The Herman tortoise which is a relatively small sized tortoise originated in Europe and is found in almost all coasts of France and also in certain parts of Italy. This tortoise is also found in the nearby islands. This makes it widely popular in Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Albania, Romania, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Greece, Hungary and south Italy. They prefer the widely dense forests of Mediterranean and in the arid regions with rocky hill slopes and scrubby vegetation. These areas make it easier for the Herman tortoise to find its food.

Basically, a Herman tortoise is herbivorous. It largely eats a diet that consists of green leaves and grasses. This tortoise also consumes other vegetables and fruits like the broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, carrots, tomatoes, parsley, Timothy Hay, Alfalfa grass, Bermuda grass, dandelions, weeds, cactus pads, strawberries, bananas, squash, melons, apples, apricots, grapes and peaches. However, it is important that these vegetables and fruits are consumed in smaller quantities. If you have a one as a pet, it is advised not to feed it cabbage as this vegetable and its variants like the iceberg lettuce as these may have a damaging effect. These vegetables have very less nutritional value and once the tortoise starts eating them, it will give up eating other vegetables.