I counted anyways - Yup, three toes out back. Mahalo (thanks) everybody! :cool:
Mike Taylor - we have no native turtles or torts here other than sea turtles so it's not a wild box turtle or so to speak. We'll probably go ahead and keep it as a class pet (the Sulcattas grew too much to be...
One of the custodians at my school found a tort walking across our main lawn a hour ago. I need some help identifying it as I'm not quite familiar with torts that aren't sulcattas.
I did a quick google search online and looked at some pictures but have not figured out what species it is...
The clear "bubble" is actually just a lump of fluid leaking out - I suspect plasma. As soon as I touched it, it just smeared like a water drop would.
-Paul
I could not see any foreign objects there - just discoloration and flaking of the shell which has always been there and occurring ever since I got him.
Triple antibiotic ointment - as in neosporin or some such from the local drug store for use on humans? This is safe/good for a tort...
Photos as promised...
I observed clear fluid (pus or plasma blood?) coming out as well.
No, it's not at a main plate joint, and it's slightly off-center.
It's possible it got scrapped as I pulled him out, but the bottom of his burrow is pretty much dirt/dry turtle waste and looks quite...
Fred and I are on the island of Oahu in Hawaii Kai (southeast corner). Our backyard is next to the canals connecting to the ocean in case that might have something to do with his shell. His burrow is literally 5 or 6 feet away from the salt water, but 4 feet elevated (fenced).
-Paul
Additional info: He is about 35 pounds, has pyramiding, he eats lawn grass and 1-2 large boxes of organic spring mix per month from Costco that is supplemented with calcium (no d3) because Hawaii dirt does not have calcium in it so the grasses here are completely devoid of that. He is passing...
Fred is a 11-year-old rescue tortoise from New York. When he arrived in Hawaii, he had an odd spot about the size of a dime on the bottom of his shell towards the back. The shell was discolored, was flaking a bit. I cleaned it up, scraped away the loose flakes, applied neosporin a few times...
Not sure if anybody cares but I'm doing my part...
In process of adopting "Fred" from turtlerescues.com - larger sulcata. Turned in paperwork and check to the state of Hawaii agriculture's Animal Quarantine department today for processing, and sent $235 (eek) to Julie for the Delta flight...
Filling out a form.
Been looking for a larger sulcata for a while now anyways. Hope it works out. Worried about the shipping part to Hawaii though.
-Paul
It's not a perfect world... My question still stands - How do I best, and most safely attach something to a young sulcata's shell to make it more visible? I once saw one that was painted completely. :(
Ideally, I would be able trade it in or fast forward it by a few years to make it...
*dons a flame-proof suit*
I'm a middle school science teacher and we have a young sulcata. The students take it out for walks to allow it to forage and exercise outside of it's turtle table (6 ft by 3 ft, two levels). We have a portable pen for it with a built-in shaded area that we also...