Help needed

[Debbie Rickards]

Hello I am new to the tortoise world and have been given a beautiful approximately 5 year old female tortoise I believe she is a Herman’s tortoise she has grown quite a bit in the ten months I have had her now in this time she has laid eggs which was a surprise I give her plenty of vitamins but I have noticed she has a graze on her back leg which could be her shell rubbing on her leg now I am unsure what to do about this please help it’s not bleeding but it is red raw also how big will she get the man that gave her to me had two a male and female and they didn’t get on they were on a small tortoise table she now has a large vivarium 4feet ( I have cats ) and she has grown a lot my son said they grow to the size of their cage is that true ? As I am thinking of getting her a bigger vivarium now she does spend a lot of time out just walking around the house when I am watching her and in the garden weather permitting sorry for the long post all help would be gratefully received thank you x

 

[Maro2Bear]

Greetings…

You can put your mind at ease today, a tortoise won’t “grow to the size of its cage“ like your son suggested. A tortoises DNA is programmed to grow to the size of said species. That said, a very very small enclosure doesnt give a tortoise room to roam, move & properly exercise and can severely limit their growth. Conversely, a nice large open space provides a tort what it needs.

Take a read here…. https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/

and Welcome to the Forum

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Debbie and welcome to the Forum. Here's a bit of friendly advice: Please use punctuation when posting. With your very long post it's hard to understand what you're saying when the sentences all run together.

Your tortoise would be much better off outside. Can you possible set her up in a safe, outdoor area?

 

[Debbie Rickards]

Greetings…

You can put your mind at ease today, a tortoise won’t “grow to the size of its cage“ like your son suggested. A tortoises DNA is programmed to grow to the size of said species. That said, a very very small enclosure doesnt give a tortoise room to roam, move & properly exercise and can severely limit their growth. Conversely, a nice large open space provides a tort what it needs.

Take a read here…. https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/

and Welcome to the Forum

Thank you so much this is really helpful

 

[Debbie Rickards]

Hi Debbie and welcome to the Forum. Here's a bit of friendly advice: Please use punctuation when posting. With your very long post it's hard to understand what you're saying when the sentences all run together.

Your tortoise would be much better off outside. Can you possible set her up in a safe, outdoor area?

Oh sorry I am not very good with the iPad . She can only be outside when I am outside to supervise there are to many predators she wouldn’t be safe .

 

[Debbie Rickards]

U

Oh sorry I am not very good with the iPad . She can only be outside when I am outside to supervise there are to many predators she wouldn’t be safe .

 

[Maro2Bear]

Thank you so much this is really helpful

Sure…

There’s an entire section with other tidbits of great info (much from guru Chris).

https://www.tortoiseforum.org/forums/hermanns-tortoises.80/

 

[Lyn W]

Hi and welcome.
This is the most up to date caresheet that will also help you provide the right living conditions and diet etc

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

It's aimed at hatchlings but there is a lot that will still be relevant for older torts.

Most of their vitamins should come from a good varied diet and too many can cause problems. Non specialist vets often like to give vitamin shots but they can do more than good, so members are often advised to refuse them unless bloods have been taken and there is definite proof they are deficient.
A small pinch of calcium a couple of times a week and the same for something like Nutrabal, is all that is needed. You could put a cuttlefish bone (as sold for birds but with cage clips removed) in the enclosure for her to nibble if she wants but they are often ignored most of the time.
www.thetortoisetable.org.uk is a good guide to tort safe foods.

If you post pics of her enclosure you'll get good feed back to make sure she has everything she needs and pics of the graze on her leg will also help. At her age a minimum space of 4 x 8 feet is recommended so that she has space to roam.

 

[Karen(pebbles)]

Hi Debbie and welcome to the forum

 

[zolasmum]

Hello I am new to the tortoise world and have been given a beautiful approximately 5 year old female tortoise I believe she is a Herman’s tortoise she has grown quite a bit in the ten months I have had her now in this time she has laid eggs which was a surprise I give her plenty of vitamins but I have noticed she has a graze on her back leg which could be her shell rubbing on her leg now I am unsure what to do about this please help it’s not bleeding but it is red raw also how big will she get the man that gave her to me had two a male and female and they didn’t get on they were on a small tortoise table she now has a large vivarium 4feet ( I have cats ) and she has grown a lot my son said they grow to the size of their cage is that true ? As I am thinking of getting her a bigger vivarium now she does spend a lot of time out just walking around the house when I am watching her and in the garden weather permitting sorry for the long post all help would be gratefully received thank you x

Welcome from Devon -we have a Hermann's too - he is nearly 22 years old, and is unlikely to grow much more - I measured him just now, and he is about 7 inches long - he has a little translucent shell growth round the edges of his shell, which has been like that for a long time, and he weighs about 1 kilo. I think he is a smallish specimen, but very strong and healthy. I think females tend to be a bit larger, but not excessively. Your son is totally wrong !!
As for the graze on her leg, just feel the edge of her shell,and if it is at all sharp or rough, try filing a tiny bit off, and then a tiny bit more in a day or two. It shouldn't hurt her. I am not sure what would be best to put on the graze, but keeping it clean with warm water will help. I put a little bandage on Zola's arm when he grazed it, and it didn't bother him at all.
Best wishes
Angie

 

[Debbie Rickards]

Sure…

There’s an entire section with other tidbits of great info (much from guru Chris).

https://www.tortoiseforum.org/forums/hermanns-tortoises.80/

Thank you I am trying to find out as much as I can so I can give her the best life possible I have never had a tortoise before

 

[zolasmum]

Thank you I am trying to find out as much as I can so I can give her the best life possible I have never had a tortoise before

This is a wonderful place to get information, and people who know what they are talking about, and can advise you on just about anything related to tortoise care. I wish it had been around when we got Zola - there was very little information, and we just had to do the best we could. I know there are things we could have done better, if we had known. However, he has turned out a happy little chap - and has transformed our lives.
Angie