Introduction

Gianna Gamboa

New Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
AZ
IMG_0870.PNGThe picture above is a recent picture. IMG_1068.jpg This picture above was when we first got her.

Hey everyone, I'm a new tortoise owner by fate. Our little girl stumbled upon our neighborhood in front of our home in the middle summer. We posted in the neighborhood website asking if she belonged to anyone, but no one claimed her. We decided to take her in knowing absolutely nothing about tortoises and started research through google and YouTube videos.

Her shell was pyramiding & she had black around her eyes and mouth (probably on the verge of dying honestly). However, with the best possible care we could for her, she now looks healthier. She weighed 3.8lbs when we weighed her a month ago, and we have absolutely no idea how old she is (if anyone can help that would be awesome).

We saw her on the hot asphalt barely able to keep herself up with her legs, also her poop was super liquidy (if that's even a word). Now she's walking quite fast, munches on grass mostly, but her favorite treat would be strawberries (we chop them up and only give her a few because we read online that the sugar isn't good for them). Also, she seemed like she was lacking nutrients like calcium so I bought calcium powder from a pets store and have been following the directions on how to feed it to her. She doesn't mind it, she eats absolutly everything we give her. Anyone who could give me advice on how to better care for her would be super appreciated!

Thanks for taking the time to read this and letting me be apart of this forum. :)
 

Alaskamike

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2014
Messages
1,742
Location (City and/or State)
South Florida
Welcome.
The care sheets in the Sulcata or Leopard species specific area has great information. ( they are about the same ). If you really study the care sheets , they will answer most all your questions.

A water dish ( like a tarracata plant saucer ) big enough she can climb into would help allot.

I've rescued several Sulcata. Age is very difficult to guess when they have developmental damage.
But they can keep growing & improve. She will have a much better life with you.
 

Gianna Gamboa

New Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
AZ
Welcome.
The care sheets in the Sulcata or Leopard species specific area has great information. ( they are about the same ). If you really study the care sheets , they will answer most all your questions.

A water dish ( like a tarracata plant saucer ) big enough she can climb into would help allot.

I've rescued several Sulcata. Age is very difficult to guess when they have developmental damage.
But they can keep growing & improve. She will have a much better life with you.


I was looking into those dishes and yeah, I don't know exactly what her last owner did (or didn't do) but I'm glad she's in better hands with me now. Thanks for that info! :)
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Wow, poor little thing. She's really been through the mill, hasn't she?

Welcome to the Forum!

In order to grow like that, one of the main reasons was being raised too dry and under hot lights (among other things). So, water is now her friend. Soak the tortoise daily for at least a half hour, in something she can't climb out of. I'd soak daily for at least a month, and after that you can just keep a waterer in the habitat and soak weekly for about 15 minutes.
 

Gianna Gamboa

New Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
AZ
Wow, poor little thing. She's really been through the mill, hasn't she?

Welcome to the Forum!

In order to grow like that, one of the main reasons was being raised too dry and under hot lights (among other things). So, water is now her friend. Soak the tortoise daily for at least a half hour, in something she can't climb out of. I'd soak daily for at least a month, and after that you can just keep a waterer in the habitat and soak weekly for about 15 minutes.


Oh wow, we've only been soaking here for 5 mins every few days. We will definitely be on top of making sure she gets those soakings! I just didn't want her to feel more uncomfortable because of what she's been through previously. However, if it's to better her health and let her live a long and happy life, I'm all over it! :)
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Too bad - you're the boss. She's totally dehydrated and her innards are all dried out. She's going to need lots and lots of soakings to get her back rehydrated.
 

Gianna Gamboa

New Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
AZ
Too bad - you're the boss. She's totally dehydrated and her innards are all dried out. She's going to need lots and lots of soakings to get her back rehydrated.

Thanks for the advice, she will be hydrated in no time :):<3:
 

New Posts

Top