Do healthy tortoises lay around like this?

[Fangorn]

Someone just offered me this tortoise (rescue situation). Maybe he's having a nice sun bath but I don't think any of mine ever relaxed like this outside. He looks a bit flat. I'll still take him, I'm just wondering if I'm in for a world of vet bills then heartbreak.

 

[COmtnLady]

That does look a bit scary. Be sure to quarantine for a good long time (till end of summer at least), in a way that can't even accidentally affect your others.
Hopefully (s)he will rally with good food and good long soaks. (S)he looks underweight, so maybe is just too weak from neglect to do much right now. (The shell looks fairly good.)


@Tom
@ZEROPILOT
@Yvonne G


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[Yvonne G]

One front leg forward and the opposite back leg back is a common position for both turtles and tortoises. They try to expose the softer, less protected skin to the sun for UVB

 

[Tom]

It is normal to walk up on a relaxed sunbathing tortoise and see this sort of a pose until it realizes you are there. It is NOT normal for it to look like that in every picture and remain in that position when someone is taking pictures up close and running a tape measure near it.

I'd ask for a pic of the tortoise up and walking.

 

[Fangorn]

It is normal to walk up on a relaxed sunbathing tortoise and see this sort of a pose until it realizes you are there. It is NOT normal for it to look like that in every picture and remain in that position when someone is taking pictures up close and running a tape measure near it.

I'd ask for a pic of the tortoise up and walking.

That was my thought too. Mine sploot out like that but as soon as they realize I'm there, immediately adjust. I did have a picture of him eating some dandelion flowers but I can't find it now. I'll probably meet him this weekend and assess.

 

[COmtnLady]

Are you rescuing from a place or from a person? Its good to know as much as you can about every possible aspect of its life (Sorry, you already know this).

Keep us posted.

 

[Fangorn]

Are you rescuing from a place or from a person? Its good to know as much as you can about every possible aspect of its life (Sorry, you already know this).

Keep us posted.

It's a person. I asked for a background and the response was "He was rescued by a friend of mine from a house with a ton of abandoned pets. We took him because my kiddo is obsessed with turtles but we don’t have the space for him to give him a quality life.” But they also said he is 8 years old and I don’t know how they would know that.

I'm not getting scam vibes though, esp because they said "No rehoming fee— we just want him to find a forever home where he can be happy and grow and thrive. "

Maybe they know they're not up to taking care of him and this feels better than just giving up on him.

 

[COmtnLady]

So many people think torts and turts are going to be easy quiet pets. They don't know there are different species that need very different environments. Every puppy can eat puppy chow, but every tortoise can't eat fruit. And all the old info "out there" just reinforces the bad info.

If it is save-able, do it. The shell looks like it was taken reasonably good care of, but that floppy splooge is concerning.



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[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I'll probably meet him this weekend and assess.

If you want to plan ahead on what to look out for, this list is a good starting point:

Signs of a Healthy Tortoise

Signs of a Healthy Tortoise

www.thetortoisetable.org.uk

You might already know all this, but it is a good refresher.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

If this was a tortoise for sale, I'd stay away. I suspect MBD.
I've literally spent thousands of dollars on treating MBD in rescuing tortoises and Chameleons. Usually, the treatment only helps with the suffering.

A good set of x rays would determine if it's MBD, but even those are about $80 each.

I agree with Tom. You need to see the tortoise walking with his body carapace fully off of the ground and the legs sturdy

 

[Fangorn]

I decided I can't do it. Too much heartache involved. My 70 year old box turtle passed away 6 or so months ago and I don't think I'm ready to possibly go through that again.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I decided I can't do it. Too much heartache involved. My 70 year old box turtle passed away 6 or so months ago and I don't think I'm ready to possibly go through that again.

I am sorry for your loss, I totally understand wanting to adopt a healthy pet.

 

[Chefdenoel10]

Could I have an update please?
Did you try to pick the tortoise up?
Did he walk fine?
He looked like he is basking comfortably.
If you don’t know already please find out.
You cannot just leave that little tortoise on the ground like that ?!
Poor thing, he is probably fine you just didn’t check!
Go check!
I can’t sleep knowing if he is not alright yet!

 

[Jackie Jerko]

Someone just offered me this tortoise (rescue situation). Maybe he's having a nice sun bath but I don't think any of mine ever relaxed like this outside. He looks a bit flat. I'll still take him, I'm just wondering if I'm in for a world of vet bills then heartbreak.View attachment 401221View attachment 401222View attachment 401223View attachment 401224View attachment 401225

I believe this posture is called splooning. My 56lb sulcata does it while she’s soaking. She sometimes spoons for over an hour. She is totally relaxed when in this position. Obviously feels very safe.

 

[Fangorn]

Could I have an update please?
Did you try to pick the tortoise up?
Did he walk fine?
He looked like he is basking comfortably.
If you don’t know already please find out.
You cannot just leave that little tortoise on the ground like that ?!
Poor thing, he is probably fine you just didn’t check!
Go check!
I can’t sleep knowing if he is not alright yet!

He went to or will go to a different home. The person who had him was not in a huge rush to rehome him.

 

[Alice Sulcatia]

I believe this posture is called splooning. My 56lb sulcata does it while she’s soaking. She sometimes spoons for over an hour. She is totally relaxed when in this position. Obviously feels very safe.

I went looking for that Splooning, but found only Splooting. A new word for me, regardless, but something I see every day with my Sulcatas. In the morning, after a meal, while soaking or basking, sitting with me, etc. And they dont care if I am taking pictures, which I do a lot. I just called it Kung Fu pose, Haha, of course, with this tune playing every time I see it.

 

[Jackie Jerko]

I went looking for that Splooning, but found only Splooting. A new word for me, regardless, but something I see every day with my Sulcatas. In the morning, after a meal, while soaking or basking, sitting with me, etc. And they dont care if I am taking pictures, which I do a lot. I just called it Kung Fu pose, Haha, of course, with this tune playing every time I see it.

You’re right on the correct spelling. I had just learned it myself. This is my girl Splooting in her bath.

 

[Fangorn]

Here's my boxie, Ishmael, in full sploot under his heat lamp.

Before anyone asks, he was a rescue and came with the paint on him. I think it's very old house paint as it did not come off at all when I tried to gently scrub it. They also drilled a hole in his shell to tie him up.