- Joined
- Aug 29, 2014
- Messages
- 7
Hello. I am a fairly new "tortoise girl" and have been lurking these forums for months now but never had the nerve to post. I never imagined that my first post on a tortoise forum would be about a RES of all things, but here goes...
Today I was handed a young RES (male from what I can tell) by my parents. Apparently he was found on the runway of the airport my mother works at. He was caked in mud and nearly run over by an aircraft. The guys in the logistics station know that my mom has a daughter who keeps tortoises, so they gave him to her to give to me... my parents were nice enough to get some "turtle food" but that was it.
So now I have a 4-5"-ish RES, that is chilling in a medium size Rubbermaid container (I know he needs more space). All of my tanks and tortoise tables are full at the moment and I have no filter or aquarium heater. I have a spare daytime heating lamp with a 125w light/uvb that I can hang over him tomorrow if that will help, but will obviously cause me to need another spare. Research indicates that he will need at least a 150 gallon tank or tub with heater/filter/etc. Yikes. Any suggestions to get him set up relatively cheap? I'm not a cheap person by nature, but this was completely unexpected and I am stuck with him. All of the local animal shelters/rescues are filled up with sliders and its illegal for me to re-release him.
Also, I think he is going to need vet care. I am not sure, but it looks like he might have septicemia... or it could be pink growth marks which I read about, too... but I honestly have no idea. I also have concerns about his private area. I can take him to my tortoise vet but I know this is going to cost $$$ either way.
Also, could any of his issues be airborne? I ask this because while I am AWESOME at washing my hands after handling my tortoises (and I wash between caring for different species, too) I really don't want to get my adult Russian or hatchling Redfoots sick.
Thanks in advance. I know this is a tortoise forum but I have to wait for an admin to grant my access on the turtle forum I found and this place seems more active anyway.
Today I was handed a young RES (male from what I can tell) by my parents. Apparently he was found on the runway of the airport my mother works at. He was caked in mud and nearly run over by an aircraft. The guys in the logistics station know that my mom has a daughter who keeps tortoises, so they gave him to her to give to me... my parents were nice enough to get some "turtle food" but that was it.
So now I have a 4-5"-ish RES, that is chilling in a medium size Rubbermaid container (I know he needs more space). All of my tanks and tortoise tables are full at the moment and I have no filter or aquarium heater. I have a spare daytime heating lamp with a 125w light/uvb that I can hang over him tomorrow if that will help, but will obviously cause me to need another spare. Research indicates that he will need at least a 150 gallon tank or tub with heater/filter/etc. Yikes. Any suggestions to get him set up relatively cheap? I'm not a cheap person by nature, but this was completely unexpected and I am stuck with him. All of the local animal shelters/rescues are filled up with sliders and its illegal for me to re-release him.
Also, I think he is going to need vet care. I am not sure, but it looks like he might have septicemia... or it could be pink growth marks which I read about, too... but I honestly have no idea. I also have concerns about his private area. I can take him to my tortoise vet but I know this is going to cost $$$ either way.
Also, could any of his issues be airborne? I ask this because while I am AWESOME at washing my hands after handling my tortoises (and I wash between caring for different species, too) I really don't want to get my adult Russian or hatchling Redfoots sick.
Thanks in advance. I know this is a tortoise forum but I have to wait for an admin to grant my access on the turtle forum I found and this place seems more active anyway.