PLEASE HELP IDENTIFYING MY SPECIES OF TURTLE OR TORTOISE

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DjAyy

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20161016_205607.jpg 20161016_205558.jpgcan somebody please help? Is this a turtle or a tortoise? If you know please tell me what species and how you know thank you.
 

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Big Charlie

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It looks like a desert tortoise to me. Wait for confirmation.

The difference between tortoises and turtles is that turtles live in water some of the time and tortoises live on land.
 

DjAyy

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Ok thanks. Any info on this would be great if you can positively identify it. How to take care of it, diet, tips.. I really want to take good care of it.
 

DjAyy

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Also how do you know its a tortoise? My farther in law says its an eastern box turtle.
 

cmacusa3

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Also how do you know its a tortoise? My farther in law says its an eastern box turtle.
No it's not an eastern box turtle, definitely a tortoise. I don't think it's a desert either. . Possibly a gopher tortoise. Pics not really good on my phone though
 
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DjAyy

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Ok thanks. If you can positively identify it it would really be appreciated. And any tips on how to properly take care of it to make sure this little guy has a nice long life. :)
 

cmacusa3

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Ok thanks. If you can positively identify it it would really be appreciated. And any tips on how to properly take care of it to make sure this little guy has a nice long life. :)
Someone will be able to positively identify it soon and then they can point you to the caresheets. If not soon, when I can get to a computer I can see the pic better. Did you find it?
 

DjAyy

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no, a friend of mine couldent take care of it anymore i told him id take it. i just want to be able to take good care of it.
 

DjAyy

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ive searched all over the internet and i came to the same conclusion as you. it is extremely close looking to the desert tortoise.
 

Big Charlie

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Since you are in Florida, I'm betting it is a gopher or Florida tortoise, which is a type of desert tortoise found there.
 

Tom

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Gopher tortoises are federally protected. It is illegal to possess this tortoise.

Here in CA we have to get a permit to keep our species of Gopherus. I'm not sure what your laws are in FL.
 

Berkeley

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I believe it is a Leopard Tortoise.

Gopher tortoises are federally protected. It is illegal to possess this tortoise.

Here in CA we have to get a permit to keep our species of Gopherus. I'm not sure what your laws are in FL.

Nope, Tom is right. It is a gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus. And in Florida it is illegal to keep it. The tortoise needs to be released where it was found.

--Berkeley
 

Tidgy's Dad

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I , too, though i am not an expert, think this is a Gopherus.
Releasing it where it was found, if the place is safe, may seem necessary, but it if not, or if it is a captive bred tortoise it will probably die if released.
Difficult.
 

cmacusa3

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Nope, Tom is right. It is a gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus. And in Florida it is illegal to keep it. The tortoise needs to be released where it was found.

--Berkeley
The problem is they said someone gave it to them that couldn't care for it any longer, I don't think it can just be released now.
 
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