Help! Found a Tortoise

Deep_In_Debt

He's been ok in some of the harshest of winters so he must be fairly hardy!

Deep_In_Debt

superrachy wrote: »

if you follow this advice then the poor tortoise will die. this is NOT a suitable diet, and the hibernation period is far too long - not all species of tortoise hibernate, so you really need to find out what species this is first. Get in touch with tortoise trust, they will be able to help, and if you do get to keep it, then they will be able to advise what you need to do in order to look after it.

I also hope that the stupid idiot who feeds theirs weetabix will also got to the tortoise trust website and read some care sheets!!! :mad:

It's not too long for hibernation - ours hibernates from October to the end of April every year and as I've mentioned after the length of time we've had him, we must be doing it right

Not sure about feeding him on the weetabix though...

wizzasmum_2

jha wrote: »

Please do not feed it anything except dandelions untill you have checked what species it is with a vet.

They need specialist care and lighting when indoors. Husbandry and vetinary care have improved massivly since the "blue peter " way you will have seen torts cared for say in the 1980's .
They are also very expensive so please be careful if you do return it that it is going back to its original owner if you see what i mean.

Different torties have a variety of different diets.

Also it might be microchipped. I second Ifckerry and beg you to contact the tortoisetrust and or a vet as a matter of urgency.

Mine was braught to my door asking if i would take it in by someone that "found it on the road" i took it in thinking i just needed to stick it in the garden and feed it lettuce - wow was i wrong.

a £300 trip to the vet later as he was dragging his back legs when i got him and was wriddled with worms with a cracked shell. Another £90 for a light and £80 for a tortoise pen (no glass) and sand soil mix to go in it - water bowl etc and then his food (mainly home grown weeds - some lettuce) and vitamins and cuttlefish. And i had to tortoise proof the garden (the one i have can did very deep)
It will also need to be hibernated which is a tricky business as mentioned by alared.

I notified all local vets, put posters up and put an ad in local paper and got him checked for a microchip.

I wouldnt swap him for the world but please get ready for a bit of a steep learning curve.

Wishing you all the very best

Here is a photo of mine (it is a horsfield) Piccy removed as zippybungle has seen it - lol

A horsfield actually should be in the garden, I breed them and would never keep them in the house. Also feeding just dandelions is as bad as feeding lettuce as it is high in oxalates which inhibits the uptake of calcium.
Have a look on thte Tortsmad website (it's a .com site wink wink) for their care in order for them to thrive

Valli

zippybungle wrote: »

Chesterfield

it's NOT mine! But if YOU don't want it...

wizzasmum_2

alared wrote: »

Lettuce,cucumber,tomatoes,grapes,peaches and our`s even eats the odd wetabix after it`s been soften with cold water.
They hibernate about Oct to April but need to be put in a box with shredded newspaper and brought INDOORS.

No no no please do not follow this advice. If it's a young tortoise this could be the end of it and if an older one it will take considerably longer to make it ill. Never ever hibernate a tortoise indoors, the very reason they hibernate is to tick over in the cold weather. Indoors means they are warmer and need to be fed.

wizzasmum_2

ClareEmily wrote: »

Nobody will have dumped a Tortoise as they are too valuable, so someone is probably missing one.

I would contact your local vets and put some notices up.

Agreed, someone will likely be frantic with worry right now. I know I would. Contact the local police but do not take to the RSPCA they are not always clued up on exotics.

wizzasmum_2

meeps wrote: »

ours was a foundling as well, they must be good escape artists! 27 years ago now..struth.

I agree with carefully trying to find the owner, but make sure they can describe it well- and get it to a vet with experience for a check over.

Yes, do not take to normal vet as most have only had one days training in chelonia. They usually give vit injections, other useless stuff and then charge you for it lol. Exotics vets have the Zoo sign on their door.

wizzasmum_2

aldo wrote: »

Surely he wouldn't of wondered very far from where he lives, they not that quick are they?!

Yes, they can actually run if the weather is warm enough. They can cover a few streets in a day easily or several fields.

wizzasmum_2

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

We've had our tortoise for nearly 40 years and it's still going strong.

Loves clover, dandelions, grapes, strawberries, cat food (in small quantities for the protein), and basically whatever is growing in the vegetable patch at the time - good at bulldozing it too. He can move quickly too (hence his name Speedy!) when on a mission to either get to the veg patch or heading for a hole in the fence or the wrought iron gate that he seems to be able to get through if he turns himself sideways. A lot of hard work and keeps him busy for hours!

He sleeps outside in the warmer weather but when it gets a bit chilly, gets put in the greenhouse to sleep until he is ready for hibernation.

We hibernate ours in the garage in a box with shredded paper and bubble wrap and a blanket and before anybody criticises that, it's worked for 40 years in the harshest of winters.

I know tortoises are not cuddly and fun, but Speedy has got a personality, recognises our voices and comes over to us when we sit in the garden and can be quite entertaining.

He's escaped and gone missing many times over the years, sometimes for long periods and has always been returned or been taken to the police or rescue centre and we have got him back again.

Will see if I can upload a pic of him.

Cat food is not advisable as tortoises kidneys are not geared to accept animal protein, He may have lived for 40 years with you but he will have suffered some pain from the kidney overload. Hit and miss hibernation is never to be recommended as freezing temps cause eye and brain damage

wizzasmum_2

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

It's not too long for hibernation - ours hibernates from October to the end of April every year and as I've mentioned after the length of time we've had him, we must be doing it right

Not sure about feeding him on the weetabix though...

If I had a pound for every person with a sick tort for rehabbing who says 'It can't be our fault, we have been doing it for so many years!' When a tortoise survives in a garden for so long it is srviving and not thriving, unless the garden is in an ideal situation to the sun. Many tortoises kept this way die at around the age of fifty which is half of what they should grow to. It should also be remembered that in the Med they hibernate for maybe 3 months max so expecting them to do so for doublt this is unkind. They store a substance called glycogen in their livers to boost their systems on waking and if this is used during a warmer period and then they go back to sleep it is not replenished, so causing stress to the system. It's only fair to give them the best, not just what he has managed to survive on. Some think that tortoises become more hardy as they live longer in this country. that is not true. They are cold blooded animals and nothing can change this basic physiology so heat must be given when there is none (via basking lamp) to enable them to feed, digest and thrive. Google tortsmad yahoogroups for more advice.