Hi! Meet Me and Frisbee

DesertGirl

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BD729C85-00EF-48B5-8FA3-B5B92CEBC02F.jpeg On Oct 1, 2017, my husband was in the front yard when he yelled for me to “come quick”. At first he thought some kids had moved our ceramic turtle into the street. When he got closer, this little head popped out, looked at him and started walking up our driveway. So, meet Frisbee, our new Sonoran desert tort. She is the sweetest thing. Other than HUNGRY and thirsty, she looked pretty good. She wasn’t dirty at all. I don’t think her little feet have ever been in the dirt. We believe she lost or abandoned as she arrived suspiciously right after some neighbors across the street moved out.

I believe she is a she and is indeed a Sonoran. I volunteered for a number of years with the BLM in Southern Nevada caring for Mojave Max and his harem of 8 girls at Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area in Las Vegas.

So, I guess my question is this: is she a Sonoran desert tort?
 

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Tom

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Hello and welcome. Definitely a desert tortoise, but I couldn't tell you whether its a Sonoran or Mojave.

Most of the care info you find for these guys is old, out-dated and wrong. Care for them is the same as it is for russian tortoises. Give these a read:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

I'd soak the tortoise daily for at least a couple of weeks to make sure she's well hydrated after her dry spell.
 

DesertGirl

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Fabulous Las Vegas, NV
Hello and welcome. Definitely a desert tortoise, but I couldn't tell you whether its a Sonoran or Mojave.

Most of the care info you find for these guys is old, out-dated and wrong. Care for them is the same as it is for russian tortoises. Give these a read:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

I'd soak the tortoise daily for at least a couple of weeks to make sure she's well hydrated after her dry spell.
 

Pearly

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Helllo and welcome from Texas! I keep the Redfooted (rainforest species) but you’ll get plenty of advise on here from the others. Shame on people if they turned their pet tort loose when moving! Or... do you think she maybe someone’s escaped pet?
 

DesertGirl

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Fabulous Las Vegas, NV
Helllo and welcome from Texas! I keep the Redfooted (rainforest species) but you’ll get plenty of advise on here from the others. Shame on people if they turned their pet tort loose when moving! Or... do you think she maybe someone’s escaped pet?
Hello fellow Texan! We moved from Arlington to Vegas 7 yrs ago after a lifetime there. You can take the girl outta TX, but well, you know! Where are you if you don’t mind sharing? We did what we could to find her people. Her interactions with us made it clear she was a beloved pet. My husband is retired and keeps his thumb on the pulse of our little neighborhood. We asked around, put up flyers, etc. She turned up right after the neighbors across the street moved out. Just putting 2 and 2 together. Anyway, she’s extremely lucky to have wandered up our driveway! Looking forward to the group’s help in my continuing education!
 

DesertGirl

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Thanks Gramps! Since you’re in AZ, can you weigh in on Frisbee’s type? Sonoran or Mojave? She looks slightly different that the Mojave ones. My “research” suggested that these once distinct types have interbred so much that only a DNA test could confirm.
 

Grandpa Turtle 144

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I have 3 AZ desert torts but they look different then your tort ! You maybe right it maybe a hybread .
 

TammyJ

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Hi and welcome. She sure is pretty!
 
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