The place I work has two different child care centers. And it turns out that sixteen years ago a teacher in the one I don't work for brought a small tortoise back in her pocket from Florida
anyway the teacher left the center a long time ago and emily the tortoise has been left to the turnover of teachers ever since. I had no idea that this tortoise wasn't being cared for properly. Never in the rooms over there.
Yesterday I walked past their rooms empty now because of summer, they stop we don't. and the lights are off and i notice her habitat in the dark room.
at first I thought they must have a different place for her at one of the teachers houses for the summer. (Never understood why a tortoise was in a childcare center to begin with)
Anyway i stopped and looked closer and she was in there!!! a air conditioned room with no light on. I immediately went in and looked her living conditions are horrible. she has an overgrown bottom beak and three large pieces of roman lettuce on the small chunk substrate floor. with a plastic igloo that takes up most of her cage that was literately falling apart.
I don't have a ton of knowledge on tortoises but enough smarts to know this was not okay. I took her home removed the substrate and put down temp newspaper (asked vet) and put a heat lamp over one corner.
hand fed her mustard greens two grapes and tried some carrot. She has trouble eating because of her beak.
Gave her a couple minutes in sun this morning until I get the uv light.
I am not sure if I will be her new owner or will keep her until I can find someone who will give her a great home but I figured my home was better than a cold room.
she is about 6" wide and 9-10" long with head out. How big of a area does she need? Tried to figure it out but still trying to identify species I think she is a california dessert tortoise. Will post picks soon.
Thanks
amanda
anyway the teacher left the center a long time ago and emily the tortoise has been left to the turnover of teachers ever since. I had no idea that this tortoise wasn't being cared for properly. Never in the rooms over there.
Yesterday I walked past their rooms empty now because of summer, they stop we don't. and the lights are off and i notice her habitat in the dark room.
at first I thought they must have a different place for her at one of the teachers houses for the summer. (Never understood why a tortoise was in a childcare center to begin with)
Anyway i stopped and looked closer and she was in there!!! a air conditioned room with no light on. I immediately went in and looked her living conditions are horrible. she has an overgrown bottom beak and three large pieces of roman lettuce on the small chunk substrate floor. with a plastic igloo that takes up most of her cage that was literately falling apart.
I don't have a ton of knowledge on tortoises but enough smarts to know this was not okay. I took her home removed the substrate and put down temp newspaper (asked vet) and put a heat lamp over one corner.
hand fed her mustard greens two grapes and tried some carrot. She has trouble eating because of her beak.
Gave her a couple minutes in sun this morning until I get the uv light.
I am not sure if I will be her new owner or will keep her until I can find someone who will give her a great home but I figured my home was better than a cold room.
she is about 6" wide and 9-10" long with head out. How big of a area does she need? Tried to figure it out but still trying to identify species I think she is a california dessert tortoise. Will post picks soon.
Thanks
amanda