Very excited to find this forum!

LisaLeslie

New Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2019
Messages
3
Location (City and/or State)
Bakersfield, CA
Hello everyone! I found this site searching for helpful information and here it is. I'm really glad I found you all. I live in Bakersfield, California, and I am the proud caretaker of three little Desert Tortoises. These babies came to me after a dear friend passed away unexpectedly. He had several adult tortoises that he adored and these babies were well loved and taken care of by him. They hatched in 2014 and came into my care in 2017. Their names are "Gem" (after my astrological sign "Gemini"), "Sage" (for my oldest son's sign "Sagitarius"), and "Aries" (my youngest son's sign). They have brought us so much joy and we just LOVE them! I am posting a recent photo of them. Yes, they are eating Romaine lettuce and I understand this is not the healthiest option but this is all they will eat after hibernating as of now. I will be posting a question regarding this which is really what brought me here in the first place. Also, you may notice a small paitned dot on the tail end of the babies. I assure you this is non-toxic paint and I have found it to be necessary to tell them apart and assure that they are all eating/drinking properly. Thank you for taking the time to read our intro and please look for my question regarding "coming out of hibernation".

20190330_124009.jpg
 

Lyn W

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
23,497
Location (City and/or State)
UK
HI and welcome to you and your torts.
There is a lot of outdated information out there about tortoise care there but this forum has a wealth of up to date information from very experienced keepers worldwide who are always willing to help.
These links may help - if you haven't already found them...........
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/ (the care is very similar)
https://azeah.com/tortoises-turtles/basic-care-desert-tortoise
and if you look at the thread started by the other new member with a desert tort you will find a great list of recommended tort foods.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/what-kind-of-tort-is-he.174646/
If you have any questions members will always get back to you asap.
So enjoy reading and posting we look forward to more pics and finding out about your tort family.
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Hi, and welcome!

Your babies are looking pretty good, however, I think they would have grown even more smooth had you kept them in an enclosure with soil that you could moisten. We've recently learned that a warm, humid environment helps baby tortoises to grow smooth shells.

Desert tortoises are one of my favorites. Here's a look at some of mine before I adopted them out:

desert tortoise babies 11-12-18.jpg
 

Toddrickfl1

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 7, 2018
Messages
7,103
Location (City and/or State)
Ga
Welcome to the forum. You will find the best most accurate information on husbandry right here.
 

Ray--Opo

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Oct 14, 2017
Messages
7,018
Location (City and/or State)
Palm Bay Fl
Hi, and welcome!

Your babies are looking pretty good, however, I think they would have grown even more smooth had you kept them in an enclosure with soil that you could moisten. We've recently learned that a warm, humid environment helps baby tortoises to grow smooth shells.

Desert tortoises are one of my favorites. Here's a look at some of mine before I adopted them out:

View attachment 269740
Wow Yvonne I didn't realize you were a breeder of DTs. What species of torts do you breed?
 

Ray--Opo

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Oct 14, 2017
Messages
7,018
Location (City and/or State)
Palm Bay Fl
Hello everyone! I found this site searching for helpful information and here it is. I'm really glad I found you all. I live in Bakersfield, California, and I am the proud caretaker of three little Desert Tortoises. These babies came to me after a dear friend passed away unexpectedly. He had several adult tortoises that he adored and these babies were well loved and taken care of by him. They hatched in 2014 and came into my care in 2017. Their names are "Gem" (after my astrological sign "Gemini"), "Sage" (for my oldest son's sign "Sagitarius"), and "Aries" (my youngest son's sign). They have brought us so much joy and we just LOVE them! I am posting a recent photo of them. Yes, they are eating Romaine lettuce and I understand this is not the healthiest option but this is all they will eat after hibernating as of now. I will be posting a question regarding this which is really what brought me here in the first place. Also, you may notice a small paitned dot on the tail end of the babies. I assure you this is non-toxic paint and I have found it to be necessary to tell them apart and assure that they are all eating/drinking properly. Thank you for taking the time to read our intro and please look for my question regarding "coming out of hibernation".

View attachment 269739
Welcome, Sometimes you have to give them some tough love to get them to eat different things. They won't starve to death so as long as the food is fresh just let it sit there. They will eat it. Or start adding a little bit of a different greens in the food and start adding more until they are eating it by itself.
I had to deal with it with my sulcata. When I got him he would only eat iceberg lettuce.
Now he eats many different things and this year when grazing he eats grass. Last year only certain weeds he liked. Good luck!
 
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