hiya i wonder if anyone could help me i have a 2 year old girl called shelby shes a lovely little thing but i have a little problem. when i got shelby the lady said she was a hermann but when i had a closer look i found she had spurs on her back legs i think i,m right in saying that hermanns dont have spurs also darren said she might be a marinated tortoise i just dont know i,ve enclosed a few photos thank you from ellen

Hi Ellen

Well Shelby is definitely not a hermanns, and I dont think she is a marginated either looking at the pattern on her plastron.  I would say she is a graeca, but not sure if she is a graeca graeca or ibera, it is a little difficult to tell as she has grown too fast.  Care for hermanns and graeca is very similar, and you will find some good care sheets in The Tortoise section of the website.

Out of interest, did you buy Shelby or rehome her?

all the best

Arlene

Hi Ellen,

Is there any chance you would be able to get photos of the parents. She is a little unusual and does have some Marginated traits - though the plastron is wrong.
As Arlene has said she definitely isn't a Hermanns and from the plastron shot, not 100% Margie either. Defintely a Spur-Thighed tortoise - but I have to say I'm not sure where from?

hiya darren no i hav nt got any photos of her parents the lady who i got her off said she had had her since she was 3 months old but some things dont seem to ring true when i got her she was in a viv she said she was advived to keep her in a viv and i dont think a breeder would advive that kind of treatment for a tortoise her setup seem like something you get from a pet shop and also shelby seem very big for a 2 year old i,m not a expert but from what i,ve read or pick up from you guys i hope i can give shelby a long and healty life well i can do my best thank you for all your help. from both shelby and ellen

Good for you:-)

Hi,

She looks the same as mine, and Darren (with Nina's help) identified her as a Testudo Gracea Ibera....Nina has some pics of my Annabel and was going to put them on the site, so others could ID the Ibera.

If you want me to send them again....I will.

K

yes please would be nice if you would do that thank you from shelby and ellen

Here is my Annabel as requested, a Testudo Gracea Ibera.

thank you for all your help and annabel is lovely ty again from ellen and shelby