Can you help me find out what my tortoise is?

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tatiumco

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Hi! I'm new here. My name is Tatiana :)
I received this little guy yesterday as a surprise gift. I know a tad bit about tortoises because I used to own a Red Eared Slider and I did research on all kinds of turtles.
This little guy looks like a tortoise if I'm not mistaken, but what kind?
Is he a yellow-footed tortoise? That's the closest I can find similarities too.

I just want to be able to take care of him like I need to. But I must know what kind of tortoise he is :D Hope you guys can help! I'm getting all of his necessities today.
 

Yvonne G

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Hi Tatiana, and welcome to the Forum!

Because I can't really see the nose of your tortoise, I'm going to assume it is a redfooted tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria), because they are more common in the pet trade than the Yellowfooted.

There's a whole lot of good redfooted reading at the Tortoise Library
 

tatiumco

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Hi! And thank you so much for the quick response! I am very excited I know what Mr. Franklin Godzuki here is! :D (You can thank my husband for Franklin's middle name, haha)
He will have his proper enclosure by this evening, thanks again!

BTW here's a better pic of his face:

311s5yw.jpg
 

EchoTheLeoTort

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welcome! I see a little redfoot there. agree with Yvonne to check out the Tortoise Library, heard they have great red foot info
 

Yvonne G

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Well, now I'm not so sure of my I.D. could it possibly be a baby gopher tortoise? Are you in the South Eastern U.S.?
 

tatiumco

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You know what? You might be onto something here, lol!
I did look it up and he looks like a Gopher Tortoise. I DO live in Florida! I really think that's what he is, haha.
 

Mgridgaway

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I thought "easy, redfoot" at first, but I once I saw that I face I knew it wasn't. Looked up baby gopher tortoise and that is clearly what it is :)

Just to be clear, keeping Gopher Tortoises as pets in Florida is illegal without a permit.
 

Cresent

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Your baby tortoise thats is gopher polyphemus.how is he going now? Wish he is healthy and bigger
 

Shelly

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Where did the person who gave him to you get this tortoise? If it was removed from the wild, a serious crime was committed.
 

Laura

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who gave him to you? not a great surprise when they don't even know what they had.. but now that you have him... you need to know how to care for him../..
so start reading! and about the legalities too.
 

Instinct

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Definitely thought red-footed tortoise at first glance. However, the newer photos do tend to be pointing in the direction of a Gopher.

I would definitely take a look into the laws of your area for keeping that species of tortoise.
 

GeoTerraTestudo

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Hi, Tatiana. That adorable little baby is a gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), which is native there in Florida. Check the laws on this species. Being endangered, you might not be allowed to keep it.
 
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