ShireKim
New Member
Hi all, my first post here . So quick background on "LilOne", I acquired LilOne two years ago as he/she was surrendered to a Vet Clinic after being found caught up in Chicken Wire in Phoenix. The lady called me as she knew I had another rescue tortoise so took in LilOne. He/she has been great, never had an issue, eats well, lives outside in an atrium all year until the lows drop into the 60's and then LilOne comes back inside till its safe to go back outside again (I read young tortoises don't do well below 60 so that is the basis for coming inside till the lows return to above 60). So for question one, LilOne was thought to be a Sulcata as it does resemble one but it has grown minimally in two years, it is still just at 4 inches long. So is there a potential it is not a Sulcata, or a Sulcata cross or ??? Its shell seems healthy (solid and hard), eats great and lots, just no growth. So thinking if you all agree it is a Sulcata taking to the vet for a parasite check.
So the second part is the back legs. Again they said LilOne was hung up in Chicken Wire, but when LilOne came to me there was no obvious wounds, everything was healed and the legs are what they are. It has just a stub for the left leg, and the right leg, it doesn't walk on the base of its foot, it walks on its leg. I've got a video of LilOne walking that will try and get uploaded tonight. LilOne gets around just fine, is able to fully lift its shell off the ground and can walk quite fast when it wants too . So I've been debating about getting a set of wheels for the back end to help it move better but I was delaying till it got some size on it, but now I'm not sure it is going to grow? Could these injuries whenever they occurred have stunted growth? I presumed it was a baby when I got it but maybe it is older? Any help anyone can provide would be much appreciated! Excited to learn more from the vastness of knowledge here! I have another rescue which is a 1/2 Desert Tortoise 1/2 Russian, and just acquired a baby Leopard . LilOne lives with Eli (the Desert cross) and the Leopard has its own enclosure . Any help is welcome, excited to learn . Kim
So the second part is the back legs. Again they said LilOne was hung up in Chicken Wire, but when LilOne came to me there was no obvious wounds, everything was healed and the legs are what they are. It has just a stub for the left leg, and the right leg, it doesn't walk on the base of its foot, it walks on its leg. I've got a video of LilOne walking that will try and get uploaded tonight. LilOne gets around just fine, is able to fully lift its shell off the ground and can walk quite fast when it wants too . So I've been debating about getting a set of wheels for the back end to help it move better but I was delaying till it got some size on it, but now I'm not sure it is going to grow? Could these injuries whenever they occurred have stunted growth? I presumed it was a baby when I got it but maybe it is older? Any help anyone can provide would be much appreciated! Excited to learn more from the vastness of knowledge here! I have another rescue which is a 1/2 Desert Tortoise 1/2 Russian, and just acquired a baby Leopard . LilOne lives with Eli (the Desert cross) and the Leopard has its own enclosure . Any help is welcome, excited to learn . Kim