Urgent advice.

[cpl1307]

Hi,
I currently have a 4 year old Horsefield and a lady has just reached out to me showing me a lepoard tortoise in a tiny fish tank. No uv no basking and she's asking me to have it. I really want to save it, but i can only put it in with my Tortoise if I took it. What can I do?

 

[wellington]

Well, you can't put it in with your tortoise, that's not saving it.
Either get the right stuff to actually house it properly or try to find someone that will.
Putting an animal from one bad situation to another is not a rescue.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Hi,
I currently have a 4 year old Horsefield and a lady has just reached out to me showing me a lepoard tortoise in a tiny fish tank. No uv no basking and she's asking me to have it. I really want to save it, but i can only put it in with my Tortoise if I took it. What can I do?

Is that tortoise in the photo the leopard?

 

[cpl1307]

Is that tortoise in the photo the leopard?

That what she says, but it looks more like a russian??

 

[cpl1307]

Well, you can't put it in with your tortoise, that's not saving it.
Either get the right stuff to actually house it properly or try to find someone that will.
Putting an animal from one bad situation to another is not a rescue.

She's got it in here. Look at it. I cant leave it with her. She obviously hasn't got a clue!! It's making me really angry!

 

[cpl1307]

Is that tortoise in the photo the leopard?

Look how it's being kept. I won't sleep unless I do something

 

[zovick]

That what she says, but it looks more like a russian??

If you look at the central scutes and the costal scutes carefully, it looks as though there may be some spots on them which do look like the pattern a Leopard Tortoise would have. Note these areas are barely visible in the photo.

If you could get the owner to send you a photo taken from above the tortoise, making a correct determination of the tortoise's actual species would be much easier.

 

[zovick]

Look how it's being kept. I won't sleep unless I do something

Looking at the additional photos you just posted, it may well be a Russian Tortoise.

It may have MBD in addition to its overgrown beak, extreme pyramiding, and curled up rear marginal scutes.

It's truly a sad case. Euthanasia crosses my mind when I see tortoises like this......

 

[cpl1307]

If you look at the central scutes and the costal scutes carefully, it looks as though there may be some spots on them which do look like the pattern a Leopard Tortoise would have. Note these areas are barely visible in the photo.

If you could get the owner to send you a photo taken from above the tortoise, making a correct determination of the tortoise's actual species would be much easier.

Top of the shell

Looking at the additional photos you just posted, it may well be a Russian Tortoise.

It may have MBD in addition to its overgrown beak, extreme pyramiding, and curled up marginal scutes.

It's truly a sad case. Euthanasia crosses my mind when I see tortoises like this......

I'm do angry! What do I do. If it's a Russian he can come, otherwise I'd have to keep him in the enclosure she has for a while, but with ideal substrate ect. I could make it a short time home.

 

[cpl1307]

Top of the shell

I'm do angry! What do I do. If it's a Russian he can come, otherwise I'd have to keep him in the enclosure she has for a while, but with ideal substrate ect. I could make it a short time home.

What do I do. I think it's been in there for over a year. She says it's 1

 

[cpl1307]

Is that tortoise in the photo the leopard?

I think its a Russian. What do you think. She says its 1. I think it's been in there along time.

 

[wellington]

Looks like a Russian to me. Take it, but it can't live with your other one period! First this one is badly deformed, has MBD and will not do well being beat up by another tortoise. Get a large tote box they are inexpensive or a pop up greenhouse they are inexpensive too. Save it but do not put it with another tortoise.

 

[cpl1307]

Looks like a Russian to me. Take it, but it can't live with your other one period! First this one is badly deformed, has MBD and will not do well being beat up by another tortoise. Get a large tote box they are inexpensive or a pop up greenhouse they are inexpensive too. Save it but do not put it with another tortoise.

I live in the UK. She says i can have that small enclosure with all the lighting needed. I could transform it into a little home for now. Just until I get it looking better. What do you think

 

[cpl1307]

I live in the UK. She says i can have that small enclosure with all the lighting needed. I could transform it into a little home for now. Just until I get it looking better. What do you think

I'm not putting it anywhere near my other tortoise. I'm taking no chances with disease ect

 

[Anastasia 22]

If you can save him/her, please save him/her!

 

[cpl1307]

If you can save him/her, please save him/her!

Dont worry. Shes coming to me. Ive just bought her a tortoise table set up with my credit card. I cant sleep knowing this is the condition she's living in. I will rescue her!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I live in the UK. She says i can have that small enclosure with all the lighting needed. I could transform it into a little home for now. Just until I get it looking better. What do you think

This sounds better.

 

[cpl1307]

This sounds better.

I've got the credit card out. Screw it. Ive bought her a new table set up. She's coming to me today. I cant wait to slam the door in her face after telling her how disgusted I am. She already booked for a vet check up. I won't sleep knowing it's with that owner!

 

[zovick]

I think its a Russian. What do you think. She says its 1. I think it's been in there along time.

There do appear to be only 4 nails on the front feet which indicates a Russian Tortoise, but on the other hand, the smal black spots which are visible on the original scutes plus all the new growth being white are more characteristic of Leopard Tortoises.

Ask her how she knows it's a Leopard Tortoise and ask her for pictures of it before or just after she bought it. Those pictures could be very helpful in this case.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

When you get the tortoise, start with a long soak. She looks dehydrated and the eyes might be a bit swollen.

Depending on your financial situation, you might want to get an x-ray for MBD. I don't otherwise know what could or should be done at the vet.