Need help identifying this little critter
 

My girlfriend found this guy in her yard today. I think it is a tortoise but need help identifying the breed. I want to research how to care for it.

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Looks like a tortoise to me. My Mom has one. She feeds it lettuce. My brother found it on his 2nd floor patio in the 70's. He has no idea how it got there and he doesn't drink. You have to watch them though. They are escape artists, you'd be surprised how fast they can sneak out on you. If she leaves her gate open for a minute, he's off to the races.

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Thanks, I figured he got away from someone. It's not afraid of her dog. It also likes tomatoes that's where she found it and it was gorging itself.

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

kinda looks like a russian tortoise

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Art...20Jan%20O..jpg

https://allturtles.com/russian-tortoise/

they are very common in the pet stores up by me. so possibly someones pet

or look around on this site and see if one of the other ones look more like it

https://allturtles.com/tortoise-species/

if i ever move to a warmer area i would love to keep one in the back yard, for now i have a few painted turtles

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Thanks, that looks just like it. Thanks for the link also. Now on to the research.:uhmk:

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

My wife's uncle had a tortoise in Phoenix, it ate flower pedals or something off of a plant in there yard.

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

We had them as kids growing up. We fed them lettuce that had gone bad. Yes they can boogie.

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

They like lettuce and hibiscus

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

61 FLapache has a turtle pet..I can't see the picture though..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ighlight=frame

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Thanks for the responses guys. Every little bit is helping me figure it out. I've had lots of snakes and a creek turtle for twenty years. But this guy is out of my experiences. I have found that.....he loves tomatoes and the leaves, lettuce hearts and zucchini. Thanks for the help guys..keep it coming please...

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Turtles always get the low tomatoes in a garden, has been my experience. They'll tear up on most garden vegetables.

This broke drunk walks into a bar and tells the bartender he needs a beer but is broke. "I bet you a beer I can hit the bullseye from back here with this dart". The bar tender figures he'll miss and be gone so takes him up. He hits it dead on, the bartender and all the people think it's great, he gets a beer, and as he is leaving the bartender hands him this turtle that had wandered into the kitchen earlier as a prize.
The next day the drunk is back with the same proposition, but it's a different bartender. He decides to take him up on the bet, same as the other bartender. The drunk hits the bullseye, gets his beer, starts to leave but says, "Don't I get a prize. The other bartender gave me one". The bartender asked what the prize was and the drunk told him, "A rare beef on hard roll sandwich".

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

:lol::lol: so far it's been eating quite well. I went to the pet store and bought tortoise food and it likes it. I also threw some chopped squash and brussel sprout in. The squash was gone in five minutes. The sprout it ate most of it (didn't seem to be its favorite ).

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Put a little butter on it.

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

:lol::lol:

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Or salt and pepper... :)

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Seems like I had a pet box turtle growing up but I can't really remember. I've helped a lot of turtles cross the road though.

You've got a survivor there, to quote my Ecology professor "until the motorcar came along, turtles were at the peak of protection." LOL

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

There isn't any lost tortoise flyers yet...:lol: So I guess I'll start building a tortoise run for it. It loves exploring but gotta keep it out of the garden.

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Maybe someone dumped it because it kept getting out and into the garden.

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

:lol: hmmm. That's a thought....

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Look into Purina monkey chow, seriously. That's what I maintained a desert and a Texas tortoise on. It's a good blend of protein etc. I'd soften it with a little bit of water. Easy to keep around and use.

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Interestingly someone local just found the same thing near his house

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

I never would have guessed about monkey chow.... I didn't even know they made it. Thanks for the info.

Re: Need help identifying this little critter
 

Hmmm, might be an epidemic of run away tortoises. :lol: