Tortoise found in backyard!

Nebulous

Nebulous

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So I go in my backyard today. I moved one of my garbage bins and what did I find underneath it???

This guy:
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I made him a little habitat by taking a pet carrier (for a dog or cat) apart and zip-tying the two pieces together. I had a heat lamp from a lizard I had years ago...

Here's his house:
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...Anyway, I knocked on my immediate neighbors doors and asked them if they lost a turtle/tortoise and they said no.

I know that tortoise's eat veggies so I made him/her a plate of lettuce and broccoli.

I have a few questions to anyone who knows turtles/tortoises:
- What type of tortoise is it?
- How do I figure out how old it is? (it seems pretty big)
- How do I figure out if it is male or female?
- Is the soil I put in there a good bedding or should I use something else?
- Should I add or take out anything from it's habitat?
- What should I feed it?
 
I posted on a Tortoise forum I found on google and they all said it was a "Sulcata" tortoise. At least now I know what to research for. 🙂
 
Apparently his shell is so bumpy because he is unhealthy. It should be a smooth rounded shell.

Its called "pyramiding"
Caused by:
A) A diet which contains animal proteins (many tortoises are vegetarian animals, and eat NO meat whatsoever.)
B) A diet which contains a high percentage of vegetable proteins, even for vegetarian tortoises.
C) Not enough calcium in the diet. Calcium is very important for proper growth!
D) Little or no exposure to natural sunlight. Tortoises kept indoors are much more prone.
E) Inadequate intake of Vitamin D3 in the diet and/or too much Phosphorus.
F) Intake of grocery produce which contains too much moisture, has little vitamin content and not nearly enough fiber.

So apparently the best way to take care of a tortoise like this is to get some chicken wire, fence off an area in the back yard and let him roam free munching on weeds and grass.
 
I had a small tortoise in my backyard a few years ago, just chilling by my pool, I figured it came from the lake (as there are a few of them in there) so I put him back, the next day I go outside for a swim and see it just lying there again. So I put it back in and it didn't come back, I wasn't prepared to keep it 😛

Note: I used it as I don't know whether it was a boy or a girl.
 
This type of tortoise gets HUGE:

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Its kind of like having a dog with a shell. :lol:
 
theezy said:
This type of tortoise gets HUGE:


Its kind of like having a dog with a shell. :lol:
Click to expand...

But that would make for one BORING as hell game of FETCH!!! :rofl:
 
Making an outdoor pen for my new turtle. Bought some chicken wire & posts. He likes to dig so the fence is going under the ground almost a foot. I dug about 6 inches until the dirt was too hard. I filled up the trenches with water & it looks like an island with a moat around it. I'd take a picture but it got dark out. Guess I'll finish tomorrow when the water soaks into the ground & makes it easier to dig.
 
So are you going to actually keep the turtle? It might have a family that needs it 😛
 
Well that family hasn't put up flyers or knocked on my door or anything.. Also its obvious this animal wasn't being taken care of properly so I am basically rescuing it.

However... I haven't fully decided that I want to keep it or not yet. My daughter's mom wants him, I could sell it, or give it to a turtle rescue center (there is actually one in my area.. lol).. The pen can be used for other things if I change my mind. 😛
 
Haha smartass 😛

I reckon it'd be a cool pet, and kinda low maintenance after you set everything up. Well don't sell it, either give it to your daughter's mum (if she will look after it and let your daughter have fun with it) or give it to the rescue center, as long as it gets looked after than it's fine 🙂
 
Oh these guys are real bulldozers! :yes: Sorry to see he isn't healthy, it is so sad when people dont look after these creatures. He needs the same high calcium diet as what other reptiles need and you will have to supplement it with calcium powder that you can buy from pet stores.

Here is a link to a high calcium diet that you can use for him, hope it helps you. 😉

http://www.reptileparrots.com/t111-iguana-diet
 
Well the owner came and claimed the turtle. Apparently she lived a couple doors down and came through asking if we have seen the turtle. (guess she missed me the 1st time and I missed her when I went asking)
I told her I had found a turtle. She showed me some pictures of it and it was the same one. Also she had all her kids with her and they were all excited to see him, so I give him back.
She gave me a $20 reward.

Now I have the pen set up in the back yard with no animal to occupy it. Debating on wether or not I should take it down or get my own turtle.
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Lucky man... I have been looking for a tortoise for a long time now in my area. Nothing good seems to pop up. You had my dream come right up to your back yard!
 
CMSVisuals said:
Lucky man... I have been looking for a tortoise for a long time now in my area. Nothing good seems to pop up. You had my dream come right up to your back yard!
Click to expand...
Well he is gone now...
 
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