Hello.
Today i was on my way back from a walk with my dog. I spotted the baby Desert Tortoise a foot away at about the same time my dog did and managed to snatch it up before my dog got to it.
My neighbor next to me has tons of decorations of turtles in their yard and asked if they owned any. They own 4 but all were accounted for and his turtles are about 6-7 inches long. I showed him the one i found and he said it is not his, it is not even a year old yet and his turtles have not mated.
I immediately set up a little habitat for it. there are 2 burrows for it, a shallow water dish, a rock to feed him on, and a light in an empty tank i had. I still have other rocks im about to put in including a brick for him to bask on. I just finished soaking him as suggested in an article i read because when i rescued him from my dog the DT got scared and peed on me. I also went out and picked a fruit from a prickly pear cactus and gave him a tiny piece which he ate.
I called several places here in Tucson got only answering machines, got a hold of a guy from a turtle adoption place and he requested i send in a pic to help identify what type of desert turtle i found and "we will go from there"....not too helpful.
I was told that because he is so young i need to keep him from hibernating. What i have read says to prevent hibernation to keep him at a certain temperature...a youtube video a guy made said that he filled in their burrow to help keep them from hibernating.
Do i have to take the burrows out? or can i keep it from hibernating by just temperature control?
Tomorrow I will be going to the pet store to get proper supplies to take care of it, including food, a thermomiter, and i dont know what else im about to make a list, then browse the isles too.
Anything helpful you guys can tell me i am all ears! My husband had a turtle for 10 years when he was little before someone stole it so he has had a little experience. This is my first time, Plus it is a tiny tiny baby so im a little paranoid haha
I did not take a picture of his belly because i didnt want to stress him out more by handling him more then necessary right now
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Today i was on my way back from a walk with my dog. I spotted the baby Desert Tortoise a foot away at about the same time my dog did and managed to snatch it up before my dog got to it.
My neighbor next to me has tons of decorations of turtles in their yard and asked if they owned any. They own 4 but all were accounted for and his turtles are about 6-7 inches long. I showed him the one i found and he said it is not his, it is not even a year old yet and his turtles have not mated.
I immediately set up a little habitat for it. there are 2 burrows for it, a shallow water dish, a rock to feed him on, and a light in an empty tank i had. I still have other rocks im about to put in including a brick for him to bask on. I just finished soaking him as suggested in an article i read because when i rescued him from my dog the DT got scared and peed on me. I also went out and picked a fruit from a prickly pear cactus and gave him a tiny piece which he ate.
I called several places here in Tucson got only answering machines, got a hold of a guy from a turtle adoption place and he requested i send in a pic to help identify what type of desert turtle i found and "we will go from there"....not too helpful.
I was told that because he is so young i need to keep him from hibernating. What i have read says to prevent hibernation to keep him at a certain temperature...a youtube video a guy made said that he filled in their burrow to help keep them from hibernating.
Do i have to take the burrows out? or can i keep it from hibernating by just temperature control?
Tomorrow I will be going to the pet store to get proper supplies to take care of it, including food, a thermomiter, and i dont know what else im about to make a list, then browse the isles too.
Anything helpful you guys can tell me i am all ears! My husband had a turtle for 10 years when he was little before someone stole it so he has had a little experience. This is my first time, Plus it is a tiny tiny baby so im a little paranoid haha
I did not take a picture of his belly because i didnt want to stress him out more by handling him more then necessary right now
View attachment 57761View attachment 57762View attachment 57763View attachment 57764View attachment 57765View attachment 57766View attachment 57767View attachment 57768View attachment 57769
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