Temporary foster (a couple of years)

CleoTheLeo

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I am looking for someone who would be able to foster my tortoise Cleo for a couple of years. Or at least in the winter months, but I know that would be more difficult. She is a 7 year old leopard tortoise and is a funny, sassy, and stubborn tort lol. I got her when I was 15 and am now graduating college. I will be unable to take care of her for the next couple of years as I take on temporary job positions across the country. I love her so much and want to have her with me when I am in a more permanent position/home. I want her to have the best life and the best care. I could possibly leave her with my parents during the warm months, but they would not be able to take care of her in the colder months. Right now she has a heated house for colder days, but I bring her inside when it is rainy or not sunny or below 50. I live in North Carolina so she has really only been inside a couple days a week from December to probably the end of February, although she is usually at least able to get a few days outside or a few hours outside on worse days when the weather clears up. In a couple of years I hope to make that situation even better. It would be amazing if she could go with someone who has or has had tortoises. I would be able to pay you expenses to cover her food/water and electricity use but not much else. I know this is a strange situation, but like I said, I want her to be in the best care. I also would not want her mixed in with males for breeding. I would be willing to drive to you if you are in the southeast. It would be great if there is someone in Florida so that she can be outside year round without any problems. I would be able to bring her heated house and a lot of other stuff like heaters, lights. I will be eternally grateful to someone who would be able to take care of her, like I said I want her to have the best life and it is really hard to think about not being with her everyday, but I want to do what's best for her.
 
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CleoTheLeo

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I have asked friends and family and have asked them to ask people they know, but I haven't had any luck finding someone who has or has owned tortoises. It makes me nervous giving her to someone I don't know personally as I don't want her to be neglected or stolen when I try to get her back in the future.
 

Jan A

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I have asked friends and family and have asked them to ask people they know, but I haven't had any luck finding someone who has or has owned tortoises. It makes me nervous giving her to someone I don't know personally as I don't want her to be neglected or stolen when I try to get her back in the future.
Wish I were in a position to help but i'm not. But you're a good mom. Sundays can be slow here so don't despair.
 

Yvonne G

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If you were closer i'd take her (if for sure she's female). I have Chasen, male leopard, going on two years, that was only supposed to be a couple months.
 

CleoTheLeo

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If you were closer i'd take her (if for sure she's female). I have Chasen, male leopard, going on two years, that was only supposed to be a couple months.

Thank you, I think she's big enough now to tell for sure that she's female so I'm pretty positive. And that's very nice of you, I hope some day I can return the favor for someone else or foster/adopt a few
 

Blackdog1714

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I have to ask my wife firstly! Also I have a two year old male- sadly visual confirmation! SHe is too big for the current indoor I have for my Leopard, but this summer the indoor will be upgraded so the enclosure he is in can go to my Russian. The outdoor area is 12' x 40' which I could subdivide if they don't get along. SO I could do it for a couple of years and would only require a drop ship of some food supplies occasionally. I am not worried about the electricity and I still need to build the heated nightbox for mine anyway. BTW this is him in April 2020 he is over 800 now and I can barely picked him up with one handIMG_2535.jpeg
 

Jan A

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I have to ask my wife firstly! Also I have a two year old male- sadly visual confirmation! SHe is too big for the current indoor I have for my Leopard, but this summer the indoor will be upgraded so the enclosure he is in can go to my Russian. The outdoor area is 12' x 40' which I could subdivide if they don't get along. SO I could do it for a couple of years and would only require a drop ship of some food supplies occasionally. I am not worried about the electricity and I still need to build the heated nightbox for mine anyway. BTW this is him in April 2020 he is over 800 now and I can barely picked him up with one handView attachment 316946
Handsome fella!! Has this look of "OK, I did what you wanted. Get me the heck off this potential merrygoround."
 

CleoTheLeo

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I have to ask my wife firstly! Also I have a two year old male- sadly visual confirmation! SHe is too big for the current indoor I have for my Leopard, but this summer the indoor will be upgraded so the enclosure he is in can go to my Russian. The outdoor area is 12' x 40' which I could subdivide if they don't get along. SO I could do it for a couple of years and would only require a drop ship of some food supplies occasionally. I am not worried about the electricity and I still need to build the heated nightbox for mine anyway. BTW this is him in April 2020 he is over 800 now and I can barely picked him up with one handView attachment 316946
Thank you so much for the offer! You have very cute tort! Are you in VA? I was hoping to find someone who lived a little further south so she could be outside more, I was also wanting her to be kept separate from males so I really appreciate that you would offer to divide your area. Could I possibly reach out to you again in a couple of weeks if you (and your wife) are still interested in housing her, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the offer!
 

