Greeti

Isolde

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Apr 30, 2020
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Sonora
Hello, my name is isolde and I am new here, this are my girls/boys:
This is Tete and she is 7 years old ( I think)
image.jpgimage.jpg
and this is Jesse, i think he is a he and is 3 years old (but im not sure)
image.jpg
I’m not really sure what species they are because a relative gave me tete when she was a hatchling and I rehomed Jesse about two years ago so, if any of you have any ideas I would appreciate it.
 

iAmCentrochelys sulcata

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I’m sure it’s a Desert Species, I’m pretty sure they aren’t that Old they look Way Younger. keep it high humidity 80-100 and temperatures 75-95.
How are you keeping it?
 

Isolde

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Location (City and/or State)
Sonora
I’m sure it’s a Desert Species, I’m pretty sure they aren’t that Old they look Way Younger. keep it high humidity 80-100 and temperatures 75-95.
How are you keeping it?
I know they are from my area (central Sonora) so yes, it is a desert species I just don’t know which ?. I try to take them outside everyday for a couple of hours, but they can’t stay out because there are cats in my neighborhood and they are pretty small, otherwise they stay inside on a medium enclosure near a window with sunlight almost all day. Please tell me anyway I can improve, thank you.
 

iAmCentrochelys sulcata

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I know they are from my area (central Sonora) so yes, it is a desert species I just don’t know which ?. I try to take them outside everyday for a couple of hours, but they can’t stay out because there are cats in my neighborhood and they are pretty small, otherwise they stay inside on a medium enclosure near a window with sunlight almost all day. Please tell me anyway I can improve, thank you.
First off You’ll need a proper enclosure you could get a 50 gallon tote they’re pretty cheap and a closed chamber which increases the humidity and temperature.
You’ll need a UVB & UVA, Soak the tortoise for 20 minutes everyday in lukewarm Water.
You’ll need to purchase a CHE or heat bulb for now so you can keep the tortoise Warm. If you don’t have a UVB Light take the tortoise outside for about 30 minutes (DO NOT LEAVE IT ALONE) don’t get the Coil UVB lights. I’ll try to link a care sheet for desert tortoise if I can
 

Isolde

New Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
Sonora
First off You’ll need a proper enclosure you could get a 50 gallon tote they’re pretty cheap and a closed chamber which increases the humidity and temperature.
You’ll need a UVB & UVA, Soak the tortoise for 20 minutes everyday in lukewarm Water.
You’ll need to purchase a CHE or heat bulb for now so you can keep the tortoise Warm. If you don’t have a UVB Light take the tortoise outside for about 30 minutes (DO NOT LEAVE IT ALONE) don’t get the Coil UVB lights. I’ll try to link a care sheet for desert tortoise if I can
Thank you very much
 

KarenSoCal

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The care sheet linked above is a good one. But it isn't written by one of our members.

Yes, there are 2 types of DTs. One is from the Mojave area, and is mostly found west of the Colorado River. They are the Mojave Desert Tortoises. Then the other type is from the Sonoran desert region and extends east fron the Colorado River and into AZ. They are Sonoran Desert Tortoises. I would imagine the latter is your tortoise, but I don't know how to distinguish between them. Maybe another keeper will come by and teach us both.

Here is our care sheet. Care for DTs is the same as care for Russians. There are a few minor differences in diet. I also added some other info about housing them together in the same pen. It will lead to big problems for your torts, so you need to start thinking about separating them ASAP. And the third is about being a beginner keeper. Your torts are no longer babies. So I believe they need to be kept as juvies/adults.

As long as you take them out in the sunshine an hour or so twice a week, they don't need a UVB bulb. Don't count the sun they get through the window...UVB doesn't go through glass.

You don't need a closed chamber, because the humidity doesn't need to be super high. You do need to keep the substrate damp, soak daily, and keep water available. You do need his basking bulb to be on 12 hours a day, and off at night, maintaining a basking spot of 95-100 degF.

If you are planning to keep them inside for a while yet, they could go into a tort table, 8ft x 4ft. Keep in mind, they need to be separated, so you will need 2 tables and 2 of all supplies.

I'm going to tag Tom, just in case I'm wrong on any of this. If he says to do anything differently, do it his way.
@Tom do you agree?



 

Yvonne G

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Hi, and welcome!

The smaller size and the round shape lead me to wonder if it isn't a Gopherus berlandieri, what we call the Texas tortoise.
 
Last edited:

Isolde

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Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Messages
5
Location (City and/or State)
Sonora
The care sheet linked above is a good one. But it isn't written by one of our members.

Yes, there are 2 types of DTs. One is from the Mojave area, and is mostly found west of the Colorado River. They are the Mojave Desert Tortoises. Then the other type is from the Sonoran desert region and extends east fron the Colorado River and into AZ. They are Sonoran Desert Tortoises. I would imagine the latter is your tortoise, but I don't know how to distinguish between them. Maybe another keeper will come by and teach us both.

Here is our care sheet. Care for DTs is the same as care for Russians. There are a few minor differences in diet. I also added some other info about housing them together in the same pen. It will lead to big problems for your torts, so you need to start thinking about separating them ASAP. And the third is about being a beginner keeper. Your torts are no longer babies. So I believe they need to be kept as juvies/adults.

As long as you take them out in the sunshine an hour or so twice a week, they don't need a UVB bulb. Don't count the sun they get through the window...UVB doesn't go through glass.

You don't need a closed chamber, because the humidity doesn't need to be super high. You do need to keep the substrate damp, soak daily, and keep water available. You do need his basking bulb to be on 12 hours a day, and off at night, maintaining a basking spot of 95-100 degF.

If you are planning to keep them inside for a while yet, they could go into a tort table, 8ft x 4ft. Keep in mind, they need to be separated, so you will need 2 tables and 2 of all supplies.

I'm going to tag Tom, just in case I'm wrong on any of this. If he says to do anything differently, do it his way.
@Tom do you agree?



Thank you very much
 

Tom

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I’m sure it’s a Desert Species, I’m pretty sure they aren’t that Old they look Way Younger. keep it high humidity 80-100 and temperatures 75-95.
How are you keeping it?
I know you are trying to help, but you've strayed way outside your lane here. You don't know this species, or their care requirements. Slow down a little...
 

iAmCentrochelys sulcata

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I know you are trying to help, but you've strayed way outside your lane here. You don't know this species, or their care requirements. Slow down a little...
You said said it, yes I don’t know this species but it’s not many different requirements to care for this tortoise.
Needs high Humidity right...
Needs high Temps Right..
 

Tom

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You said said it, yes I don’t know this species but it’s not many different requirements to care for this tortoise.
Needs high Humidity right...
Needs high Temps Right..
Not really, no. Neither the Sonoran Desert tortoise, nor the Texas tortoise should be housed like a sulcata.
 

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