Anybody else like turtles?

[Rick]

Here is a good care sheet Peter. I've never kept them but they are very popular. It would appear the climate where you're moving may be about perfect. Turtles and tortoises require a long term committment and that may be why they are getting rid of the animal.

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-russian.htm

 

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I LOVE Austins turtle page, great website. I met the owner of the website in Florida, he really knows his stuff.

 

[Peter Clausen]

Wow, that's a great caresheet Rick, thanks! It does actually sound like the perfect outdoor species for our future yard. I just found out we'll have an opportunity to babysit this young tortoise while our friends are in Syria for a couple months.

 

[Rick]

No problem. Turtleforum.com is a great resource as well. Kinda like the turtle version of here.

 

[alicenwnderlnd]

wow, i do not know why i have never noticed this part of the forum.... guess i was to wrapped up in mantis :lol: :lol: I absolutely love turtles and tortoises. currently i have a sulcuta. i have had him for 6 years when i got him he wasn't much bigger than a 50 cent piece (now he big) and am slowly moving him outside this year Rick, i love your outside set up! currently, i am using a extra extra large all wire dog crate for him outside during the day, and i bring him in at night. the dog crate works because i can lock him completely in and he cant dig out but yet he can still graze.(i removed the metal bottom) and its big enough for like two great Danes so the size is good. i keep a small dog house in it and he uses it for naps.I will really like it when he goes outside completely. i plan on building him a permanent pen this summer with heat lamps for winter since they are not a hibernating species. since i am in California i think it should be easy enough to accomplish. I really would like another one but don't want to start with a tiny baby again, so am keeping an eye out for an older rescue. as people will get them without realizing they get huge! i have also had several types of water turtles, they are fun, but require such filters, I think i prefer land tortoises.

 

[Rick]

wow, i do not know why i have never noticed this part of the forum.... guess i was to wrapped up in mantis :lol: :lol: I absolutely love turtles and tortoises. currently i have a sulcuta. i have had him for 6 years when i got him he wasn't much bigger than a 50 cent piece (now he big) and am slowly moving him outside this year Rick, i love your outside set up! currently, i am using a extra extra large all wire dog crate for him outside during the day, and i bring him in at night. the dog crate works because i can lock him completely in and he cant dig out but yet he can still graze.(i removed the metal bottom) and its big enough for like two great Danes so the size is good. i keep a small dog house in it and he uses it for naps.I will really like it when he goes outside completely. i plan on building him a permanent pen this summer with heat lamps for winter since they are not a hibernating species. since i am in California i think it should be easy enough to accomplish. I really would like another one but don't want to start with a tiny baby again, so am keeping an eye out for an older rescue. as people will get them without realizing they get huge! i have also had several types of water turtles, they are fun, but require such filters, I think i prefer land tortoises.

I also prefer non aquatics. Good thing you know about the adult size of your tortoise. I don't like seeing so many of those for sale cheap. They're not a good choice for the vast majority of people. I'm sure you have went to the Sulcata Station website.

 

[alicenwnderlnd]

I also prefer non aquatics. Good thing you know about the adult size of your tortoise. I don't like seeing so many of those for sale cheap. They're not a good choice for the vast majority of people. I'm sure you have went to the Sulcata Station website.

I have now! thanks

 

[alicenwnderlnd]

Rick, that site was very informative, i think it should be read by anyone who decides they want a sulcuta! when i purchased mine at a pet store i was given all the wrong information. feed it lettuce and fruits they said... ya right, had i had not done my research he would of been dead long ago. that is my reason of not wanting to buy a baby from a pet store again. I would like to rescue one from the person who was mis-educated into believing this tortoise is a great pet.(not that it is not a great one for me, but not everybody can have a huge digging tortoise) I think it could save a life. I actually just joined our local rescue in hopes of doing just that.

 

[Rick]

Rick, that site was very informative, i think it should be read by anyone who decides they want a sulcuta! when i purchased mine at a pet store i was given all the wrong information. feed it lettuce and fruits they said... ya right, had i had not done my research he would of been dead long ago. that is my reason of not wanting to buy a baby from a pet store again. I would like to rescue one from the person who was mis-educated into believing this tortoise is a great pet.(not that it is not a great one for me, but not everybody can have a huge digging tortoise) I think it could save a life. I actually just joined our local rescue in hopes of doing just that.

We've talked about getting one for several years now. Despite having a fenced in large yard I don't feel I have the proper location yet.

 

[Lissimore12]

I just took in a rescue. An adult male box turtle. I came across a for sale ad on craigslist. A girl had him and he was living in a bird cage and she was feeding him cheese, boiled eggs, and corn of all things. Being a box turtle fan I had to get him. When I picked him up she said she got him at a yard sale of all places.

Once I got him home and on the scale I found he only weighed half of what he should weigh. He is doing well and should be packing on the weight. Felt so bad for the poor little guy.

I work in animal rehab and you wouldnt believe how many people think its okay to do things like this, except in our cases its people trying to keep foxes, cougars, linx, ect. just disgusting. We have had a few turtles at the rescue, but now too many.

 

[twolfe]

I have a Chinese box turtle (Cuora flavomarginata). At the end of the month, I will have had her (I think it's a female) for 20 years. She is at least 23 or 24 years old. When I got her, I admit that I didn't know much about caring for turtles. It's a shame that some pet stores will sell anything to anyone, but she was living in a pool with a bunch of aquatic turtles in the store. They didn't even know what kind it was. That store went out of business many years ago.

I'm checking out turtleforum.com now. Looks like a great site.

 

[AmandaLynn]

Adult sulcata's are def an outside pet. My sister has had one for about 10 years now. He lives in her yard equipped with a kiddy pool w/ramps to get in and out of and a little heated house for nights and cool days. They live in San Diego. He is an awesome tortoise but really unless a person has the space (outdoors) and lives in the right climate they aren't good pets, they just get to big, ya know? Also, one of his favorite foods are Hibiscus flowers.

 

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I have a Chinese box turtle (Cuora flavomarginata). At the end of the month, I will have had her (I think it's a female) for 20 years. She is at least 23 or 24 years old. When I got her, I admit that I didn't know much about caring for turtles. It's a shame that some pet stores will sell anything to anyone, but she was living in a pool with a bunch of aquatic turtles in the store. They didn't even know what kind it was. That store went out of business many years ago.

I'm checking out turtleforum.com now. Looks like a great site.

That is one of my favorite species

I've got 2 at the moment, I have also produced a few babies but don't have my male anymore. I have 1 that was a reswcue that is supposed to be over 50 years old!

 

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Would anybody on here be interested in adopting some baby box turtles? I am always looking for homes for them. I have TONS.

 

[Rick]

Would anybody on here be interested in adopting some baby box turtles? I am always looking for homes for them. I have TONS.

What kind?

 

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What kind?

Mostly 3-toeds, some gulf coasts

 

[myles]

ive a turtle and a tortoise

flapper: snake neck turtle (not sure on the exact species)

tiesto : turkish spur thigh (Testudo graeca ibera) hes a CITES protected species

 

[d17oug18]

id take some if i wasnt jobless =)

 

[Rick]

Nice. The one i've had the longest is a 3 toe.

 

[AmandaLynn]

ive a turtle and a tortoise

flapper: snake neck turtle (not sure on the exact species)

It's scutes seem to be pyramiding is that normal for this species or was this how you got it? Speaking of your Turkish that is, I still think he's really cool regardless.