Need help identifying this little critter

[Ol Blue K20]

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.

[FleetsidePaul]

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.

[Ol Blue K20]

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.

[abig84]

kinda looks like a russian tortoise



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

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by abig84

kinda looks like a russian tortoise



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

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

[nds1968]

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

[el_fantasma]

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

[leddzepp]

They like lettuce and hibiscus

[mongocanfly]

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

[Ol Blue K20]

thanks

Originally Posted by leddzepp

They like lettuce and hibiscus

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

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

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...

[special-K]

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".

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by special-K

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".

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 ).

[special-K]

Put a little butter on it.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by special-K

Put a little butter on it.

[alsriv2]

Or salt and pepper...

[In The Ten Ring]

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

[Ol Blue K20]

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

[special-K]

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

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by special-K

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

hmmm. That's a thought....

[DeadheadNM]

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.

[68C15]

Interestingly someone local just found the same thing near his house

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

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.

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

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by 68C15

Interestingly someone local just found the same thing near his house

Hmmm, might be an epidemic of run away tortoises.