hello and please help (Species & care?)

[kingsean]

hello everyone been a long time turtle and tortoise lover and finally got my first tortoise. The problem is I'm not sure of the species. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I rescued this guy or gal from a unwanted household for 20$ and I want to make sure I create the best enclosure for him or her so any help please throw my way thanks.

-Sean

 

[snaofreno]

Doesn't seem like a rescue to me if you paid $. They should have paid you as you were doing them and the Tort a big favor. Good luck; looks like a dandy but I will leave the identity up to the smarties.

 

[Yvonne G]

It was against the law for them to sell this tortoise for money...thusly it was against the law for you to pay money for it. This is a protected desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii).

You are correct in assuming he was 'unwanted' as is obvious from the condition he is in. It takes very poor care for a desert tortoise to grow bumpy (pyramided). Thank goodness he is now in better hands.

You can contact any chapter of the California Turtle & Tortoise Club to get a permit form to fill out so you can get a permit to keep the tortoise. It is easy and no inspection or contact with the Department of Game and Fish will happen. Or you can write to the DGF for them to send you the permit application. I also have them, and my spidey sense tells me you may be near where I live.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome to TFO!

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello and welcome to the TFO from AZ.you really got to be careful when they cannt tell you the breed . Then how do they know how to care for the tort . Have a great tort day


Sent from my iPhone using TortForum

 

[Jacqui]

Glad you got the fellow, he looks like he really needed somebody like you to come into his life.

 

[Jacqui]

Do live in at a winery? Noticing all those lovely vines behind you. Atleast I hope that's what I am seeing.

 

[bouaboua]

Welcome to the forum, love to have your "backyard".

 

[kingsean]

It was against the law for them to sell this tortoise for money...thusly it was against the law for you to pay money for it. This is a protected desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii).

You are correct in assuming he was 'unwanted' as is obvious from the condition he is in. It takes very poor care for a desert tortoise to grow bumpy (pyramided). Thank goodness he is now in better hands.

You can contact any chapter of the California Turtle & Tortoise Club to get a permit form to fill out so you can get a permit to keep the tortoise. It is easy and no inspection or contact with the Department of Game and Fish will happen. Or you can write to the DGF for them to send you the permit application. I also have them, and my spidey sense tells me you may be near where I live.

Dang you have extremely good spidey sense!
Thanks for the info

 

[moomooiecow]

That's a sulcata tortoise.

 

[Yvonne G]

Nope. Sulcatas have much bigger spurs on the front legs. You only think that because the tortoise is pyramided.

 

[pam]

Welcome