What type of Hermann's?
- Thread starter Anastasia
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(LMK if more photos or different angles are needed.)
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- The Catskill Mountains of New York State
They are both Eastern Hermann's, Testudo hermanni boettgeri. Probably a bit too small to accurately determine gender yet. But giving a premature guess the tortoise on the left is most likely a male, the one on the right might be a female.
Since I posted this, Hermann, the guy on the right has had a sudden HUGE growth spurt of the tail! Guess that answers that one! Now here's to hoping that if Crunchy Dave turns out to be male as well, that they aren't too hostile to one another! Hermann has been mounting Dave the last couple weeks, and also knocking him over somehow even tho Dave is a bit bigger. UGH!!
This mounting can happen even between females. It's a sign of dominance.
The less dominant tortoise may become withdrawn, stop eating, and become ill. You need to keep a very close eye on this. If it persists, you must separate them and it may have to be permanent.
Hermanns, like all testudo are solitary in the wild. They meet up to mate and move on. They don't get lonely and they don't need, or want, company. The close confines of captivity, particularly in smaller indoor spaces, can bring out the worst in them as they mature... mounting, butting and biting can result in the death of the less dominant tortoise.
Groups of 3 or more can work in large outdoor areas where there isn't just one victim of the dominant tort's attention and there's loads of space to hide away from attention.
They look so cute together when they are small, but rapidly they grow into what they really are... a solitary species.
The less dominant tortoise may become withdrawn, stop eating, and become ill. You need to keep a very close eye on this. If it persists, you must separate them and it may have to be permanent.
Hermanns, like all testudo are solitary in the wild. They meet up to mate and move on. They don't get lonely and they don't need, or want, company. The close confines of captivity, particularly in smaller indoor spaces, can bring out the worst in them as they mature... mounting, butting and biting can result in the death of the less dominant tortoise.
Groups of 3 or more can work in large outdoor areas where there isn't just one victim of the dominant tort's attention and there's loads of space to hide away from attention.
They look so cute together when they are small, but rapidly they grow into what they really are... a solitary species.
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