emnboysmom
New Member
Hello,
I walked out my front door this morning to find a little guy on my front sidewalk. I contacted my state wildlife office and sent them these pics of him. I suspected he was a tortoise; I grew up in the Mojave Desert in Southern California in the 70's, and we saw desert tortoises all the time.
They got back with me to let me know that he was indeed a tortoise of some kind and not a box turtle, and I should not release him into the wild. They told me I could keep him or try to re-home him.
I need to know what kind of tortoise he is to know what he needs. He is very friendly, and has gobbled up romaine lettuce and grass today. I have him in a clear rubbermaid tote right now with a substrate of mixed sand/coconut coir and orchid bark over the top. I've got a clay plant saucer with water for him.
He looks like a gopher tortoise or a desert tortoise (he seems darker than the desert tortoises I remember).
I'd appreciate any help anyone can give. I took top, bottom and front views:
Thanks in advance!
I walked out my front door this morning to find a little guy on my front sidewalk. I contacted my state wildlife office and sent them these pics of him. I suspected he was a tortoise; I grew up in the Mojave Desert in Southern California in the 70's, and we saw desert tortoises all the time.
They got back with me to let me know that he was indeed a tortoise of some kind and not a box turtle, and I should not release him into the wild. They told me I could keep him or try to re-home him.
I need to know what kind of tortoise he is to know what he needs. He is very friendly, and has gobbled up romaine lettuce and grass today. I have him in a clear rubbermaid tote right now with a substrate of mixed sand/coconut coir and orchid bark over the top. I've got a clay plant saucer with water for him.
He looks like a gopher tortoise or a desert tortoise (he seems darker than the desert tortoises I remember).
I'd appreciate any help anyone can give. I took top, bottom and front views:
Thanks in advance!