Hello. I have a strange problem. While buying fencing material in Dallas, my dad came across a 4-5 inch Texas Tortoise that was "friendly." Maybe you can already see where this story is heading!
My dad said it was hanging out in the busy lumber yard, huddled behind some stacks of fencing. My dad apparently mentioned to the workers how many reptiles I have. The workers feared for the tort’s safety and gave my dad a cardboard box to take the tortoise home to me... my dad believed I would be thrilled, lol.
I immediately drove back to the lumberyard to return the tortoise. However, when I got there, no tort-safe area could be found. It is not an exaggeration to say the lumberyard was surrounded by nothing but junkyards and a busy street on two sides; concrete everywhere!
Now, I am in a bit of a tight spot! I have this protected tortoise species living at my house, and that is making me very, very nervous.
Until I could figure out what to do, I brought the tortoise back home (again, poor baby). For the time being, I have set it up in a spare 20 gallon long terrarium with a mesh lid.
I don't have a spare UVB fixture at this moment. Have been providing UVA using a domed lamp and an incandescent bulb, set on top of the mesh lid on one side. Hot side gets to ~87 F; cold side 75 F, (measured with an infrared heat thermometer). Gets down to ~70 F when lights are out at night. About 12 hours of light total.
On the cold side, provided a shallow bowl with tap water for it to soak in, which It actually does quite a bit.
It has not been interested in prickly pear pads or apple slices.
(Researched info on gopher tortoises because I could not find much on Texas Tortoises, specifically.)
The tort SEEMS otherwise healthy; active, bright-eyed, and bold, but seems to be slowing down (unless I am crazy). Surprisingly friendly, it will not stay in its shell when approached, though I have left it alone as much as possible other than cleaning the enclosure and taking it out for some sunlight on the porch once (I worry about MBD! If this goes on ANY longer, I will bite the bullet and purchase a mercury vapor UVB/UVA combo bulb to put in that dome lamp - a week or two seems too long to go without UVB).
I have had the tort for 5 days now - much, much longer than planned, due to finals and a death in my extended family. Now that the crazy has died down, need to decide what to do! Because it won't eat, I am especially concerned. It needs to be released/given to a rescue ASAP, before it becomes too weak or MBD can develop; plus, it is protected by law so I should not have the tort in the first place!
I have attempted to get a hold of the local wildlife rescue group - no luck. Will drive out there Monday so they can't avoid my messages and emails, lol. That is, IF the tort is still in my possession by then!
I was reading that their "range" could be up to 13 acres, but could not find a good place to deposit it nearby the original location. I also read that it is not advisable to release a tortoise to a new area, as it may be territory already claimed by another tortoise... or could be easy prey for cats/birds of that new area.
Due to my job as a vet tech near Dallas (where a love of reptiles is abundant!), I have seen absolutely heartbreaking MBD with my own eyes... it is my worst fear for my beardie and geckos. I fully understand the consequences of irresponsible/spontaneous exotic animal ownership.
All that being said - I need to figure out what is best for this tortoise. If it weren't a protected species, I would consider building it a large, safe outdoor enclosure.
Excuse me for rambling - I've been looking this up and noticed a trend of shaming or blaming people for picking up wild torts, and wanted to say I am NOT that type of person! I would not have picked the tortoise up myself, but since he's in my care, wish to be careful about where I release him.
Do you guys have any recommendations or tips? Would you guys still advise I drop that tort off exactly where he'd been picked up?
Do you know if I could somehow be registered as a guardian of a Texas Tortoise? My mother shares my love of reptiles and would be more than capable of caring for him in an outdoor enclosure here at our home near Dallas if anything ever happened to me. I need to leave Dallas in 3-4 years to go get my veterinary doctorate once I finish my bachelor’s, so it would have to be her decision as much as mine! I don't say that lightly - she is fully capable.
I would love to keep the tortoise for all of its very long life if it could somehow be legal to do so - anyone happen to know of a method?
If not, that is absolutely fine and I was hoping perhaps you fine tortoise folks had a suggestion for a tortoise sanctuary in Texas – I’d be willing to drive a long way/meet someone half way to reduce the stress on the tortoise. The local rescue has been hard to get a hold of, but will keep trying. I would hate to return the tortoise to an unsafe area, but may not have a choice if there is no other legal option.
