New guy, found a tortoise!

[Vectrex]

Hello everyone,

I just found a tortoise in the middle of a busy street. Can anyone help me identify the breed? I am on my way to the pet store to buy food, a heat lamp, and a temporary enclosure as I assume it would be better to build some sort of habitat outside. What else should I buy? I have never had a tortoise before but my kids seem to love it.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Tom]

That is a box turtle. Probably native. Best to re-release it somewhere near where you found it, but in a safer area.

If you want a tortoise, we can help you find a suitable healthy captive bred tortoise.

 

[Vectrex]

If that is the case, I will release it. I don’t want to take it out of its habitat. You learn something new everyday. I didn’t know these were native to Florida.

 

[zovick]

If that is the case, I will release it. I don’t want to take it out of its habitat. You learn something new everyday. I didn’t know these were native to Florida.

Yes, that appears to be a Florida Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina bauri). They are definitely a native FL species.

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I found this one in my yard a few months ago in South Broward county.
Although this one is a different sub species I believe

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Hello everyone,

I just found a tortoise in the middle of a busy street. Can anyone help me identify the breed? I am on my way to the pet store to buy food, a heat lamp, and a temporary enclosure as I assume it would be better to build some sort of habitat outside. What else should I buy? I have never had a tortoise before but my kids seem to love it.

Thanks for the help!

It's an old male Florida Box turtle. It would be best to release it close to where your found it. If you did want to get one for your kids checkout Southern Reptiles in Boca Raton.

 

[Sarah2020]

Thanks for saving it from the busy street . Hope managed to release it.

 

[Vectrex]

Thanks for all the replies. He has already been released. I had a bit of difficulty finding someplace safe around where I found him. He was in the middle of a street near a school with no woods around (Broward County). I ended up releasing him a couple of blocks away in a wooded area which I figured is safer.

The kids really want a tortoise now but I am going to do more research on the care that they require.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Thanks for all the replies. He has already been released. I had a bit of difficulty finding someplace safe around where I found him. He was in the middle of a street near a school with no woods around (Broward County). I ended up releasing him a couple of blocks away in a wooded area which I figured is safer.

The kids really want a tortoise now but I am going to do more research on the care that they require.

I grew up in Broward, North Lauderdale!

 

[MichaelL]

I grew up in Broward, North Lauderdale!

I was thinking Florida at first too but look at the first pic, with that green face and red eyes doesn't it look more like another subspecies?