Identify tortoise

[Matt1980]

Hi everyone,

I live in the south east of England. Yesterday when I returned home from work I discovered that my 4 dogs had a new friend in the garden!! I have no idea where it has come from. I have asked all the neighbours,and most of the street, but have had no luck finding the owners. Looking at my profile picture is anyone able to tell me the species of tortoise. That way I can look up the best way to care for it until I figure what to do!!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Mark and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
That tortoise is very, very lucky, dogs often consider tortoises chew toys with often horrible and fatal results.
It is certainly one of the Testudo species, probably a Hermann's, but I can't quite be certain from the picture. A picture of the plastron (underside) would help identify the species and gender.
In the mean time here is a good start.http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/ the care of any of the Testudo species is pretty much the same.

 

[Matt1980]

Hello, Mark and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
That tortoise is very, very lucky, dogs often consider tortoises chew toys with often horrible and fatal results.
It is certainly one of the Testudo species, probably a Hermann's, but I can't quite be certain from the picture. A picture of the plastron (underside) would help identify the species and gender.
In the mean time here is a good start.http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/ the care of any of the Testudo species is pretty much the same.

Thanks for the reply. Luckily all of my dogs are big softies!! I will take a picture tomorrow of the underside and put it on here. I will also take a look at the links you sent. Thanks again.

 

[Gillian M]

Welcome to the forum!

Look forward to seeing a pic of your tort.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

 

[Rt1jen]

Hi everyone,

I live in the south east of England. Yesterday when I returned home from work I discovered that my 4 dogs had a new friend in the garden!! I have no idea where it has come from. I have asked all the neighbours,and most of the street, but have had no luck finding the owners. Looking at my profile picture is anyone able to tell me the species of tortoise. That way I can look up the best way to care for it until I figure what to do!!

I hope you decide to keep him in jolly old England lol.
I'd say Hermanns but It's just a guess as I'm still trying to figure everything out

 

[GBtortoises]

The tortoise is a Greek tortoise, Testudo graeca. Unable to tell which subspecies by the photo. You would have to post some more photos including the plastron (bottom) and head to really be able to tell which subspecies. Based on it's appearance it has obviously been raised in captivity since it was very young.