Help plan for rescue

[drewby07]

Hi guys,

I have been put in contact with someone locally who has a sulcata he is getting rid of. He has it living in his garage currently with a light for heat. I asked for pictures, but he doesn't have any. I asked if the shell was pyramided, he says it's nice and smooth, and the tortoise is about 14" long. He tells me he has had it since it was a baby, and that he only feeds it once a week so it didn't get too big too fast (). I'm not sure how old it is.

I told the guy I would take the tortoise, so now I need to come up with an indoor setup for him. In the spring I will move him outside, as I have a large fenced back yard. I am fortunate to have a heated room dedicated to reptiles, since I keep snakes as well. The room is about 12 x 10 and there are a few vertical snake racks that I need to keep in there. The rest, I can devote to the tortoise.

I'll post pictures when I pick him up, either one night this week or this weekend. I'm a little nervous to see what condition he is in. If I don't feel I can adequately care for him until the spring, I will find a home with someone who can...I just can't stand the thought of leaving him in this guy's garage, cold and hungry.

Any advice on an indoor setup is greatly appreciated!!

 

[Arnold_rules]

Great job rescuing this little guy. I think there is an entire section on habitat creation to give you some ideas.

 

[pennyw]

i am glad you are going to rescue him, i cant believe he is starving him like that! my almost yearlings eat all day if you let them.
cheers to you...

 

[ColorfulTortoise]

It's a great thing to rescue a tortoise. Aww, poor thing! He should at least be eating once every other day. That is so nice of you to take him in. Looking forward to seeing pics of him.

 

[wellington]

Could you let him be on the floor of your rep room? If so, lay down plastic, maybe a couple landscaping timbers, to block an area off for him and put down some coconut coir. Get a large tote box and make a hide out of it for him. Hang a mvb for basking and a CHE or two for added heat. Flat rock for food and a water dish. If he's fourteen inches, he needs a large space. The floor might be the best and easier. Good luck. Hope he isn't too bad off.

 

[kanalomele]

Welcome to tfo, we love tortoise rescuers!))

 

[drewby07]

Actually the floor would be ideal.... Since it requires the least amount of prep. I was thinking I had to build some kind of box... But that's way easier. The lowest near me actually has cypress mulch really cheap... So I could do plastic sheeting with several inches of mulch on top. I could probably give him a good 6x 10 area... Think that would be enough? I also plan to spoil him with mazuri, opuntia and grass / hay. I just hope that once get him on a normal diet he will thrive.

 

[drewby07]

So a friend of mine went and picked him up....and he isn't AS bad as I thought....though he does show some shell deformity.

 

[Laura]

she looks ok,, make sure you soak her really well.
If you use your floor.. just check the temps.. its ok for temp.. they can be pretty destructive... bulldozers... so be carefull what it will have access to.
See if she will eat hay with greens mixed in. good luck!

 

[drewby07]

I am going to get some hay today or tomorrow. I know that I don't want Alfalfa....just a mixed orchardgrass hay should do well, right? I believe that's available at the local feed stores.

 

[Laura]

yep, grassy.. orchard or Timothy. You can use it as bedding too, but make sure it doesnt get wet. it gets moldy..

 

[biochemnerd808]

I'm glad you rescued it! Being fed just once a week... so sad!

Since this tort is undernourished, you'll want to start the feeding of larger amounts kind of gradually, or its systems will be overloaded, and it may die. I know that the initial instinct is to provide all the food it "missed out on" but that is not the way to go.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll do great!

I am going to get some hay today or tomorrow. I know that I don't want Alfalfa....just a mixed orchardgrass hay should do well, right? I believe that's available at the local feed stores.

 

[shellysmom]

Wow, I can see in the shell where the growth rings are really rough. Also, on his back, a couple of the pyramids looks like they're sinking and leaning, which is usually a sign of MBD. Good save, man.

 

[drewby07]

Yeah, unfortunately I don't know a whole lot of his history. He is heavy for his size, which is hood. His shell has some pyramiding and a few spots where the scutes are a bit flaky. He ate today, and I'll gradually work him into a healthy daily diet. I have a sneaking suspicion that he has been without sun / uvb as well.

He is alert, hefty and strong, so I have all hopes he will do well with some good husbandry.

 

[pam]

Good save

 

[drewby07]

Well day one is going well. I'm in the middle of setting up an enclosure in the reptiles room. In the mean time, he had a stroll in the yard this morning where he ate a bite of mazuri and a couple bites of pumpkin. After that he went in the tub for a soak, and drank for what seemed like FOREVER! poor guy must have been dehydrated. After that it was into a tub under a heat lamp to dry off and warm up for a while... During which he pooped (a lot!) and flashed me several times! No doubt he's a HE!

Pics to come once I get him all set up!