The story is the people got three hatchlings from a backyard breeder in their town. They didn't know they had two males until the tortoises 'came of age' so to speak. They had taken one of them to the vet several times to take care of fighting injuries, and the only solution they were able to come up with was to lock one of them up in the garage. So they made the hard decision to re-home the bully. They said he weighs 50lbs, but I haven't weighed him yet.
This will be a no fee adoption, but because I like to do a yard inspection, I only adopt my rescues out locally. This is what I look for during my inspection:
Is habitat large enough for this species?
Fencing Tall enough?
Secure at bottom to prevent digging?
Is fence “see through”?-
Gates Do gates latch securely?
Is there a spring for automatic closing?
- Does tortoise have access to whole yard?- (Games like softball and soccer can adversely affect turtles or tortoises, which may be in the path of a child not watching where he is running)
Is there a dog?----- (Dogs WILL chew on tortoises and turtles)
Is there a pool?-- Fenced?--- (Tortoises cannot swim and will drown in an unfenced pool)
Is there shelter from the sun? From the rain?----- From the cold?
Is there an adequate water supply?-
- Is there a clean area for feeding?--
Is the enclosure planted with plants that are good for them to eat?-- To hide in?-
Is there grass or weeds for grazing?--
Are the tops of the corners guarded to inhibit climbing?-
- Is there a separate enclosure for each species?--
Is the hibernation area for tortoises dry?-
For box turtles moist?
- Is there a warm area or warm house for non-hibernating species?-
- Pond Large enough?------ Deep enough?--
- Meets needs of turtle for basking, swimming, hiding, eating?-
- TEMPORARY indoor enclosures - Full spectrum lighting?---- Adequate heating?--- Substrate that will not harm if ingested?---
