Need some basic help!

[TeacherHelp]

Hello! We have brought home a tortoise for the weekend that another teacher was keeping in her classroom. He (?) is very dirty and she doesn't seem the best at taking care of him. What all should be done? What should be in his tank? Right now it is filled with some sort of dark dirt. What should he be fed? He's not very large and his shell appears yellow-ish. Thank you for your help!

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Glad you get to experience the joy of caring for a tortoise for the weekend.

Can you post a few photos of the little guy? This helps us identify what you have, so you can get the most accurate advice.

In the mean time, try giving him a nice warm soak. Use a small tub (but something bigger than the tortoise) and add some shallow "baby bath" warm water to it. You don't want the water line too high...he shouldn't be swimming. Where the top shell meets the bottom shell is a good level to start with. The soak will help hydrate him if he needs it.

 

[Jodie]

Pictures would be very helpful for everyone to be able to give good advice.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

It's probably a little Russian tortoise. I use orchid bark as substrate, but quite a few of us here use coconut coir. It comes in a compressed brick that needs to be put into a 5 gallon bucket of water and allow it to soak. It fluffs up, then you squeeze out the water and use it.

You can soak this little guy in a tub of warm water then after about a half hour, give him a good scrubbing with a soft bristle brush.

 

[TeacherHelp]

He's very dirty, but here he is!

 

[Yvonne G]

That's a male eastern box turtle. They like to be in a moist/humid environment, so potting soil or dirt from the back yard is good for them. They eat bugs and worms, fruits and veggies.

 

[Yvonne G]

They also like to be in the water, so provide a waterer that he can fit inside of.

 

[Yvonne G]

If you'd like to keep him cleaner, then provide a hiding place stuffed with sphagnum moss or leaves and grass. That way he won't have to dig into the dirt to hide.

 

[Jabuticaba]

Cute! Do you have a kiddy pool or large plastic tote? Fill it up, but provide a landing spot for him. He'll love it!


May, Aussies, & Hermannis
IG: @AUSSOMEAUSSIES

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Box turtles need a little more research as far as food goes. He's more aquatic then not so make sure he has access to soaking water... A clay plant saucer is good for this. Keep his substrate wet...and continue to ask questions...

 

[leigti]

Do you get to keep him more than just the weekend?

 

[johnsonnboswell]

[QUOTE="maggie3fan, post: 943201, member: He's more aquatic then not so make sure he has access to soaking water... A clay plant saucer is good for this. Keep his substrate wet...and continue to ask questions...[/QUOTE]

This is overstated & might be misunderstood by a newbie. Their substrate needs to be moist, like a forest floor or a flower bed, damp enough to sprout seeds, but not actually wet.

Boxies love rain. They need access to water 24/7, and a plant saucer is a good place to soak, but they don't swim much or need to eat in the water. You might say they are midway between tortoises & aquatic turtles, but they are not even semi-aquatic.

 

[TeacherHelp]

Thank you so much everyone! I'm working on making his tank better for him, he had no access to water, so i'm starting there!

Do you get to keep him more than just the weekend?

I have him every weekend and most likely through the summer break!

 

[leigti]

Thank you so much everyone! I'm working on making his tank better for him, he had no access to water, so i'm starting there!


I have him every weekend and most likely through the summer break!

That's good. Do some research and maybe you can make his home he stays in during the week better also.