Newbie - help needed on species identification

Jussie

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Jan 22, 2014
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Hello everyone!

I am a newbie and live in Dubai, UAE and have taken on two 5 mth old tortoise. Previous owner no longer wanted them and thinks they are Desert tortoise species! Can you help me to identify them? I have just finished their outdoor enclosure but at present I am still bringing them indoors at night as the temp is getting as low as 16 here at night and I believe they should not be out when it's cooler than 20c (70f) is this correct?

Thank you in advance for your help.
 
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Yvonne G

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Someone with more experience than I at I.D.ing these type of tortoise will come on soon and help you, but in the meantime, I sort of think it looks like an Egyptian tortoise (testudo kleinmani).
 

Jussie

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Thanks for your reply Yvonne G. I thought the same thing, as this is the slightly darker one of the two so it kind of threw me. I just want to be as sure as possible so that I can get the right food, habit and care info. One thing is for sure though, they are very cute and quite different in their personalities. Thanks again.
 

Grandpa Turtle 144

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Hello and welcome to the TFO from AZ , USA . My Egyptians are much lighter then yours but yours look a lot like my Hermann's
 

Beeliz

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I agree,,pretty sure you have a Hermann's on your hands ,,congratulations,they are awesome tortoises!!! (but then again,they all are!)


more pics,,then we can tell for sure!
 

peasinapod

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If you can get a picture of the bottom of the shell that would be great, Egyptians have a very distinctive pattern on the bottom, it looks like two triangles.

A hermann's would have two black bands.
 

Jussie

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Thanks everybody. I have included some more pics and it seems we have hermann's on our hands judging by your info :)

Now on to my next concern.... Pyramiding:( looks like it has already started to me, what are your thoughts?

Thank you once again.
 
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