Designer Tort aka Mutt Puppy?

[Dallas And Kathy]

Well, I just found out that my Shelly. Who looks like a Sulcata, could be a cross between a desert tort and a Sulcata. The people that bred her have both, so I have been told. Next question, how to feed her and do these species interbreed? Kat

 

[Taylor T.]

I've never heard of anything like this. Could you post a photo of the tortoise? (and, if you don't mind, a photo of the enclosure just so that we can help you with care)

You can look up plants to see if they are edible here:
http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=520&c=5#.WcAlAsZryUk
Here is a list of good foods to get you started:

Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food

 

[Tom]

Well, I just found out that my Shelly. Who looks like a Sulcata, could be a cross between a desert tort and a Sulcata. The people that bred her have both, so I have been told. Next question, how to feed her and do these species interbreed? Kat

It might be physically possible, but it is very unlikely. Can you post a pic?

Most of the care info you find for both of them will be wrong anyway. We've been doing tortoises wrong for more than 30 years, and not everyone has kept up. Once we know what you've got, we can recommend care info.

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm very interested in seeing a few pictures of Shelly. I really doubt you have a cross bred tortoise, but it would certainly be interesting to see if so.

 

[Dallas And Kathy]

What ever Shelly is she is growing like the gallon fish tank. I covered up the sides so she cannot see out. I am in the process of decorating it now. She is nota particularly happy camper, having to change homes. But this is the best I can do for now. I have been told that she has pyramiding, but I have only had her for a few months. Her she is, my little cutie.

 

[motero]

I don't see any Desert tortoise characteristics, but get him set up in a hot and humid enclosure and you can help stop the pyramiding.

 

[TechnoCheese]

Looks like a normal sulcata to me, and looks like you might need to up your humidity. Give these a read-
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...ealthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/
For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata...
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/
Beginner Mistakes
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

 

[Dallas And Kathy]

I am doing all of that. Including Dailey soaks. She used to hate her hot tub, but now she kicks her legs back and relaxes. She is supposedly about long year old.

 

[wellington]

What size enclosure is she in? The growing like a gallon fish tank size, not sure what that is suppose too mean. I'm sure that's not the enclosure size right?

 

[Dallas And Kathy]

She was kind of a rescue. She was in a home with 3 young kids that tormented her relentlessly.

 

[Tom]

I am doing all of that. Including Dailey soaks. She used to hate her hot tub, but now she kicks her legs back and relaxes. She is supposedly about long year old.

Most of the advice given for this species out in the world is old, out-dated and wrong.

Those threads that TechnoCheese linked should really help you.

 

[Dallas And Kathy]

What a mess my first post today turned out to be. What I was trying to type is that she is growing fast. Right now, she has a 100 gallon aquarium to call home. I covered the sides so she cannot see out. I have a ceramic heater in place. When I get back into town, I am going tp get another ceramic heater,

 

[ZEROPILOT]

What a mess my first post today turned out to be. What I was trying to type is that she is growing fast. Right now, she has a 100 gallon aquarium to call home. I covered the sides so she cannot see out. I have a ceramic heater in place. When I get back into town, I am going tp get another ceramic heater,

You have a UVB light?
Correct humidity and temps as well as UV are necessary

 

[TechnoCheese]

She was kind of a rescue. She was in a home with 3 young kids that tormented her relentlessly.

Oof, it’s great that you rescued her!

 

[Dallas And Kathy]

You have a UVB light?
Correct humidity and temps as well as UV are necessary

Yes, she has a uvlight and heaters and hides . I take her outside for a while during the day

 

[William Lee Kohler]

Terrible pyramiding but front leg scales look like Sulcata.