So otw to lunch I heary mom tell “TURTLE” I looked back,and sure enough,there was an eastern male box turtle, with some damage to the front of his shell, well I told him he’s safe and he’s ok now,were trying to save him he popped his head back in his shell,we walked back to the car drove back home,washed out a tank dried it out put down paper towels gave him some fresh bottled water but at first,he has only responded to my voice,he’s only came out of his shell,for me ,I called several different wild life centers in the area,nobody could take him … So as long as he does well in captivity I’m keeping him! I could NOT just leave him there to receive further damage! Ordering his tortoise enclosure later this evening! Getting his lightings now
He seems ok,a little nervous with us and new surroundings but we just got him the biggest piece of cork flat for a make shift hide just until his from amazon to come in,and ordering him his very own tortoise house! Equipped with basking light holder and we just got him some collard greens some dandelion greens, green leaf lettuce some thin slices carrots blue berries and raspberries all organic everything! Also got some isopods and spring tails
If I’m not mistaken it’s illegal to keep box turtles in some states. If I were you I would contact your nearest reptile exotics vet because a lot of these vets have access/work with rescues that take in animals such as this one. In addition he needs to be treated by a vet as he may need antibiotics, something that you cannot buy otc. I understand you are trying to help him but he needs to be professionally treated and returned to where he came from.
He has a vet appointment in 2 days, no wild life or rehaber in my area could take him,both places said it’s legal to have 2 only within a home, both told me everything to get and what to do and how to use it until vet appointment
I really hate to be that person but if you do get the turtle treated it needs to be immediately released to a safe area outdoors once treatment is done. Its good that you will be getting the injury treated but in the long run captivity might not be the best…
Wild turtles do not do well in captivity and the likelihood of this one doing ok is not very high, even if you give it all of the necessary care it would need, it wont guarantee that the turtle will eat and thrive.
It needs to be quarantined away from any other animals you have in a room that no other animal will have access to for a minimum of 6 months because it is a wild turtle.
I know you have nothing but good intentions to help this little one out but please take into consideration the amount of stress it will put this animal through to adapt to a captive domestic situation.
Poor turtle! It’s good that you’re helping him out while he’s healing. After he has recovered, the best thing for him is to release him in a safe area. The wildlife rehabs in your area can likely advise you of a good place to do that.
Thank you for echoing what I said earlier. I am banking on the vet stressing this very same thing. This animal needs to be returned to the wild immediately after its injury is healed, preferably to the same place it was found. It will not live to its ultimate potential in captivity. And it definitely needs to be quarantined from all the other animals in the household while it remains in the house.
It does. Be careful about biosecurity for the sake of all your animals, @rmccuen93. Wildlife can carry parasites and pathogens which flare up once it’s subject to the stresses of injury and captivity. You don’t want any trouble spreading to your other animals. The turtle should be in a separate room, not sharing any equipment of any sort between animals. It’s super important to wash well after any interaction with the turtle while it’s healing. Given its injuries, you should also wash well before interacting with it. It shouldn’t be handled apart from medical needs. Animals in quarantine, whether for illness/injury being a new arrival, should be the last creatures dealt with for the day.
Best of luck to the turtle and to you in helping it to get well.
I absolutely love what ur doing for him and i know how if feels to just want to keep them after taking care of them ive had a few cats and dogs who i was a temporary home for but sadly this is true he would love it more to be returned to where he came from or close to it better than being captive ive tried nursing an animal back to health before (sadly they were to far gone and it was a pidgin so rescues didnt take them) but its like what the rehabs would do since this injury isnt going to permanently disable him again though its amazing that u took this on for no other reason than he needed help to be the devils advocate though watch his behavior close and see if he likes the pampered life although more than likely he will want to be free
Hes such a sweet turtle, and that’s what we’re gonna do is release him at the pond away from the road once his shell has healed. We got some manuka honey to put on his wound and then rinse it off and re gauze his wound. I just couldn’t leave him there y’all,my heart wouldn’t let me. But yes,once Mr.Turtle man is better we’re going to release him back to his home, and we’ve decided that once things get right with work,I’ll be adopting a baby Hermanns tortoise! I’ve always thought that turtles and tortoises were cute as can be,now having be able to care for a turtle … These guys are absolutely sweet hearts! And the way they look up at ya plus paired with them chunky little legs ! I think I just got so into the moment of caring for Mr turtle and then I realized just how badly I’d like to have one … I don’t wanna take mr turtle away from his home,I really just want to help him,kinda like a second shot at life for him. He’s shown more movement today,he’s at least looked at food today lol
Of course! Y’all know I love to share pictures of the babies lol right now Mr turtle is currently hiding in that big basking rock hide it’s like the only hide that was big enough for him until his other one that’s been ordered from Amazon for tortoises/turtles gets delivered
He’s a handsome fella! I’ve held him with gloves on (2 pairs lol) and it’s so cool, like his whole head and neck and all 4 legs extend from his shell and when I talk to him he kinda looks at me kinda like “awe,idk what you are …but thanks” I’ve also been keeping the wild life rehabber lady updated,she said if he had been a juvenile/subadult itsy have been easier to keep him once he’s healed,but he already has a home,we just were nice enough to scoop him up a nd help him heal and get better,so many people just kept driving … And that angered me. I’d stop for basically anything,opossum,deer,cow,bull ,dog,cat,snake, skunk,bull,lizards,gator,croc basically anything that needed help and if I had the ability to help or at least stay with them until help arrived,that’s exactly what I would do! About the only thing I would stop for and NOT touch,is an alligator snapping turtle LMAO id stay near by,but no touchy lmao
I’ve seen those kind of accounts before, and I would be extremely cautious. The difference in hand appearance and area gives me some concern about whether or not they are legitimate.
Do not buy a sulcata as they grow fast and huge. You would need to devote your backyard to an adult sulcata.
Tortoises are really cute as babies but as they grow they get really messy. And their poop really stinks. They need a certain type of uvb to keep their shells from “tenting”. I think that’s the word for it. And of course heat. They require fresh dark green leafy vegetables daily as well as quality pellets such as Mazuri. When they eat they make a total mess as they “walk” through their salad, which needs to be cleaned up every day. If I remember correctly they need supplements as well. In other words a tortoise can be a lot of work, especially when/if you get tired of it. If you go on vacation you will need someone to care for it.
Hermanns tortoises tend to be more expensive than others and babies tend to be fairly fragile at first. Greek tortoises are nice as well as leopard tortoises.
In general tortoises can live at least 50 years and some a lot longer than that. Be prepared to make a lifetime commitment and beyond. Many years ago I kept tortoises, actually the ones I have mentioned here. When we moved to a smaller retirement home I had to relinquish them to a rescue group that my vet clinic worked with. Unfortunately my little Hermanns had already passed away.
The point I am trying to make here is that tortoises are not geckos or other lizards that can be handled and cuddled. Even some snakes can be cuddled occasionally. And both are a lot easier to keep. I am just trying to prepare you for life with a tortoise and everything that goes with it to care for it correctly, for many years.
Are there any smaller turtles that stay small or around the size of a box turtle,that would be good for a beginner? I mean this can’t even happen until Mr.Turtle man is healed up and released back to his home,I don’t wanna adopt an animal and be in over my head and fail them.
