My first elongated (rescue)

Sulcata_Sandy

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Well, after a LONG time in lurk mode (and just being very busy with personal life, work life and tortoise rehab, I finally have something different....and COOL! My first rescued ELONGATED!

She (I think...short tail, asterisk....gentleman who surrendered thought was a "he")....was rescued by a gentleman who's friend was just going to turn her loose. Genius. So the guy who took her (who has quite a few torts, mostly Sulcata), figured out after a month he wasn't interested in the extra care they need. So he turned her over to a rescue. That rescue is full and I offered to take her as I have a "vacancy".

She is 8" long and only weighs 40 oz. She is so light for her size. I soaked her briefly and now I'm just leaving her be in her new enclosure. She has lots of places to hide, and moistened reptibark, plus a large wallow dish.

I so far plan to feed her similar to my Redfoots. She was previously feed just about everything under the sun. Last owner said she rarely ate. She was housed on Timothy hay. oi vay.

I'm hoping after rehyrdating her, leaving her to adjust to new surroundings, that she will regain her appetite. Once she's more stable, I will take her to work and radiograph her. I worry about females being egg bound. She otherwise looks healthy.

I have included photos taken by the prev owner. I'm not going to bother her for a few days to take pix of my own. I will soon. I've only read about this species, never kept one. I do not plan to keep her long term, just getting her healthy and ready for placement. May be awile. I'm in no hurry. Just want her happy and well now.

Any comments, tips, advice happily accepted!elongated2.JPG elongated1.JPG
 

Sulcata_Sandy

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I wondered!!! Funny, that was what I thought when I saw the pix before I got her.
Ok, glad my instinct was right. The other rescue organization was convinced it was an Elongated.

Very cool! I'm excited regardless. Something other than a Sulcata, Russian or Slider!

:-D
 

Sulcata_Sandy

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Yes, no worries on quarantine, I've been rescuing for years, and I'm a vet tech, I'm very cautious, esp with sickies. But thanks for the reminder. Can never be too careful. Everyone that comes in the door gets a "Betadine Bath". This presumptively Hingeback will get hers tomorrow. She's too stressed right now and I'm out the door to work!

Hey, if indeed this is confirmed Hingeback, I guess I need Josh to move this thread or I start a new one?
 

Jacqui

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If you decide to rehome her, please think of me. :) She is beautiful.
 

bouaboua

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If you decide to rehome her, please think of me. :) She is beautiful.
I want her too.............Just kidding! ! ! ! ! !

She is beautiful! ! ! ! ! ! ! In deed...........
 

Jacqui

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I want her too.............Just kidding! ! ! ! ! !

She is beautiful! ! ! ! ! ! ! In deed...........
If she really is a she, it would be wonderful for her to get into a breeding program as there are not a whole lot of these beauties left in the USA or in their native ranges. ;)
 

FLINTUS

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If she really is a she, it would be wonderful for her to get into a breeding program as there are not a whole lot of these beauties left in the USA or in their native ranges. ;)
And we're over-run with them...
Obviously we don't have the ban on imports, but they are now going for under $100 equivalent here, and less on the continent for CB babies. But you still can't even import CB ones it seems after speaking to Kelly about it-I'm still working on whether we could find someone to ship eggs across to the US, which in theory, wouldn't violate any rules.
 

Jacqui

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It is just so frustrating. The few you can find here are so over priced for folks like me, that's even if you can find them. Plus so many of the adults are getting to be rather aged so even if gotten into breeding programs, it may be a slow progress if any. So many of us have one sex or the other, with no way to find mates for them. The egg thing would be interesting.
 

FLINTUS

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It is just so frustrating. The few you can find here are so over priced for folks like me, that's even if you can find them. Plus so many of the adults are getting to be rather aged so even if gotten into breeding programs, it may be a slow progress if any. So many of us have one sex or the other, with no way to find mates for them. The egg thing would be interesting.
Well firstly I've got to find someone willing to provide them at this end, as I don't keep nogueyi myself, and then we'd have to ship them across. It has been done in the US once or twice, and the cost of 24 hour delivery isn't too much, and we wouldn't need any permits for them, probably just a note of explanation. The question would be when is best to ship the eggs/what stage of development.
 

Sulcata_Sandy

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Thanks so much people! I really appreciate the expert ID. I'm actually more excited it's a Hingeback.

Interesting addendum....this is a small town. Rather rural. 3-4 years ago I was contacted by a client of the vet hospital I work for. He had 2 torts and wanted to rehome one (small yard, not enough space for 2 diff species over winter). I offered to accept her into the rescue. He said it was a female "Bells Hingeback". He said he'd talk to his wife and make sure she was ok with the decision. He never called back. I remembered distinctly because I was so excited to get one!!!

I would put money on it this is the same tortoise.

The one he offered was originally in a collection from a University Zoology program presumptively in the 50's. He had explained to me that when the program lost funding, he volunteered to adopt her for his wife. They had her since the 50-60's.

I am trying desperately to recall this client, I don't think he's been back in with his pets recently.

Anyway, she is doing quite well. Drinking and self-soaking, curious, pacing around enclosure, basked for a bit under a powersun, then back under her log hide. I offered leafy greens, hadn't touched while I was still home. She'll be on her own for 12 hours so we shall see if she eats today on her own. She's cute, she will peek out of her log hide at me and watch me as I feed the other torts.
 

Sulcata_Sandy

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Nevermind, I see it's been done! I'm slow and exhausted from working 2 14 hour days in a row, plus new tortoise!
 

wellington

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If she really is a she, it would be wonderful for her to get into a breeding program as there are not a whole lot of these beauties left in the USA or in their native ranges. ;)

Hopefully she is indeed a she and someone with knowledge of them, like you Jacqui, can adopt her and get her breeding. Be ashame to see a good female, if she is, go to waist just being a pet when there are so few of them.
 

tortadise

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Fr sure a female especially at that size of SCL values shown. MVB are not a suitable bulb to use for this species at all. They require a bit more care than typical rescues like sulcatas or Russians. For sure this specimen needs to be in no breeding program in the US. Jacqui is a very suitable candidate as she is male heavy. So please consider her in placement.
 
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