Found baby Sulcata in yard, help?

[picklecline83]

Hello, I live in jacksonville, florida and I found a baby sulcata tortoise (about 3 inches long) in my front yard living in a LARGE cactus bush (I dont know what kind) and I am not sure what to do. I wonder where the mother and other babies are? I have done some research and I want to help the little guy or girl. Ive been putting clean water in a small planter bottom every few days as it it very hot and humid here. Should I put food out for it? I read somewhere that they eat the cactus pads and fallen fruit, is this true? Should I try to catch it and make an enclosure for it or leave it alone? I would appreciate any advice or info, thanks!

 

[michiganice91]

Are you sure it's a Sulcata and not a gopher tortoise? Sulcatas are native to Africa so unless you or a neighbor has some that have bred and laid eggs somewhere unnoticed, it's uncommon to find a young one walking around. Young gopher tortoises can often look similar to sulcatas. If it IS a gopher tortoise, you should definitely not mess with it too much as they dig burrows and live there their whole life. If it's a sulcata it's definitely safe to give it water and veggies. Sulcatas will do alright eating the local grass but you can give them high calcium greens like kale too if you want. My best advice would be to make sure you're 100% sure it's a sulcata before you interact with it.

 

[picklecline83]

Thank you for your reply, I'm pretty sure its a sulcata, I looked at a lot of pictures of gophers and sulcatas and it looks exactly like the sulcata. I will try to take a picture of it next time I see it, hopefully that will help identify it!

 

[Yvonne G]

You need to find out what it is, because sulcatas are not native and gopher tortoises are (and protected). So if its a sulcata you should catch it and either give it to a rescue or learn how to care for it yourself. If its a gopher tortoise, and you live in the country and not the city, you should just leave it alone.

 

[bouaboua]

Hello and Welcome. How cool to have baby torts wondering in the yard.
Hope you can catch some photo soon.

Welcome.

 

[picklecline83]

I live in the city on a fairly busy street, I have never seen the tortoise venture more than a few inches outside the cactus. I got a good look at it yesterday and it's legs have these spiky things on them. I also just remembered my 2 year old found half of a broken white eggshell in our yard about 3 months ago and it didn't look like a bird egg, I thought maybe it was from a snake or something but now I wonder if it was the tortoise? I just want to do whatever is best to ensure this little one survives. What time are they most active? The few times I have seen it it has been during the day.

 

[Shakudo]

I live in the city on a fairly busy street, I have never seen the tortoise venture more than a few inches outside the cactus. I got a good look at it yesterday and it's legs have these spiky things on them. I also just remembered my 2 year old found half of a broken white eggshell in our yard about 3 months ago and it didn't look like a bird egg, I thought maybe it was from a snake or something but now I wonder if it was the tortoise? I just want to do whatever is best to ensure this little one survives. What time are they most active? The few times I have seen it it has been during the day.

I think the sooner you can get a picture the sooner all those questions can be answered. I'm very curious now


Joey



Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met behulp van Tortoise Forum.

 

[tortadise]

Welcome. Baby gophers look a lot like baby sulcatas. If we could get a pic that would be great.

 

[picklecline83]

I will keep a lookout and try to get a pic asap!

 

[tortadise]

Good deal.

 

[picklecline83]

Thank you all for your help! I was just wondering, can tortoises smell food? Is there something I could put out that would help encourage him or her to come out so I could get a pic?

 

[tortadise]

You can try some fruit. But they are pretty quick so have to keep an eye peeled once the bait is set. Some strawberries or watermelon. Something sweet that gives off a good aroma.

 

[picklecline83]

I just took some pics of the cactus, there are a lot of fallen fruit from it as well as dandelions and it looks like something is eating the cactus fruit. No sign of the little guy yet but I'm going to put some watermelon out there and hopefully he will come out!

 

[bouaboua]

Thank you. A better camera will also help.

 

[Yvonne G]

Oh my lordy...there might be 20 of them inside that cactus bush! Good luck finding him again.

 

[picklecline83]

Thats funny, thats what my husband said, we have no way of knowing if its the same one we see each time! I put some romaine lettuce and watermelon out and i keep checking but I think its too hot right now. I saw what looks like a burrough on the side but I was afraid there could be a snake in there so I didn't investigate further, I am terrified of snakes lol.

 

[michiganice91]

If you see any tortoise going in or out of a burrow it is just about certain it's a gopher tortoise. They will be active around dawn and dusk and may or may not be out during the day depending on how sunny and hot it is. The burrow acts as their home, shade, shelter, etc.

 

[picklecline83]

Still no sign of it, something ate the watermelon I put out and I noticed what looks like beak marks on some of the low lying fruit on the cactus so I think it's eating the cactus fruit. I hope I'll see the little guy today so I can get a pic, I'm a bit worried since I haven't seen him lately, I hope he's ok!

 

[Blakem]

Good luck! I'd snatch the little one up when you next see it. Then go from there.


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Here's some great plant identification websites I use.

http://www.tlady.clara.net/TortGuide/diet.htm#plantlist

http://africantortoise.com/edible_landscaping.htm

http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/plants_19.asp

 

[bouaboua]

Well.....It is waiting game now. Thank you for the update. Just keep on waiting.