One of the custodians at my school found a tort walking across our main lawn a hour ago. I need some help identifying it as I'm not quite familiar with torts that aren't sulcattas.
I did a quick google search online and looked at some pictures but have not figured out what species it is. Seems like a combination of yellow foot, redfoot and golden greek. I need to find out what it is ASAP so I can make sure it has the correct food/moisture/shelter needed. I only know of sulcatas, redfoots, hermanns and sri lanikais being imported and/or bred here. My first reaction was that this was a box turtle as I had one as a little kid when I lived on the mainland but I have never heard of one being imported or kept here, but then again, I only paid attention to torts when I first got started out with this.
Pictures:
I am also concerned about some small holes in it's shell - any idea what might have caused this, or what kind of treatments it might need. No weeping or fluids coming out. Shell feels relatively solid (not sulcatta solid though). Bottom forward 1/3 is hinged and moves upward when the tort tucks it's head and legs in (and thus my first reaction that it was a box turtle - my sulcattas do not do this and don't think torts do). I assume this is normal for this species?
For the meantime, I put it in our old tort terrarium on our back lanai (Hawaiian for deck). Has not been used in 2 years so it looks terrible right now. Will add water into the dishes, water the dirt, cut back the weeds a bit and add some hay for the time being.
-Paul
I did a quick google search online and looked at some pictures but have not figured out what species it is. Seems like a combination of yellow foot, redfoot and golden greek. I need to find out what it is ASAP so I can make sure it has the correct food/moisture/shelter needed. I only know of sulcatas, redfoots, hermanns and sri lanikais being imported and/or bred here. My first reaction was that this was a box turtle as I had one as a little kid when I lived on the mainland but I have never heard of one being imported or kept here, but then again, I only paid attention to torts when I first got started out with this.
Pictures:
I am also concerned about some small holes in it's shell - any idea what might have caused this, or what kind of treatments it might need. No weeping or fluids coming out. Shell feels relatively solid (not sulcatta solid though). Bottom forward 1/3 is hinged and moves upward when the tort tucks it's head and legs in (and thus my first reaction that it was a box turtle - my sulcattas do not do this and don't think torts do). I assume this is normal for this species?
For the meantime, I put it in our old tort terrarium on our back lanai (Hawaiian for deck). Has not been used in 2 years so it looks terrible right now. Will add water into the dishes, water the dirt, cut back the weeds a bit and add some hay for the time being.
-Paul