Hello, I'm a newbie

[Colette]

Good morning, my name's Colette and I'm a complete newbie...I need advice on the breed of my tortoise so I can give it the correct care..
Thanku

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

What a beautiful old Testudo. Are you in the UK?

 

[Colette]

Hiya, yes I am...
This beautiful creature was given to me yesterday.. An elderly lady I used to care for had him for year's and I used to cuddle him all the time. Unbeknown to me she had told her family if anything ever happened to her, she wanted me to have him (if it is a him) unfortunately she died last weekend and as from yesterday I'm now a tortoise owner. I've kept reptiles for over 30 year's but never a tortoise. I don't know what breed he is, I know he used to roam free in her house, and he had a ramp into her garden so he came and went as he wanted.. Any help or advice on his care would be great

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

I assume he is a Greek, but Hermann's is also possible. Care is the same for both. Go to the Mediterranean tortoise section in species specific area for care advice. Welcome to tortoise keeping.

 

[Colette]

That's great, thanku for your help x

 

[JoesMum]

Hi and welcome from another British tort owner. We have had our Greek for 46 years!

Your tort looks like Testudo Graeca - a plastron (undershell) photo including the tail will confirm

I suggest you start by reading the following:

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Greek Tortoise Care Guide
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greek-tortoise-testudo-graeca-care-sheet-overview.87146/

Outdoor accommodation in the UK
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-accommodation-in-a-colder-uk-climate.140866/

 

[Jacqui]

Good morning and hi! Neat to be passed on such a loved animal, but sad at the loss of your friend.

 

[Momof4]

Welcome!!!

How long did she have the tortoise?
What's his name? I bet she has old pics of him somewhere.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hi

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome!

 

[Speedy-1]

Hi and welcome Collette !

 

[Colette]

Thanku so much for all your help and information, very helpful.. I'm just worried I'll get it wrong but all of your advice in your link is awesome. Thanks again. I don't even know what sex it is or age..the lady I got him from could never remember when she got him..

Your tort looks like Testudo Graeca - a plastron (undershell) photo including the tail will confirm

I suggest you start by reading the following:

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Greek Tortoise Care Guide
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greek-tortoise-testudo-graeca-care-sheet-overview.87146/

Outdoor accommodation in the UK
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-accommodation-in-a-colder-uk-climate.140866/[/QUOTE]

 

[Colette]

Thanku

 

[Colette]

Helloooo

Hi and welcome Collette !

 

[Colette]

She could never remember how long she had had him, she used to call him tortie... I've seen photos of him with her grandchildren, and I know one of them is about 7...That's about all I know x

Welcome!!!

How long did she have the tortoise?
What's his name? I bet she has old pics of him somewhere.

 

[JoesMum]

Thanku so much for all your help and information, very helpful.. I'm just worried I'll get it wrong but all of your advice in your link is awesome. Thanks again. I don't even know what sex it is or age..the lady I got him from could never remember when she got him..

A good clear photo of the plastron (undershell) including the tail will soon get your tort's gender identified here

Age is impossible to tell, but it's likely to have been imported to the UK in the 1960s or 70s.

 

[Colette]

Hi and welcome from another British tort owner. We have had our Greek for 46 years!

Your tort looks like Testudo Graeca - a plastron (undershell) photo including the tail will confirm

I suggest you start by reading the following:

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Greek Tortoise Care Guide
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greek-tortoise-testudo-graeca-care-sheet-overview.87146/

Outdoor accommodation in the UK
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-accommodation-in-a-colder-uk-climate.140866/

 

[Colette]

This is his tummy

 

[JoesMum]

I'm going to call @HermanniChris in at this point to take a look.

You certainly have a good size tort there! My gut feeling is male because of the tail and it looks like the plastron is concave.

Here's Joe for comparison

 

[Colette]

Yes the plastron is concave.. His tail has a slit down the underside of it.

I'm going to call @HermanniChris in at this point to take a look.

You certainly have a good size tort there! My gut feeling is male because of the tail and it looks like the plastron is concave.

Here's Joe for comparison
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