handling

[j.martin]

Hi, new to the site. Getting a hermann who is about 8yrs old on Saturday for my sons 6th birthday. Do they like to be handled, taken to the local forest for a walk about?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi J:

to the forum!

I don't know anything about the Hermann's tortoise, however, I would hesitate to take one of any of my tortoises out into the woods for fear of having them come into contact with something they shouldn't. Also, it is so easy to take your eye off of them for a short while and they quickly disappear.

As with any turtle or tortoise, handling should be quiet and safe. Just imagine a giant picking YOU up off the ground. It could be quite a scary thing. So always be slow and careful, and give him support so he doesn't feel like he's flying through the air.

Yvonne

 

[Isa]

Welcome to the forum
I have an Hermann, I love him, he is just so cute and he has a lot of personality. Hermy does not like to be handled. When I talk to him he listens and he comes to me but he does not like it when I take him in my hand. I guess it depends of the personality of the tortoise.
Here is a super good care sheet for the Hermanns
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-1000.html
and here is a thread with what to feed him
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-5823.html
When are you going to get the little one? Your son must be very excited.

 

[j.martin]

Thanku folks for ur quick replys, much appreciated! Isa thanks 4 ur links i will read with interest. gettin him saturday. my son dosent know , its a big surprise but hes been wantin a pet for ever and im allergic to everything furry!!!!

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I start socializing my tortoises from the very beginning, I think it makes it easier for the Vet to examine them as they are not so quick to close up upon examination. I also thinks it makes for better relationships between me and my animals. My sister and others believe that they are wild animals who don't like to be held or messed with.
I wouldn't take mine out to the woods however. I have a nice yard that I allow them to wander around in. I have pictures somewhere here of Queenie outside and no matter how far away from me I put her she always ran back to me and climbed up on my lap. You might find that thread somewhere here, it's called Queenie outside.
I hold mine and I talk to them and I make sure that they aren't afraid of being held or touched.

 

[j.martin]

omg maggie, that is just adorable. did u have urs from babies tho? This is an 8yr old pre owned tortoise that im gettin from an exotic pet store so i dnt know how it will react to its new family

 

[Maggie Cummings]

omg maggie, that is just adorable. did u have urs from babies tho? This is an 8yr old pre owned tortoise that im gettin from an exotic pet store so i dnt know how it will react to its new family

He will be very shy most likely and won't eat for a couple of days UNLESS his previous keepers socialized him well. Remember, his whole life is in flux so he will be afraid and shy...

 

[Crazy1]

j, I believe like Maggie if you give them time to acclimate to the new environment and hold them quietly and talk with them softly, you can get them to the stage they will come and be content to sit with you at least for a while. It will take quiet, calm and lots of patience. It may be you doing this at first and teaching your 6 year old what it takes to really enjoy his tort. And yes even an older tort can learn.

 

[dmmj]

I also dont know anything about hermanns. but my torts I handle very infrequently. It is just my personal way of doing it and it is not right or wrong, just my way, I do talk to them though. Gratz on the tort BTW