Found a tortoise on the road.

[Adel Haddad]

Can someone please help me identify his/her type. Total noob when it comes to reptiles.

And if anyone can advise me on the diet and required habitat. We have a dog and a cat, i don't trust the cat... something about her eyes... So i would prefer to have a closed enclosure for Pluto "the tortoise, i think, or is he/she a turtle??"

Please see the attached images, I have bought him this home, which is designed for hamsters i believe, the pet shop had great chameleon housings but were very expensive, couldn't find anything better, placed a layer of sand and rocks as seen in the image. I live in Jordan/Middle East.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Welcome
It looks like a Greek tortoise. But it's a tortoise for sure. Maybe not a Greek. Maybe a Hermans.
Welcome to another member from Jordan.
maybe @Gillian Moore can be of some help here. She's also nearby.

 

[enzot91]

Looks a lot like a spur-thighed tortoise from the plastron. I think they're actually native to some parts of Jordan.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

keep him/her hydrated until the "collective" figures it out.
How about @Yvonne G ?

 

[JoesMum]

It looks like an Egyptian tortoise or a Greek tortoise hatchling.

They're both native to the area.

Is @HermanniChris about?

@Gillian Moore also lives in Jordan

 

[Adel Haddad]

Thanks for the info, i will wait for more info. I used a plastic lid cover and filled it with water and tried to introduce him to it, and placed it at neck level. That's it for hydration right?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Warm water half way up the shell.

 

[Adel Haddad]

Warm water half way up the shell.

I'm searching about hydration, they mention placing him in warm water for 15-20 minutes. Is this done daily?

 

[JoesMum]

I'm searching about hydration, they mention placing him in warm water for 15-20 minutes. Is this done daily?

For a hatchling like this, yes; especially in your climate.

Use a high sided bowl that the tortoise cannot see over or through. The water should come just up over the line between the shell and the plastron (undershell)

 

[saginawhxc]

I may be wrong but I think Gillian mentioned several soaks a day considering how dry Jordan is.

 

[JoesMum]

I may be wrong but I think Gillian mentioned several soaks a day considering how dry Jordan is.

Gillian soaks 3 times a day. Personally, I think she goes a little over the top.

Twice a day at most should be sufficient. Obviously it depends on conditions in the home. Air conditioning for example makes things much dryer.

The enclosure pictured above looks too small and very dry. However, until we can ascertain the species, I am reluctant to suggest changes.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

In my opinion, your little tortoise set-up is not appropriate for a baby tortoise. Here's a picture of how I keep my babies:



Sand shouldn't be used as substrate because he might eat it if it gets stuck to the food. And that could cause a big intestinal problem.

Here's a link to a good beginner thread:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[saginawhxc]

You guys keep mentioning the size of his enclosure, and I'm thinking to myself that he hasn't posted a picture of it. Then I went back a realized that tiny thing in the background is the enclosure.

I know it stinks to buy that and then be told it's way too small, but I did almost the same exact thing. My first set up was way too small and had to be changed after just the first week. You really shouldn't be keeping him in that that. It would be like asking a human to live in a closet.

We aren't saying this to get on your case. We really just want to help you do the best thing for your tortoise.

 

[Speedy-1]

Hi and welcome !

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Adel

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

It is a greek, is not an egyptian. http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/which-baby-tortoise-do-i-have-a-pictorial-guide.115331/

 

[Kristoff]

Hi and welcome, Adel!

You have a lovely baby there.

Here's a good care sheet by @HermanniChris. It's for hermanni tortoises but Chris said in another thread that care is practically the same for Greeks.

It may seem overwhelming at first, but the immediate priority IMO would be to get rid of that sand, give your baby warm soaks, and expose him/her to sunlight. My Greeks love dandelions, clover, garden weeds. You can check whether the plants you have are good for your tortoise here: http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/plants_19.asp

 

[Kristoff]

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/index....ERMANN'S-TORTOISE-CARE-SHEET-*UPDATED.101410/ The link to the care sheet

 

[Gillian M]

I may be wrong but I think Gillian mentioned several soaks a day considering how dry Jordan is.

No, you are not wrong. I give Oli daily soaks in Winter and Summer alike. However, when it comes to HEAT WAVES I give him two to three soaks a day. This is due to the extremely DRY climate, here.

 

[Gillian M]

Gillian soaks 3 times a day. Personally, I think she goes a little over the top.

Twice a day at most should be sufficient. Obviously it depends on conditions in the home. Air conditioning for example makes things much dryer.

The enclosure pictured above looks too small and very dry. However, until we can ascertain the species, I am reluctant to suggest changes.

Please allow me to point out that the climate here is that of a DESERT. You cannot imagine how DRY it s. As for overdoing it, well, I was told by the "experts" here that even too many soaks won't harm him.