(Scroll down if you don't feel like reading the full story, questions are at the bottom)
A few hours ago, I took possession of two Desert Tortoises. I am told they are about 20 years old. They had been living with an elderly man for the past decade, who worked years ago as a wildlife biologist in a children's museum here in Connecticut. The story I was told is they were taken as hatchlings about 20 years ago by someone who visited California on vacation, plucked the baby Tortoises from their home, and brought them to Connecticut. That person had them for the first decade or so of their lives. They are believe to be brother and sister. They were then given to the aforementioned elderly man, who has allowed them to hibernate each Winter indoors, while they spent the warmer months in an enclosure in his back yard.
I was offered these Tortoises by the man who is moving out of his house into an assisted living facility. I saw the tortoises for the first time today and did not have the heart to leave them one more day after seeing them. Though the man may have had the best intentions, they do not appear (as far as I can tell) to be in great shape. They both have some pyramiding of their shells, with the female's entire shell appearing to be deformed. The male is much more active. I am told he mounts her frequently, and she once layed a couple eggs. However, after taking them out in the Sun for an hour of so, they started eating every dandelion green that I put in front of them. Their eyes do appear clear, though the right eye of the male did do something weird; what appears to be the inner eyelid actually came out from under they eye for a few seconds. Think entropian in a dog, but very short lived.
I work as a manager of a veterinary hospital here in Connecticut. I have also owned a Russian Tortoise that I rescued 2 years ago. Though the veterinary hospital I work at doesn't have a reptile veterinarian on staff, we have a vet that sees reptiles on a wildlife basis, so I will be bringing them in this week. I will also be sending out fecal samples to IDEXX Labratories once the tortoises give me some fresh feces. I am then hoping to use some industry connections to get them seen by an actual reptile veterinarian. I also have access to any medications they may need. Ultimately, I want what is best for them, even if that means passing them on to someone else. I think the elderly man that owned them wants that as well.
Measurements:
The male's shell is 8.5"x6"
The female's shell is 10"x7"
So here are the questions:
-How bad are their shells? What do they need ASAP?
-should they be allowed to hibernate this Winter or are they better off with some UVB (mercury vapor bulb) and Calcium therapy all Winter long?
-Do their heads appear deformed?
-Is it common at all for these Tortoises to have temporary entropian (eyelid folding out past the eyeball)?
-Is there anything else of concern based on the pictures attached?
-If he is frequently mounting her, should they be separated for her sake?
-If I am unable to give them the lives they deserve due to living in cold/wet/humid Connecticut, what would my best options be? (I.E. Rescues, sanctuaries, museums, other tortoise forum members that live in desert climates. Also what would the logistics be to get them back out West if that is an option)
-Does anyone know the legalities of them being in my possession and of possibly relinquishing them over state lines if that is what's in their best interest?
I have attached lots of pics, but can take more. Any help is greatly appreciated. I just want to do what is best for these poor Tortoises.
Thank you everyone!
A few hours ago, I took possession of two Desert Tortoises. I am told they are about 20 years old. They had been living with an elderly man for the past decade, who worked years ago as a wildlife biologist in a children's museum here in Connecticut. The story I was told is they were taken as hatchlings about 20 years ago by someone who visited California on vacation, plucked the baby Tortoises from their home, and brought them to Connecticut. That person had them for the first decade or so of their lives. They are believe to be brother and sister. They were then given to the aforementioned elderly man, who has allowed them to hibernate each Winter indoors, while they spent the warmer months in an enclosure in his back yard.
I was offered these Tortoises by the man who is moving out of his house into an assisted living facility. I saw the tortoises for the first time today and did not have the heart to leave them one more day after seeing them. Though the man may have had the best intentions, they do not appear (as far as I can tell) to be in great shape. They both have some pyramiding of their shells, with the female's entire shell appearing to be deformed. The male is much more active. I am told he mounts her frequently, and she once layed a couple eggs. However, after taking them out in the Sun for an hour of so, they started eating every dandelion green that I put in front of them. Their eyes do appear clear, though the right eye of the male did do something weird; what appears to be the inner eyelid actually came out from under they eye for a few seconds. Think entropian in a dog, but very short lived.
I work as a manager of a veterinary hospital here in Connecticut. I have also owned a Russian Tortoise that I rescued 2 years ago. Though the veterinary hospital I work at doesn't have a reptile veterinarian on staff, we have a vet that sees reptiles on a wildlife basis, so I will be bringing them in this week. I will also be sending out fecal samples to IDEXX Labratories once the tortoises give me some fresh feces. I am then hoping to use some industry connections to get them seen by an actual reptile veterinarian. I also have access to any medications they may need. Ultimately, I want what is best for them, even if that means passing them on to someone else. I think the elderly man that owned them wants that as well.
Measurements:
The male's shell is 8.5"x6"
The female's shell is 10"x7"
So here are the questions:
-How bad are their shells? What do they need ASAP?
-should they be allowed to hibernate this Winter or are they better off with some UVB (mercury vapor bulb) and Calcium therapy all Winter long?
-Do their heads appear deformed?
-Is it common at all for these Tortoises to have temporary entropian (eyelid folding out past the eyeball)?
-Is there anything else of concern based on the pictures attached?
-If he is frequently mounting her, should they be separated for her sake?
-If I am unable to give them the lives they deserve due to living in cold/wet/humid Connecticut, what would my best options be? (I.E. Rescues, sanctuaries, museums, other tortoise forum members that live in desert climates. Also what would the logistics be to get them back out West if that is an option)
-Does anyone know the legalities of them being in my possession and of possibly relinquishing them over state lines if that is what's in their best interest?
I have attached lots of pics, but can take more. Any help is greatly appreciated. I just want to do what is best for these poor Tortoises.
Thank you everyone!