My dad said it was hanging out in the busy lumber yard, huddled behind some stacks of fencing. My dad apparently mentioned to the workers how many reptiles I have. The workers feared for the tort’s safety and gave my dad a cardboard box to take the tortoise home to me... my dad believed I would be thrilled, lol.
I immediately drove back to the lumberyard to return the tortoise. However, when I got there, no tort-safe area could be found. It is not an exaggeration to say the lumberyard was surrounded by nothing but junkyards and a busy street on two sides; concrete everywhere!
Now, I am in a bit of a tight spot! I have this protected tortoise species living at my house, and that is making me very, very nervous.
Until I could figure out what to do, I brought the tortoise back home (again, poor baby). For the time being, I have set it up in a spare 20 gallon long terrarium with a mesh lid.
I don't have a spare UVB fixture at this moment. Have been providing UVA using a domed lamp and an incandescent bulb, set on top of the mesh lid on one side. Hot side gets to ~87 F; cold side 75 F, (measured with an infrared heat thermometer). Gets down to ~70 F when lights are out at night. About 12 hours of light total.
On the cold side, provided a shallow bowl with tap water for it to soak in, which It actually does quite a bit.
It has not been interested in prickly pear pads or apple slices.
(Researched info on gopher tortoises because I could not find much on Texas Tortoises, specifically.)
The tort SEEMS otherwise healthy; active, bright-eyed, and bold, but seems to be slowing down (unless I am crazy). Surprisingly friendly, it will not stay in its shell when approached, though I have left it alone as much as possible other than cleaning the enclosure and taking it out for some sunlight on the porch once (I worry about MBD! If this goes on ANY longer, I will bite the bullet and purchase a mercury vapor UVB/UVA combo bulb to put in that dome lamp - a week or two seems too long to go without UVB).
I have had the tort for 5 days now - much, much longer than planned, due to finals and a death in my extended family. Now that the crazy has died down, need to decide what to do! Because it won't eat, I am especially concerned. It needs to be released/given to a rescue ASAP, before it becomes too weak or MBD can develop; plus, it is protected by law so I should not have the tort in the first place!
I have attempted to get a hold of the local wildlife rescue group - no luck. Will drive out there Monday so they can't avoid my messages and emails, lol. That is, IF the tort is still in my possession by then!
I was reading that their "range" could be up to 13 acres, but could not find a good place to deposit it nearby the original location. I also read that it is not advisable to release a tortoise to a new area, as it may be territory already claimed by another tortoise... or could be easy prey for cats/birds of that new area.
Due to my job as a vet tech near Dallas (where a love of reptiles is abundant!), I have seen absolutely heartbreaking MBD with my own eyes... it is my worst fear for my beardie and geckos. I fully understand the consequences of irresponsible/spontaneous exotic animal ownership.
All that being said - I need to figure out what is best for this tortoise. If it weren't a protected species, I would consider building it a large, safe outdoor enclosure.
Excuse me for rambling - I've been looking this up and noticed a trend of shaming or blaming people for picking up wild torts, and wanted to say I am NOT that type of person! I would not have picked the tortoise up myself, but since he's in my care, wish to be careful about where I release him.
Do you guys have any recommendations or tips? Would you guys still advise I drop that tort off exactly where he'd been picked up?
Do you know if I could somehow be registered as a guardian of a Texas Tortoise? My mother shares my love of reptiles and would be more than capable of caring for him in an outdoor enclosure here at our home near Dallas if anything ever happened to me. I need to leave Dallas in 3-4 years to go get my veterinary doctorate once I finish my bachelor’s, so it would have to be her decision as much as mine! I don't say that lightly - she is fully capable.
I would love to keep the tortoise for all of its very long life if it could somehow be legal to do so - anyone happen to know of a method?
If not, that is absolutely fine and I was hoping perhaps you fine tortoise folks had a suggestion for a tortoise sanctuary in Texas – I’d be willing to drive a long way/meet someone half way to reduce the stress on the tortoise. The local rescue has been hard to get a hold of, but will keep trying. I would hate to return the tortoise to an unsafe area, but may not have a choice if there is no other legal option.