagram). In both species. the male can be recognised by the longer, narrower and more pointed tail some males have a concave plastron.  

Hermann's Tortoise

Mediterranean Spur-thighed Tortoise

A tortoise's body is surrounded by a protective shell with an upper part (the carapace) and a lower part (the plastron), both of which are made up of individual bony plates and horny scutes. The upper and lower parts of the shell are joined by bridges between the fore- and hind limbs. The vertebrae of the backbone are fused to the carapace, as are the scapulae (shoulder blades) and pelvis (hip girdles). The lungs are located in the top third of the carapace and below are the other body organs. The lungs during breathing, are inflated and deflated using the muscles of the front legs. Tortoises, like most reptiles, are ectothermic and rely on an external heat source (the sun) to raise their body temperature sufficiently for them to be alert, feed and digest their food. They are inactive in cold weather.

HUSBANDRY AND HOUSING

Tortoises like roaming about, so if possible make the garden completely escape-proof. Walled gardens are ideal but if you have to pen your tortoise in, allow at least 10 square metres per tortoise and make sure that the animal can neither climb over nor burrow under the surround. Wire or wooden pens should be at least 40cm (16 ins) high, buried to a depth of 10cm (4 ins), with wooden stakes as support. Garden ponds should be adequately covered to prevent risk of drowning. A well ventilated greenhouse with access to a clover lawn and a paved sunbathing area is ideal for tortoises as in both spring and autumn the animals will be able to heat up sufficiently to feed well, thereby extending their year and shortening their hibernation period. A lower pane of glass can be replaced with a panel of wood with an entrance hole or cat flap in it, thus ensuring that the tortoises can escape from overheating on the hottest summer days. Never attempt tethering a tortoise by string round the leg which will cut off blood circulation and may result in gangrene or by boring holes through the shell, which will cut through live tissue and cause pain or infection. A waterproof house in a sunny position is essential to protect the tortoise from extremes of cold, wet and heat. It should be of a wooden construction, preferably covered with roofing felt and be slightly raised to prevent the floor from becoming damp. It can be lined with thick newspaper or dried leaves. If you have several tortoises, it is advisable to separate the males and females as the males often engage in female shell-butting and leg biting as part of their courtship. Females constantly exposed to this treatment and unable to escape will feed less, produce eggs less frequently and will eventually suffer from extensive shell and leg damage with an increased likelihood of infections.

WATERING

Contrary to belief tortoises do drink, especially on waking from hibernation, when a warm bath is usually appreciated . A shallow dish about 10 cm (4 ins) deep, should be sunk into the ground to allow the animals to submerge their heads Into the water. Allow for easy access into and out of the dish.

FEEDING

Tortoises need a diet which is high in dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals, but low in fat and proteins and feed mainly on green leaves. If your tortoise has the run of a garden it will forage quite successfully for itself on  Dandelion, Trefoils, Honeysuckle, Cat's ears, Vetches, Sow thistle, Hawk bits, Hawkweed, Plantains, lover (Red & White), Pansies, Rose Leaves and petals, Hibiscus, Mallows, Grape vine leaves, Agave plant, Mulberry leaves, Bindweeds, Opuntia cacti pads and fruit, Roman or red leaf lettuce, Watercress, Endive, Escarole and Chicory. Beware of weed killers and slug pellets. In the wild, tortoises are opportunistic feeders and they will on occasion tackle carrion and dung. Their digestive systems are, however, geared towards the digestion of leaves, including cellulose, so a wide variety of greens must be offered and the diet should be as varied as possible with leaves, vegetables and as well as proprietary vitamin and mineral supplements such as Vionate or the Vetark range (Arkvits, Nutrobal AceHigh) obtainable via most veterinary surgeons or via a very good pet shop. The following foods can be tried: cabbage, Beet greens, Kale, Alfala Hays and finely chopped carrots but should only be offered occasionally. A varied diet is recommended and one guided by the wild situation.

Nearly all the plants mentioned above can be obtained from the Wild Flower company in seed form, the address is

John Chambers

Wild Flowers Seeds

15 Westleigh Road

Barton Seagrave

Kettering

Northhamptonshire

NN15 5AJ

Or telephone for a catalogue 01933 652562 Fax [phone]

EDIBLE AND NON EDIBLE FLOWERS FOR TORTOISES

To ensure a balance please grow as many different varieties as you can

GARDEN PLANTS

Malva - (mallow) leaves & flowers

Lavertera - (mallow) - flowers & leaves

Nasturtium - leaves & flowers

Hibiscus - Flowers especially, also leaves

Gazania - flowers & leaves

Aubretia - leaves & flowers

Wallflowers - (erysimum annual & biennial varieties) leaves & flowers

Sedum spectabilis - leaves (other pink flowered alpines sedums are also consumed)

Kalanchoe - leaves especially

Pansies - leaves and flowers

Hosta - leaves

Hemerocallis - (day lily) flowers

Anagallis Linifolia - (annual) leaves & flowers

Sempervivum (house leeks) - leaves

Meconopsis Cambrica (Welsh Poppy) - leaves & occasional flowers

Mesembryantemums (annual) - flowers & leaves

Nemesia - leaves & occasionally flowers

Rose - petals only

Mimulus (annual) - especially flowers

Petunia - leaves & flowers

Perennial Geraniums ( alpine & dwarf) especially flowers,leaves also eaten

Sweet Woodruff (galium odoratum)*

Mysotis (forget-me-nots) - leaves consumed occasionally

Pelagonium - leaves & flowers

Begonia Semperflorens - flowers & leaves( suggest avoid all tuberous begonias however, as may be toxic)

Echolozia (californian poppy) - flowers

Ameria (thrift ) - flowers

Antirrhinum - leaves & flowers

Osteospermum - flowers & leaves eaten occasionally

Hebe - round or dark leaved varieties may be nibbled*

Fushia - leaves & flowers eaten occasionally

Corepsis - flowers

Tagetes - Flowers

Mimulus Aurantica - flowers

Cornflower - leaves nibbled with young plants

Opunia Cactus - spineless or semi spineless varieties

Agave

**** Dwarf or small hebes are ideal for tortoise garden planting providing both dapples shade and the occasional nibble. Sweet woodruff is more useful as a low growing evergreen shelter plant, but is occasionally eaten. In general, tortoises do not like herbs and actively avoid those with very strongly scented leaves.

Poisonous Plants

Keepers can be very worried about tortoises eating poisonous plants. In reality, the risk is small as tortoises will naturally avoid them.

Occasional cases of poisoning, even death, have been recorded through accidental ingestion of some garden plants, and it is therefore best to exclude these from tortoise habitats, or at the very least ensure they are nor grown in close proximity with edible plants and weeds.

As a guide, common plants to be avoided include: Dafodil-Narciusis-Hellebores-Hypericum-(... called Rose of Sharon, not to be confused with the Hibiscus variety Rose of Sharon which is quite edible)-Hydrangea-Convallaria (lily of the valley)-Euphorbias-Digitalis(foxglove)-N...

(tobacco plant)-Rhododendrons & Azal