MaeBlack942
New Member
There is a box turtle that my step brother “rescued” from the wild. He found it one day and took it and kept it on a land that his dad owns. He named it Bob and isn’t taking care of it.
A little back story on my brother : he is my mom’s fiancé’s son. His dad bought him 2 sulcata tortoises just because he wanted them. He only wanted them because I said they were my favorite animal, which he knew nothing about them. One of which died because he didn’t UV light for the tortoise. But once again, his dad bought him another one to replace the one that died. He doesn’t take care of them and the only time they get care is when his dad feeds them.
Anyways, he captured this turtle a little over a month ago. The first week, he kept Bob in a water container. WATER, he kept a TERRESTRIAL turtle in water and it couldn’t get out. I told him about it (he claimed he knew all about his turtles) and he still didn’t do anything about it. It wasn’t until I told his dad that he was removed and put in some dirt (water was still available).
The same thing happened when I mentioned it needing sunlight. My brother didn’t do anything about it, but when I told his dad, he moved it out of the barn and into a spot that had sunlight and shade. Even my sister told him about needing UV rays and he said that “only tortoises need UV, not sea turtles” I’ll let you think about that.
When I first heard he got the turtle, I was telling him to return it where he had found it- but he didn’t. When he caught an anole lizard, I was able to convince him to release it. But he kept “Bob”.
But now, he wants to release it. It was only after I kept talking to him that convinced him to release it to where he found it instead of where he kept it now. But that was a over a month ago. Now I want to keep it, why? The turtle is already used to getting food without having to look for it and he doesn’t have any predators.
Today when i checked on bob, his legs were tangled in the long grass they gave him. His tub (they kept him in a storage bin) was full of ants and his water was pitch black- I wish I was exaggerating.
So I untangled his feet so he could move, I cleaned his water and using the fresh water, I rinced his shell that was covered it dirt, dust, and mud.
He is very calm for a wild animal (I think he is sick or depressed) and doesn’t move much- and I mean that compared to how much tortoises usually move. When I touched him, he didn’t really care and even let me pet his head. He even let me pick him up without a fight and let me derange him and clean him. I think he knew I was trying to help. Afterward, he moved a little more (I think maybe he didn’t move at all because he was stuck and tangled) and he was more open to me petting him.
I asked my mom if I could care for him (escpecially because of the hurricane coming and I live in SC) but she said he would be fine and that I don’t have room (I already adopted a few animals that needed a better home) and I have a small bedroom.
I over heard his dad telling my mom that they are going to release him in a pond that they have released to her turtles into (ummm, what?!). So now I’m just trying to convince my mom to let me care for the turtle, no one else does. I don’t know much about box turtles, but I know my fair share of knowledge about tortoises, turtles and reptiles in general which is more than anyone else in my family knows.
If y’all have any tips, information or advice, please let me know ASAP because the storm/hurricane is coming soon and they plan to release the turtle within the week.
A little back story on my brother : he is my mom’s fiancé’s son. His dad bought him 2 sulcata tortoises just because he wanted them. He only wanted them because I said they were my favorite animal, which he knew nothing about them. One of which died because he didn’t UV light for the tortoise. But once again, his dad bought him another one to replace the one that died. He doesn’t take care of them and the only time they get care is when his dad feeds them.
Anyways, he captured this turtle a little over a month ago. The first week, he kept Bob in a water container. WATER, he kept a TERRESTRIAL turtle in water and it couldn’t get out. I told him about it (he claimed he knew all about his turtles) and he still didn’t do anything about it. It wasn’t until I told his dad that he was removed and put in some dirt (water was still available).
The same thing happened when I mentioned it needing sunlight. My brother didn’t do anything about it, but when I told his dad, he moved it out of the barn and into a spot that had sunlight and shade. Even my sister told him about needing UV rays and he said that “only tortoises need UV, not sea turtles” I’ll let you think about that.
When I first heard he got the turtle, I was telling him to return it where he had found it- but he didn’t. When he caught an anole lizard, I was able to convince him to release it. But he kept “Bob”.
But now, he wants to release it. It was only after I kept talking to him that convinced him to release it to where he found it instead of where he kept it now. But that was a over a month ago. Now I want to keep it, why? The turtle is already used to getting food without having to look for it and he doesn’t have any predators.
Today when i checked on bob, his legs were tangled in the long grass they gave him. His tub (they kept him in a storage bin) was full of ants and his water was pitch black- I wish I was exaggerating.
So I untangled his feet so he could move, I cleaned his water and using the fresh water, I rinced his shell that was covered it dirt, dust, and mud.
He is very calm for a wild animal (I think he is sick or depressed) and doesn’t move much- and I mean that compared to how much tortoises usually move. When I touched him, he didn’t really care and even let me pet his head. He even let me pick him up without a fight and let me derange him and clean him. I think he knew I was trying to help. Afterward, he moved a little more (I think maybe he didn’t move at all because he was stuck and tangled) and he was more open to me petting him.
I asked my mom if I could care for him (escpecially because of the hurricane coming and I live in SC) but she said he would be fine and that I don’t have room (I already adopted a few animals that needed a better home) and I have a small bedroom.
I over heard his dad telling my mom that they are going to release him in a pond that they have released to her turtles into (ummm, what?!). So now I’m just trying to convince my mom to let me care for the turtle, no one else does. I don’t know much about box turtles, but I know my fair share of knowledge about tortoises, turtles and reptiles in general which is more than anyone else in my family knows.
If y’all have any tips, information or advice, please let me know ASAP because the storm/hurricane is coming soon and they plan to release the turtle within the week.
