New Desert Tortoise owner from California - hello!

[Susannadior]

Hi everyone! I am so happy that I found this forum. I just rescued a 3 month old desert tortoise. We have named him/her Murphy and both my husband and I adore this little guy to death. We live in Southern California (Palm Springs area) and this is our first tortoise. Eager to meet you all and gain more insight on keeping our baby happy and healthy!

 

[Cheryl Hills]

Oh my, sure is a cute one!

 

[Susannadior]

Oh my, sure is a cute one!

He is!!! Blessed.

 

[Jerry's Mom]

So cute

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

 

[jsheffield]

Congratulations ... What a cutie!

Jamie

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Welcome! Handsome specimen you got thers.

 

[Chasen]

Hello and welcome to this amazing forum. I've been given sound advice here, so you're in great hands. Did you get your little one thru CTTC?

 

[coshepard]

Hi everyone! I am so happy that I found this forum. I just rescued a 3 month old desert tortoise. We have named him/her Murphy and both my husband and I adore this little guy to death. We live in Southern California (Palm Springs area) and this is our first tortoise. Eager to meet you all and gain more insight on keeping our baby happy and healthy!

Hi hope you enjoy having a tort!
hope it brings you so much joy!!!

 

[Karenp]

Welcome to the forum!
Murphy is absolutely beautiful!!

 

[KarenSoCal]

Welcome!

Short notice, but there is a meeting of the local chapter of the CTTC tomorrow (Mon) evening. PM me if you are interested in more info, or here's the website.
https://tortoise.org/lowdesert/index.html

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum, Susanna! Be sure to keep the little guy in a humid environment. Because they're so small, they dehydrate quickly.

 

[Susannadior]

Hello and welcome to this amazing forum. I've been given sound advice here, so you're in great hands. Did you get your little one thru CTTC?

That's great to hear! Getting any more than basic information from the web is nearly impossible so this is great.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome!

Most of the care info you find for this species will be wrong. Most babies die every year because people keep them far too dry by following the care sheets and "expert" advice from vets and other keepers. Babies need WATER. Soak them every day, use damp substrate for them to burrow into, and offer a humid hide. Dehydration is the number one killer of DT babies. Care for them is identical to Russian tortoises, so check these out:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

 

[Susannadior]

Hello and welcome!

Most of the care info you find for this species will be wrong. Most babies die every year because people keep them far too dry by following the care sheets and "expert" advice from vets and other keepers. Babies need WATER. Soak them every day, use damp substrate for them to burrow into, and offer a humid hide. Dehydration is the number one killer of DT babies. Care for them is identical to Russian tortoises, so check these out:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

Wow thank you so much!!!!

 

[AprilOneilTurtle]

aw congrats, he/she is a lucky little one!

 

[Tom]

Wow thank you so much!!!!

Keep us posted! Questions and pics are welcome!

 

[JoJosMom]

Hi everyone! I am so happy that I found this forum. I just rescued a 3 month old desert tortoise. We have named him/her Murphy and both my husband and I adore this little guy to death. We live in Southern California (Palm Springs area) and this is our first tortoise. Eager to meet you all and gain more insight on keeping our baby happy and healthy!

Welcome! So exciting, we have a baby too! His/her name is Cane.....if it turns out to be her then it will be Miss Cane! Our baby was earth born February 17th. (Earth born means he/she came out of the ground)
Their care is vital so please please read the info that @Tom has provided you. I promise you are going to be just tickled by your baby all the time. I am so in love with ours. Super fun! I will send you some photos

 

[JoJosMom]

1st photo is Cane sprawled out enjoying his daily soak and the other is him just coming back in from playtime in the sun… he likes to dig! Ha go figure!