Tortoises, Turtles & Red Eared Terrapins

Tortoises (Hermanns / Spur Thighed)

Basic Statistics:

  • Average Lifespan 50-75 years
  • Age at puberty 10 years
  • Average Incubation 80-110 days
  • Adult weight 1 kg approximately
  • Singly vs. multiple- Either is appropriate, but generally kept in same sex groups or mating pairs to prevent biting etc.

General Facts

  • Dietary Requirements
    – Good variety of mixed leafy greens.
    – Outdoors- dandelions, vetches, watercress and occasional slugs and insects.
    Indoors- beet greens, kale, alfalfa and cabbage. Supplement with a good quality vitamin/ mineral supplement.
    – Avoid pesticides and poisonous plants (check hermann-tortoise.co.uk/care).
    Water should be provided in a shallow, sturdy dish to allow the tortoise to submerge its head.
  • Environmental Requirements
    – Enclosed garden or pen with access to a kennel/ hutch in a sunny position.
    – A well ventilated greenhouse would be suitable for kennel/ hutch once the tortoise has ready access to the outdoors if it becomes too hot.
    – Hibernation- healthy turtles of appropriate weight and size can be hibernated in an appropriate container for the winter months (please check with your vet that your tortoise can withstand hibernation). Ill or underweight tortoises should be overwintered indoors and not hibernated. They should be kept in an enclosure with a full spectrum UV light for 13-14 hours daily, and temperatures of between 20-16 degrees Celcius maintained.

Preventative Medicine

  • A Veterinary check soon after purchase and yearly thereafter.

Common Ailments

  • Pnemonia
  • Hypovitaminosis A
  • Stomatitis
  • Nutritional Osteodystrophy- poor Ca/P supplementation
  • Post hibernation anorexia
  • Penile proplapse

Turtles (Map turtle)

Basic Statistics:

  • Average Lifespan 30-40 years
  • Age at maturity- males 4-6 years, females 8-14 years.
  • Average incubation 50-70 days
  • Adult weight 0.5-2.5 kg
  • Singly vs. multiple- usually singly or in mating pairs.

General Facts

  • Dietary Requirements
    –     Carnivorous- cray fish snails, insects, worms and occasional duckweed and water plant species for hatchlings.
    – Commercially prepared diets now available and are a good well balanced option.
    – Feed adults 2-3 times weekly
    – Calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation ie. Dusting feed is useful.
    – Cuttlefish bones can be given.
    – Water supplied via aquarium
  • Environmental Requirements
    –     Aquarium 30-50 gallon depending on age/ size.
    – Water depth 7.5-20 cm depth ( again depending on age) with a dry basking spot built up with rocks at one end.
    – Water filter is essential and frequent water changes for hatchlings will be required.
    – Heat source- heat lamp to provide 90 degrees Fahrenheit in basking spot. Overall temp range 65-90 degrees Fahrenheit.
    – Light source- full spectrum UV light left on for 12 hours daily.

Preventative Medicine

  • Veterinary check soon after purchase, yearly thereafter.

Common Ailments

  • Pneumonia
  • Hypovitaminosis A- causes oedema of skin and eyelids, and abcesses- usually due to  poor diet.
  • Cutaneous ulcerative disease- poor water quality
  • Nutritional Osteodystrophy- shell deformation due to inadequate Ca:P
  • Penile prolapse
  • Dystocia, egg binding

Red Eared Terrapin

Please note there are legal restrictions regarding the sale and import of this species both in Europe and the USA.  They may not be ideal family pets due to potential to harbour salmonella and biting/scratching when mature

Basic Statistics:

  • Average lifespan  30-40 years
  • Age at puberty  Males 2-4 years, Females 5-7 years
  • Average incubation 50-70 days
  • Adult weight 0.75 – 1.5kg
  • Singly vs multiply – usually singly or in mating pairs

General Facts

  • Dietary Requirements
    –     Carnivorous- cray fish snails, insects, sprats, worms and occasional duckweed, watercress and water plant species for hatchlings.  Red eared terrapin tned to become more herbivorous with age so the diet can be altered accordingly
    – Commercially prepared diets now available and are a good well balanced option.
    – Feed adults 2-3 times weekly
    – Calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation ie. Dusting feed is useful.
    – Cuttlefish bones can be given.
    – To keep the tank clean feed terrapins in a separate container and allow them to stay in it for 10 -15 minutes following eating to pass urine/faeces.
    – Water supplied via aquarium
  • Environmental Requirements
    –     Aquarium 30-50 gallon depending on age/ size.
    – Water depth 7.5-20 cm depth (again depending on age) with a dry basking spot built up with rocks at one end.  The basking spot should have a slope in to the water for ease of access.
    – Water filter is essential and frequent water changes for hatchlings will be required.  A mild disinfectant should be used a teach water change (e.g.dilute betadine)
    – Heat source- heat lamp to provide 38C in basking spot. Overall temp range 36 – 38C.
    – Light source- full spectrum UV light left on for 12 hours daily.
    – Water temperature 24-26C daytime and reduce by 5C at night time
    – Hibernation – healthy turtles of appropriate weight and size can be hibernated in an appropriate container for the winter months (please check with your vet that your turtles can withstand hibernation). Ill or underweight turtles should be overwintered indoors and not hibernated.

Preventative Medicine

  • A veterinary check soon after purchase, yearly thereafter.

Common Ailments

  • Pneumonia
  • Hypovitaminosis A- causes oedema of skin and eyelids, and abcesses- usually due to poor diet.
  • Cutaneous ulcerative disease- poor water quality
  • Nutritional Osteodystrophy- shell deformation due to inadequate Ca:P
  • Penile prolapse
  • Dystocia, egg binding