Ray--Opo

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I have a fenced in area about 13'x14' in the backyard right up against the house that I used for Opo when he was smaller. Is that a big enough area?
 

Blackdog1714

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Thank you so much for the offer! You have very cute tort! Are you in VA? I was hoping to find someone who lived a little further south so she could be outside more, I was also wanting her to be kept separate from males so I really appreciate that you would offer to divide your area. Could I possibly reach out to you again in a couple of weeks if you (and your wife) are still interested in housing her, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the offer!
I am in Richmond, VA. I have a basement that stays 70 degrees in the winter so it takes very little to heat the enclosures. I will speak to the wife and PM you. No rush so that is fine
 

CleoTheLeo

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I am in Richmond, VA. I have a basement that stays 70 degrees in the winter so it takes very little to heat the enclosures. I will speak to the wife and PM you. No rush so that is fine

Thats a nice set up, sounds good!
 

CleoTheLeo

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I have a fenced in area about 13'x14' in the backyard right up against the house that I used for Opo when he was smaller. Is that a big enough area?

Thank you for your response! I dont know, I think it might be a little small for her, shes almost 10 pounds now. Im not sure what would be the minimum size for her, Ive luckily been able to give her a large enough area that I didnt really look into the minimum size she should have
 

Katie11

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I am looking for someone who would be able to foster my tortoise Cleo for a couple of years. Or at least in the winter months, but I know that would be more difficult. She is a 7 year old leopard tortoise and is a funny, sassy, and stubborn tort lol. I got her when I was 15 and am now graduating college. I will be unable to take care of her for the next couple of years as I take on temporary job positions across the country. I love her so much and want to have her with me when I am in a more permanent position/home. I want her to have the best life and the best care. I could possibly leave her with my parents during the warm months, but they would not be able to take care of her in the colder months. Right now she has a heated house for colder days, but I bring her inside when it is rainy or not sunny or below 50. I live in North Carolina so she has really only been inside a couple days a week from December to probably the end of February, although she is usually at least able to get a few days outside or a few hours outside on worse days when the weather clears up. In a couple of years I hope to make that situation even better. It would be amazing if she could go with someone who has or has had tortoises. I would be able to pay you expenses to cover her food/water and electricity use but not much else. I know this is a strange situation, but like I said, I want her to be in the best care. I also would not want her mixed in with males for breeding. I would be willing to drive to you if you are in the southeast. It would be great if there is someone in Florida so that she can be outside year round without any problems. I would be able to bring her heated house and a lot of other stuff like heaters, lights. I will be eternally grateful to someone who would be able to take care of her, like I said I want her to have the best life and it is really hard to think about not being with her everyday, but I want to do what's best for her.
We are in northwest FL close to Pensacola. And definitely have the room. What kind of timeline are u looking at to get her a foster. And I completely agree nobody can understand the love for a tortoise unless they own or had one. We currently have a 60 lb sulcata. PM me if u are interested
 

Ray--Opo

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Thank you for your response! I dont know, I think it might be a little small for her, shes almost 10 pounds now. Im not sure what would be the minimum size for her, Ive luckily been able to give her a large enough area that I didnt really look into the minimum size she should have
Ok, it sounds like you have a few that are interested. If it doesn't work out. I can make the area bigger. I have 1 sulcata, no other pets.
 

GWman

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Jun 24, 2020
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Austin
I am looking for someone who would be able to foster my tortoise Cleo for a couple of years. Or at least in the winter months, but I know that would be more difficult. She is a 7 year old leopard tortoise and is a funny, sassy, and stubborn tort lol. I got her when I was 15 and am now graduating college. I will be unable to take care of her for the next couple of years as I take on temporary job positions across the country. I love her so much and want to have her with me when I am in a more permanent position/home. I want her to have the best life and the best care. I could possibly leave her with my parents during the warm months, but they would not be able to take care of her in the colder months. Right now she has a heated house for colder days, but I bring her inside when it is rainy or not sunny or below 50. I live in North Carolina so she has really only been inside a couple days a week from December to probably the end of February, although she is usually at least able to get a few days outside or a few hours outside on worse days when the weather clears up. In a couple of years I hope to make that situation even better. It would be amazing if she could go with someone who has or has had tortoises. I would be able to pay you expenses to cover her food/water and electricity use but not much else. I know this is a strange situation, but like I said, I want her to be in the best care. I also would not want her mixed in with males for breeding. I would be willing to drive to you if you are in the southeast. It would be great if there is someone in Florida so that she can be outside year round without any problems. I would be able to bring her heated house and a lot of other stuff like heaters, lights. I will be eternally grateful to someone who would be able to take care of her, like I said I want her to have the best life and it is really hard to think about not being with her everyday, but I want to do what's best for her.
Ask kenan at Kamp Kenan
 

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