Do temperature increases provoke breeding?

[Neltharion]

We've had pretty atypical weather here in Northern California. Its been cooler up until now. The temps have risen the past several days. We hit over 100F today.

What was interesting when it cooled down in the early evening, I placed a handful of greens into the temporary enclosure. As I was walking away I heard a 'squeaking' noise. At first I was worried that one of them was wheezing, so I went back to look and saw the bigger male, Neptune mounted on the back of Vesta. He didn't stop there. He proceeded to mount the other three females that were trying to eat, Minvera, Hecate, and finally Juno. I was unaware that the hermann's males would make the squeaking noise when mating. My Russians don't. This was also his first attempt. He hasn't done this before to my knowledge.

Neptune is 4.5", so I'm not sure he's quite big enough yet. The females are 4.75", 5", 5.5", and 5.5" so I'm not expecting any eggs this year, hopefully the two biggest will be ready next year.

I guess after all of that hard 'work' he was hungry and settled down to eat.

 

[GBtortoises]

Temperature increases breeding activity with Hermann's and other Northern Mediterranean species along with an increase in light intensity and duration. Environmental conditions such as ambient humidity and other factors often play a part also.

At 4.5" with 4.75-5.5" females, he's big enough and so are 3 out of 4 of the females. Eastern females will often begin producing eggs at around 5" scl.

Whether or not the females are "in season" and will allow the male to actually copulate with them is a different story. A male constantly mounting females isn't a sure sign of true breeding. It's just a sign of an anxious male! Female Hermann's show that they're ready after being courted, which involves the male biting and ramming at them to get them to stop, when they sit, usually with their head and front legs drawn in somewhat, back end slightly lifted for easy access and actually allow the male to mount them and stay there through copulation.

 

[Neltharion]

All except the smallest female did nothing and allowed him to mount them. The smallest female continually tried to run away. I thought I had read somewhere that minimum size for the females was six inches, and minimum size for the males was five, so I didn't think that they were quite ready. We'll see if I have to go out and buy another incubator.

 

[GBtortoises]

Most Eastern males are capable of successfully breeding when as small as 4.5" with a smaller female. Many females will begin producing fertile eggs when as small as 5". I have female that was barely 5" 20 years ago when she started producing fertile eggs. Today she is fully grown at 6". Not all Eastern Hermann's are the same size as mature adults. Males can vary from 5" to 7", some occasionally larger. Females can range in size from about 6" to 9", rarely, but occasionally larger. Their size in the wild varies based on geographic populations.