Re: Eating habits (Read)

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Posted by Matt Hybel on September 25, 2000 at 11:53:14:

In Reply to: Eating habits/age questions??? posted by Deb on September 24, 2000 at 18:31:43:

I currently have a Hermann's tortoise, related to russians as they both belong the group of tortoises referred to as "Mediterraneans", from NW Africa around the Mediterranean Sea to Western France.

I like the book on Mediterraneans by Brian Pursall (TFH pubs.). He describes the behavior of Mediterraneans to come out of burrows/hiding places in the morning to bask in the sun to warm up and then begin grazing.

I have found with the Hermann's, and a Russian I used to have, that with an incandescent 60- or 75-watt bult they come out every morning to bask under it and then go looking for food.

The hermann's currently and the russian previously ate every day with this basking spot in place. I also used Reptisun UV lamps for more widespread light as well. The only exception was a few times when, without external heat, the room became unusually cool and the russian would stay hidden for a few days, but resumed usual basking/eating when I put saran wrap over the usually-open areas of the enclosure to trap enough heat to bring the ambient temperature up to usual for the tortoise.

Hope this helps, good luck.

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: I currently have a Hermann's tortoise, related to russians as they both belong the group of tortoises referred to as "Mediterraneans", from NW Africa around the Mediterranean Sea to Western France. : I like the book on Mediterraneans by Brian Pursall (TFH pubs.). He describes the behavior of Mediterraneans to come out of burrows/hiding places in the morning to bask in the sun to warm up and then begin grazing. : I have found with the Hermann's, and a Russian I used to have, that with an incandescent 60- or 75-watt bult they come out every morning to bask under it and then go looking for food. : The hermann's currently and the russian previously ate every day with this basking spot in place. I also used Reptisun UV lamps for more widespread light as well. The only exception was a few times when, without external heat, the room became unusually cool and the russian would stay hidden for a few days, but resumed usual basking/eating when I put saran wrap over the usually-open areas of the enclosure to trap enough heat to bring the ambient temperature up to usual for the tortoise. : Hope this helps, good luck.

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