New member with a new tort! :)

[kaia]

Hello everyone!
My name's Adriana, I'm from Skopje, Macedonia and a huge tortoise fan.
Yesterday (07. May) I was given a baby Greek/Russian tortoise (can't tell them apart, I have much to learn), found upside down on a street. Me being the obsessive tort-addict as I am, I just HAD to keep it. This is my 4th tort, the first three I had when I was little and my parents released them after 1-2 weeks in the wild, they figured it would be a big responsibility.
P.S. I also have a turtle. A non-stop hungry red ear slider which I have been keeping for 4 years now. And a dog

So, any tips for a new tortoise owner? (Owner sounds bad, let's just say keeper. One does not simply own a tort, it owns itself.)
I am going shopping for a terrarium today, I already have a heat lamp, I decided to keep Kaia indoors. I intend on planting a few seeds, getting a UV lamp as soon as possible. (did you know that there is NO reptile pet shop/vet in my country? Only for dogs and cats. And no UV lams. Terrible. )
Pictures of Kaia coming soon! (sorry for the long essay )

 

[lismar79]

Are these tortoises native to your country?

 

[kaia]

Are these tortoises native to your country?

Yeah, I guess so. But we have absolutely no laws protecting them (or any sort of animal rights government body for that matter) and this little guy was found by a busy street, with no green area within a 10-mile radius. I figured since (s)he is a baby, it could adapt to the much safer environment than a street. No other animals other than dogs, cats, fish, mice and aquatic turtles can be bought where I come from, there are not enough pet shops :/

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

welcome to the forums! if you post some pics we can help identify it.

 

[kaia]

welcome to the forums! if you post some pics we can help identify it.

First thing I do when I come home is take photos of it
Anyway, I saw spurs on its thighs this morning so I figured it to be a spur-thighed tortoise (Greek after all). I just googled it and it turns out they're endangered. Didn't know that

 

[kaia]

Hello and Welcome

Thank you

 

[tortdad]

First thing I do when I come home is take photos of it
Anyway, I saw spurs on its thighs this morning so I figured it to be a spur-thighed tortoise (Greek after all). I just googled it and it turns out they're endangered. Didn't know that

We'll help you get it set up right

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Welcome.
I'm not sure I've seen another member from Macedonia.
Very nice to have you with us!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Adrianna, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum to you and your tortoise, not forgetting your red-eared slider and dog.
I'm also from a country where tortoise vets and supplies don't exist for torts.
The internet can come in very handy for this.
My girl is a Greek and it sounds like yours is too, though a different subspecies, I would imagine.
Looking forward to seeing the photos.
And keep doggie away from the tort, however gentle they may be, they sometimes decide it's a chew toy.

 

[kaia]

@Tidgy's Dad @tortdad @ZEROPILOT @wellington @russian/sulcata/tortoise
Kaia the explorer

 

[keepergale]

Too cute. Looks like you have a nice little baby to work with.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Lovely little tortoise.

 

[tortdad]

Cute little guy. Looks Greek to me

 

[kaia]

Kaia says thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, Adriana, and welcome to the Forum!

I'm not good at i.d.ing the testudo species, so let's send a shout-out to @HermanniChris I think there are Hermanni tortoises native to Macedonia, however, this baby resembles the picture Chris has of Greek tortoises in his pinned thread. Let's wait for Chris.

Be sure to soak the baby in warm water daily for about 15 minutes.

 

[tortdad]

I was about to tag Chris too. Once you get a firm ID go the specific species part of our website, find Mediterranean, then click on the one Chris says is your tort and read the care sheet.

 

[kaia]

@tortdad @Yvonne G
Thanks a lot! I figured it's a Greek spur thighed tortoise because of the spurs on the back, but we'll see what it is
Thank you for the instructions!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I reckon Testudo graeca ibera.
But I am often wrong.

 

[Momof4]

Welcome!! What a little cutie you have there!