Flash the Hermann’s Tortoise
They were surrendered to JRAAR on 2/28/26
From the owner:
Hello my name is Flash. I am an Eastern Hermann Tortoise. My birthday is November 1, 2013. I was born in the San Diego Zoo! I was purchased at a pet store, lived with a family in Fond du Lac for 6 years and then a family in De Pere for 4 years. ------------------------------------Flash eats red leaf lettuce (I get it at pick n save) every morning (he’s ready at 7:30 am!) and new water. You can dump the water into his bedding. It’s good to keep the bedding moist.The amount of lettuce to give each morning: Pretend his shell is a bowl, when upside down, you would fill it with lettuce.He gets a pinch of hay once a week, toss if wet. He gets a soak two times a week in warm water for 10 minutes. The water is not deep, no more than an inch. Many times he pees and poops in his soak. His peep will be white from the vitamins he gets. I dump the dirty water down the toilet. I add cups of new water to his bedding and fluff it up with a glove on while he is soaking. His bedding shouldn’t be super dry often. He gets vitamins on his lettuce: fine powder gets sprinkled on his food 1 time a week (not near him as it is dusty)Also, calcium powder (thicker) gets sprinkled on lettuce 3 times a week. Change rocks around in his enclosure every few days (don’t put them under lights, they will get too hot) to keep his environment interesting for him to explore. When it is 70 degrees out he can go outside! We avoid areas that have pesticides sprayed on them. He can move quickly, so keep an eye on him! In the warmer months, he loves dandelions (the flowers and the greens)!He loves strawberries, bananas, and cucumbers but in very small quantities! They say too much will hurt their tummies or they may not eat lettuce and hold out for those treats. I give him one of those “treats” about once a week or so. He loves hibiscus flowers and pumpkin! He loves gentle scratches on his shell every day with his tooth brush.Tortoises kept indoors require two main types of artificial lighting to survive and remain healthy: a UVB light (ultraviolet B) for Vitamin synthesis and bone health, and a heat lamp (often providing UVA) for basking and metabolism. These bulbs ensure proper calcium absorption and thermoregulation, preventing diseases like Metabolic Bone Disease (MBDWe had his lights on a timer. They would go from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm.Change his light bulbs every 6 months to a year. Change his bedding completely out after a year. It is a compressed coconut fiber substrate. Flash was brought to the vet in 2025, where he got his nails and beak trimmed. He is a sweet boy. We hope you provide a loving home for him <3
