Help with ID tortoise

JoanaOD

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Hi,
Please please can someone really kind help me identifying a tortoise that was found in the south of England. I’m a vet and I have no clue about tortoises. It’s not eating and I don’t really think it’s very healthy!74776209-8168-4CA2-A4BA-0651CC2BA7C7.jpeg61103DAD-29DF-4608-B0F0-B797688627A4.jpeg6A8C9436-245F-4418-B4F7-5958FAFB2478.jpeg65705B84-C0E2-4E5B-96C5-472585CD584D.jpeg6CB6806E-28AA-4640-B549-F4328C64B47E.jpeg
 

Randy Micheals

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The 'spurs' on the back of the thighs in the last picture indicate that this is a Greek tortoise, possibly an Iberian as the head is quite dark. Keep her warm (warmer than it is outside in South England right now), provide a basking light, and give daily warm soaks, all will help stimulate appetite and contribute to improving her health.




Being a vet I would imagine you are doing your research, but here are these to help. Each contains good info re your tortoise. Come back with questions if you want. Good luck and welcome.
 

OkAdiza

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Hello, it looks like a Greek to me. They have those spurs on the backside. I’m sure someone more knowledgeable than me can ID it for you though.
 

JoanaOD

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I’ve got nothing except a soft crate. Where is the best place/book to read about them?
 

OkAdiza

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I’ve got nothing except a soft crate. Where is the best place/book to read about them?
Definitely check out the links RandyMichaels posted above. Those should be very helpful.
 

JoanaOD

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Ah! Didn’t see those, thought they were adverts! I’ll go and check those right now! Thanks so much! I hope I can save the little thing! Any idea how I can tell gender?
 

Randy Micheals

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I’ve got nothing except a soft crate. Where is the best place/book to read about them?

You will need more space, as that is a full grown adult, check the guides but 8x4 is minimum.

This forum is the best place to read about them, that I have found, hands down. You have come to the right place!
 

OkAdiza

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Ah! Didn’t see those, thought they were adverts! I’ll go and check those right now! Thanks so much! I hope I can save the little thing! Any idea how I can tell gender?
Sure, no problem. This forum had been very helpful for me. For gender, usually females have a shorter, stubby tail, males are m longer, but something looks odd about your torts tail.
 

JoanaOD

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It’s quite a big soft crate. I am still hoping someone contacts us saying they’ve lost their tortoise so it can return home. Otherwise I will need to buy quite a lot of stuff. It’s in a heated shed (heated floor). That’s the best I can do for now!
 

Maggie3fan

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Yes... I think there is
I would watch and see just how much mucus is coming out and what his urine and feces look like. That mucus could just be because he's been on the run for a bit...and it will go away...but if it doesn't go you might have to take it to a Vet...but wait and see...
 

JoanaOD

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That’s the one!
 

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Randy Micheals

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I understand that you may only have the tort a short time if it is lost and looking to be returned, but this poor tort needs your help at the moment, and if you want it to survive...At the very least, you should provide a light. You can get an incandescent bulb for cheap from a hardware store. 65 or 75w, adjust distance to get the basking spot 100 degrees. Bring the tort out on the lawn like in your pictures for an hour or so a week, on a sunny day for UVB exposure from the sun, which the tort vitally needs.

It's imperative to provide the heat and light, which your tort will very much appreciate. Greeks love to bask! It is how they spend the majority of their leisure time. It is native to North Africa, Syria, South Spain, and other places that are hot. It will be much happier and likely healthier with this heat and light.

It also needs substrate, which it will settle into each night by digging down. This is body temp and hydration self-regulation that they cannot achieve without substrate. I would love to tell you that housing it in that soft crate with no light, heat, or substrate is going to work, but it's not. It will only get more sick.
 

JoanaOD

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Oh no... :(
I want to help it but especially under the circumstances anything I will order will take a few days to arrive. Also, I need to do some research for everything that I need, that will take some time too! Was looking on amazon, maybe the quickest place to order stuff from? I really appreciate your help!
 

Randy Micheals

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I completely understand, the world is in a bit of turmoil at the moment and things are tough across the board. I can sympathize with that.

If not possible to go out shopping to the hardware store in your area, then ordering the bulbs are an option yes. I'm not sure what other options you have in the UK, but there are many a tortoise keeper there and a few members from there on here that might chime in, I'm not sure off the top of my head.

Much of this can be done easily in terms of availability and cost. For the enclosure you can use an old bookshelf turned on it's back if you have one or can get one from a thrift store. A bit of spare lumber kicking around and you can build one. In the short term, a large stock tank (100G+) might even serve. You want it stable so you can position lights, ideally from overhead. Use terra cotta plates from under plants for easy food and water dishes. Ideal diet is green leafy weeds from outside, dandelion, plantain, clover, this time of year the Lilac flowers will be a treat. So that part is easy. Check the link below for more great weed and flower options for feeding.


The other guides posted above have all the info concerning what route to go with substrate, housing, and hardware. I know this is more of an undertaking than you had initially planned, but it could save this little torts life :) You can do it!
 
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