joannahall108
New Member
Should we keep him? Feed him? Set him free? Any ideas on what kind he is? We aren’t experienced with tortoises at all! Any help appreciated!Found this little guy in our garage- help?
- Thread starter joannahall108
- Start date
Should we keep him? Feed him? Set him free? Any ideas on what kind he is? We aren’t experienced with tortoises at all! Any help appreciated!
Srmcclure
Well-Known Member
That is a red eared slider I'm pretty sure. He's a water turtle. Is there any water source near you?
Turn him loose in the nearest body of water, unless you want to buy all the stuff and have a pet turtle.
Srmcclure
Well-Known Member
And before you decide to keep it, look here for PROPER care and see what all youd need I stead of asking a pet store
Chubbs the tegu
Well-Known Member
Water upkeep is no fun when it grows. And u cant just release it in 2 years if u get sick of it.
joannahall108
New Member
There’s no water near us that I know of, so I’m wondering how he got to our garage. Maybe there’s a small pond around here I’m not aware of.
L
LasTortugasNinja
Guest
To set him up with the proper gear, you'll either need an aquarium setup around $400-$1K for size, filtration, etc when he's an adult... or an outdoor pond setup which will also require a sizeable amount of monetary and time investment. Right now, however, all he needs is a 10gal tank, filter, something to bask on, and a heat lamp and water heater. Probably $200 to start.
He's also a baby, so they require a lot of special care the first year or so of life, so your time will be spent monitoring water quality daily, temperature, etc. (don't know how they manage in the wild, but many baby water turtles I've known have gotten eye infections requiring drops... even if you use distilled water)
Plus side, raising a baby reptile is very satisfying, and turtles & tortoises are longtime investments of 30+ years.
He's also a baby, so they require a lot of special care the first year or so of life, so your time will be spent monitoring water quality daily, temperature, etc. (don't know how they manage in the wild, but many baby water turtles I've known have gotten eye infections requiring drops... even if you use distilled water)
Plus side, raising a baby reptile is very satisfying, and turtles & tortoises are longtime investments of 30+ years.
joannahall108
New Member
I’m not aware of any nearby bodies of water, but maybe there’s a pond or something somewhere. My husband wants to keep him, but I don
so based on everyone’s responses, we’re going to find the nearest body of water and release him. Thanks for your help! ?
Looks more like a yellow-bellied slider...turning him loose is the best thing for him...
L
LasTortugasNinja
Guest
They are fantastic pets, but not something to keep on a whim. I rescued probably around 20 or so of these guys who started life as a cute little bundle swimming by the checkout at a petstore in a goldfish bowl (before the 4" laws). They become huge, voracious animals that smell strongly, like to bite their owners, and better at a park pond or canal IMHO rather than most homes. They require serious dedication.
L
LasTortugasNinja
Guest
Depending on subspecies, as hatchlings, they can look almost identical. can't tell with certainty without seeing the head better. Either way... a lot of work.
turtlebean
Well-Known Member
Looks like a baby RES or a baby painted turtle. In my experience, trying to rescue and keep wild baby turtles is very difficult.
I tried this past year when I found two newly hatched eastern painted turtles in the dead of winter (ct temps were fluctuating from warm to just freezing) and I tried to bring them inside after two days of seeing they hadn’t moved much from where they were and tried to save them. I bought them all the equipment, tanks, water heaters, turtle pebbles, all types of food and supplements, water conditioner, filters, basking lights, UV lights, truly everything the little guys needed to thrive. After a month or so one stopped eating suddenly and I went crazy trying to find an exotic vet and eventually found the nicest lady. Told me my little one had an upper respiratory infection and likely wouldn’t make it.
Long story short, they both eventually died and it was legitimately the saddest, most heartbreaking thing. Especially after investing so much love, time, effort and money on equipment and a very large vet bill!
Hopefully you can release him back into the wild or maybe try a shot at rescuing him. Regardless, I wish you and that cute little turtle the best of luck!
-Julia R
I tried this past year when I found two newly hatched eastern painted turtles in the dead of winter (ct temps were fluctuating from warm to just freezing) and I tried to bring them inside after two days of seeing they hadn’t moved much from where they were and tried to save them. I bought them all the equipment, tanks, water heaters, turtle pebbles, all types of food and supplements, water conditioner, filters, basking lights, UV lights, truly everything the little guys needed to thrive. After a month or so one stopped eating suddenly and I went crazy trying to find an exotic vet and eventually found the nicest lady. Told me my little one had an upper respiratory infection and likely wouldn’t make it.
Long story short, they both eventually died and it was legitimately the saddest, most heartbreaking thing. Especially after investing so much love, time, effort and money on equipment and a very large vet bill!
Hopefully you can release him back into the wild or maybe try a shot at rescuing him. Regardless, I wish you and that cute little turtle the best of luck!
-Julia R
L
LasTortugasNinja
Guest
If you have a nearby park with ducks or waterfowl (but not herons or egrets who will eat him), you can put him in the pond there. At that size, they are mostly eating water bugs and a little bit of soft plant material.
Man is that ever the truth...years ago I kept several species of water turtles. I lived in Calif at the time and had a big front deck with two 150 gallon black rubber tubs containing my water turtles. My favorite was a female RES who was a dog-chewed and mean as a snake...I named her Scruffy...she was big too...when I moved here I found out that it is illegal to keep RES in Oregon...and the weather was so difficult that she lived alone in one tub...but it was in my carport shed under lights...so one day I took her to Yvonne's and put her in the pond...the last thing she did as I went to toss her...was try to bite me...
to my old eyes it looks more yellow than beige
Chubbs the tegu
Well-Known Member
I would have too
Sulcata are destruction experts...RES are serious biters...just the charm of the species...
Chubbs the tegu
Well-Known Member
AMEN
What??? Have to bite me? just like her, I'll toss you in a pond...
I hatched these little guys and my friend is celebrating its 40th this year. I have 8 I rescued and am giving them a little boost before re homing them. So cute but as all turtles and tortoises they live a long time.
Good luck.
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