Hello & help please?

[Floriana]

Hi

I have a second home in Spain and in November we discovered a tortoise/turtle? in our garden.

It then disappeared and we sort of forgot about it until last week when it made several appearances. There was some flooding in the garden at the time.

I think it looks more like a tortoise than a turtle, although its shell is flattish. It has quite a long tail. We have seen it burrow into soft wet soil (our flower beds have been flooded). We were concerned it was drowning and lifted it out of the water but it went right back in...

We think it must have got into the garden before the walls were built and reckon it has been living there for about 3 years. During the last couple of months, we cleared a lot of vegetation from the flower beds and maybe this is why we have been treated to the viewings.

Can anyone identify 'Speedy' for us please? Any information as to care/diet etc., would be most welcome. Here is a photo - I hope!

 

[egyptiandan]

Welcome to the forum

You have found a Spanish pond turtle, Mauremys leprosa leprosa. They are water turtles, so would be nice if you could set him up a pond. He's probably been estivating for most of the 3 years he's been in the garden (only coming out when it gets wet).

Danny

 

[terracolson]

Hummp... i would like to see a front view...
and a underneath..

looks kind of neat

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Floriana:

What a nice find! If you can't set up a pond for Speedy, then it would be best to try to find a turtle rescue for him. I know he's "lived" for the past three years out of water, however, since he's a water turtle he really would be better off in a pond.

to the forum!!

 

[spikethebest]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Floriana]

Oooer! Pond? Its got an 8 x 5m swimming pool to play in!!!!!

It wouldn't - would it?

Thanks for the identification, its good to know what we have there. Our Spanish home is in an area called La Rana Verde (The Green Frog) named because, when it does rain, water collects in lagoons. For years now there has been a drought situation in Andalucia but last winter and this winter even more so, we have had an awful lot of rain and quite severe flooding in the region, in particular our part of Rana Verde. The end of our road has been under water for quite a while now. so I guess ideal conditions for Speedy.

 

[Kymiie]

*W*E*L*C*O*M*E*

He is very cute!

xxx