Family bought Victor the 'common' tortoise 14 years ago only to discover he was a sulcata

[KingInCulver]

um, suprise? i'm wondering what is considered a "common" tortoise - anyone know?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

p.s. 9 stone is 126 pounds (i had to google that =P)

 

[naturalman91]

since when are sulcata's rare? lol

 

[Yvonne G]

Well, since its in the UK, they probably thought they were getting a common Greek tortoise. I wonder what they've been doing during the cold winter months.

 

[littleginsu]

I looked at the new owner's website, he has some gorgeous rescue; looks like Victor will be well loved!

 

[Tom]

How do you have an animal for 14 years and have no idea what it is?

There is no such thing as a "common tortoise", so I find it hard to give these people a pass...

 

[bouaboua]

You never go online to check what kind of tortoise you have? This is odd for this age...

 

[Tom]

You never go online to check what kind of tortoise you have? This is odd for this age...

I knew what species all of my animals were long before there was any such thing as "on line". How do you know how to care for it if you don't even know what it is?

 

[naturalman91]

I knew what species all of my animals were long before there was any such thing as "on line". How do you know how to care for it if you don't even know what it is?

sadly i think this animal was probably bought under the cloak of "all tortoise needs are the same" i'm currently at odd's with a friend over how he keeps his box turtle he to think's all turtle and tortoise care is "general" he won't even so much as take the time to look up the care of his boxxie p***** me off

 

[Tom]

Sadly, David, I've seen more than enough of this sort of thing. I do what I can to help correct it, but some people just don't want the "help". Unfortunately their animals are the ones who suffer for their intentional ignorance.

 

[lynnedit]

I know several tortoises are called 'Spur thigh' in the UK, so I could see the mix up at an ignorant Pet store.
However, one would think that after it outgrew the largest Greek tortoise, the owner would look into it and say, 'Hmmmmm'....

 

[mike taylor]

Some people! He looks like they took care of him . He's not like my rescue I got from Kelly . Don't get me wrong Kelly saved the sulcata he gave me . But when Kelly got him his shell was cracked . So it could be all sickly with a pyramiding shell but it's not . The people who had Harry before me and Kelly didn't do nothing but bad for him apparently . They did find him a good home . So the story ends well .

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Some people! He looks like they took care of him . He's not like my rescue I got from Kelly . Don't get me wrong Kelly saved the sulcata he gave me . But when Kelly got him his shell was cracked . So it could be all sickly with a pyramiding shell but it's not . The people who had Harry before me and Kelly didn't do nothing but bad for him apparently . They did find him a good home . So the story ends well .

I don't agree about the care. He looks like what we get in Oregon, moldy. That looks like black mold on his carapace, and those 'flares' above his head should not be there at all. Bob has those too, I like them, but they are not normal. He has a big shell, but his body is skinny, and if that shell was just dirty his skin wouldn't look so clean. yeah, I know, I am too critical. But I call'em like I see'em. I enjoyed the story however.
I personally think that captive raised Sulcata have looked so bad in the past, pyramided, MBD etc. that a new keeper doesn't realize that they are supposed to be smooth and round. Sad...