I went to Petsmart today and they had a RF. This is quite funny (when it comes to the ignorance of large chain petstores) but also quite sad. They had her listed as "Captive Bred Redfoot Tortoise". I looked her over and she looks pretty healthy (from my limited experience). I asked a bunch of questions like where they got her, did they have a hatchling date, etc etc etc, and of course both people I talked to said they didn't know anything about it, but that they JUST got her on the 22nd, and they've NEVER carried a RF before, and all the employees loved her. Of course they had her set up in a very dry aquarium, with crickets no less.
Well I decided to get her because she's gorgeous. I went to the register to buy some other things first, including Reptile Mag. and the clerk started talking about tortoises and said that two days ago, someone came in and just left a $200 tortoise in one of their aquariums. They didn't know who or why.
AH HA!!! So this is why they had NO information on her! So when I went back to pick her up (I had them holding her while I did some other shopping), a different employee was there and he was upset to see her go as he loved her, and I asked him point blank if this was the tortoise that was mysteriously left in the tank and he said he thought so but he wasn't there when that happened.
REAL NICE!
Well I got her anyway, but of course there are some red flags as to why she might've been left. There is a 14 day gaurantee so there is time to see what is going on healthwise. She is a great weight, is robust - measured at 5.5 inches but looks at least six, has clear bright eyes and lots of energy, ate right away... her poop looked really mucousy tho.... I'm working on getting some pics up to show you... hopefully someone can verify the gender - my guess is female but of course I have no experience! I'm hoping someone can look at a pic of the poo and just tell me what they think (for now) since it won't be possible to get her to the vet for a couple of days at least!
Be back with pics! She really is a GORGEOUS thing, and spry and sweet! Oh, I have her in a small rubbermaid tote right now - WAY too small but am hoping to run to Walmart later today or tonight and get a tree tote for her. This small one is nice to keep heated for now, good for a day or two tops just to keep her nice and warm!
Well I decided to get her because she's gorgeous. I went to the register to buy some other things first, including Reptile Mag. and the clerk started talking about tortoises and said that two days ago, someone came in and just left a $200 tortoise in one of their aquariums. They didn't know who or why.
AH HA!!! So this is why they had NO information on her! So when I went back to pick her up (I had them holding her while I did some other shopping), a different employee was there and he was upset to see her go as he loved her, and I asked him point blank if this was the tortoise that was mysteriously left in the tank and he said he thought so but he wasn't there when that happened.
REAL NICE!
Well I got her anyway, but of course there are some red flags as to why she might've been left. There is a 14 day gaurantee so there is time to see what is going on healthwise. She is a great weight, is robust - measured at 5.5 inches but looks at least six, has clear bright eyes and lots of energy, ate right away... her poop looked really mucousy tho.... I'm working on getting some pics up to show you... hopefully someone can verify the gender - my guess is female but of course I have no experience! I'm hoping someone can look at a pic of the poo and just tell me what they think (for now) since it won't be possible to get her to the vet for a couple of days at least!
Be back with pics! She really is a GORGEOUS thing, and spry and sweet! Oh, I have her in a small rubbermaid tote right now - WAY too small but am hoping to run to Walmart later today or tonight and get a tree tote for her. This small one is nice to keep heated for now, good for a day or two tops just to keep her nice and warm!
