Messaggioda Maria » gio dic 14, 2006 5:45 pm
Dear frieds,
I am pressed to write in English now, because I am afraid to have insufficient Italian words to give enough clear explanation to you!
Yes, of course, on two outside pictures, it is very easy to see some pieces of Watermelons (Coccomero), Tomatoes, etc… Of course, it is common food for my Hermann’s and I am giving it regularly.
So, the only problem is, “how to see this type of foods on winter time”, if I understood your questions well!? My answer is very simple, as follows:
a) I am always transferring temperate species, i.e. species with winter hibernation, from open area, i.e. from my garden (gardinaio, ortaio, o frutaio) to 8 smaller rooms, fully covered in winter. The reason is, to protect them of hard winter(on my place, very frequently temperature going down to – 200C, sometimes less than 250C). So, independing they will go into ground themselves in arrival of cold days, it is much better to transfer them inside, than to have some unexpected loss of them during winter;
b) exact date of their transfer to inside rooms, depend on outside temperature. Of course, it is always necessary to move Greek’s Tortoises earlier, than Marginated and finaly Hermann’s, too. Sometimes, due to low temperature, I am begin with their transfer on second half of October, and it is O.K. But, sometimes, the whole November is still good to keep Hermann’s outside, and I do it!
c) Anyway, indepedning we had 2/3 of current November as very good weather (and, first 10 days of December, too), I transferred all temperate Tortoises of mine inside before 25th of October, this year. The reason is, we had some very cold days over here on my place at end of October, and as second, I was build now place for Tortoises and Turles on my farm, and it was important to have free space for movements and work on that time;
d) together with different types of Lactuca salads, different types of Radichio, cucumber, gourds, etc…, I am usually feeding my Hermann’s with Watermelons, and this vegetables are giving well to my Tortoises. Watermelons are having not high livel of proteins, but they are having enough livel of sugar to give energy to them, and also they are make cleaning of their urogenital tract. So, when available, I am always using Watermelons as good food for them.
In past, of course, (15 year ago and over) Watermelon season on my place was very short – from beginning of August till beginning of October, becuase we had not early hybrids of them and their growth on Gourds root. Now, i.e. in past 10 years at least, the first Watermelons are appearing on the market in beginning of June, and season is closing not before middle of October, sometimes up to end of October. I do not know what is exact situation in Italy, but due to much better weather over there, Watermelons should appear on the market maybe in May already, and keep available to November!?
- anyway, I am using Watermelons in Totoises diet till end, i.e. till last of them appear on the market. As you know very well, too, on common market the people buying last Watermelons not for direct human consumption, than to place them into brine (pickle foods) or preserves. It is usually in my country. So, we do not eat last Watermelons available on the market, but Tortoises eat them very well!
e) I cannot remember, when I made 4 photos of adult Hermann’s of mine exactly, but it was in last third of October surely. You can see easy, these photos were not made on Summer season surely, than in late Autumn season. Anyway, independing many of them were already in try to find good sleeping place in small room (2.00 x 2.00 metters of inside space) some of them still walked around, looking for food. And, some pieces of Watermelons were offered to them!
So, I hope, it is nothing strange in it now. Right now, I am still feeding some cold climate species by Watermelons. Small Brazilian Watermelons are available on the market for the whole winter (expensive, of course), and some of my Tortoises are crazy in this vegetable!
Thanks for understanding!
Warmest regards, Marco