tortoise identification

[hendry the tortoise]

Good day,

we got a tortoise 3 days ago but having some trouble to identify him. How would i go about this.

Thank you

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Post a photo. These guys are GOOOOOD!

 

[hendry the tortoise]

Hope you guys can help identify our tortoise

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm going out on a limb here and saying sulcata, however, a lot of the babies look alike at that age (Greek, Gopherus, sulcata).

I will also say that your baby looks like he could use a bit more moisture in his habitat. He looks pretty dry and the growth indicates dryness.

It would help us I.D. him to know where you got him, for instance - found him outside (and in this case where you are geographically), bought him from a pet store, was gifted from a person who knew nothing about tortoises, etc.

 

[hendry the tortoise]

Hi there, we received him from a friend who knows nothing about tortoises. We have had him for three days now. We live in Zambia. I am not sure how old he is all i know is that our friend had him for a year. Soaked him today as per forum instructions. He was not fond of the water but luckily took a poo. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Yvonne G]

So, do you think the tortoise is also from Zambia, or did your friend buy it from a pet store?

I'll send a shout-out to @HermanniChris . He's very good at I.D.ing the tortoises, however babies are sometimes hard to I.D.

 

[hendry the tortoise]

Not sure to be honest. Thank you.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum to you and Hendry.
It may be a good idea to give him a soak for 15 to 20 minutes a day for a while, until he's properly rehydrated and then reduce it to two or three times a week.
Looks like a sulcata to me, too.

 

[hendry the tortoise]

Okay great thank you will definitely do. Any advice on his diet?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

If he is a sulcata then http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-diet-sheet.52677/
should be a great help.

 

[hendry the tortoise]

I gave him a bath with a toothbrush and the results were amazing!!!

 

[Yvonne G]

THAT'S THE SAME TORTOISE???????????

Well, there's no doubt about it. That tortoise is a leopard tortoise. You can follow that same care sheet that was given you above. Sulcatas and leopards take the same care.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Goodness, goodness, goodness, absolutely unrecognizable.
I make no apologies for being wrong, that's just completely different!
Beautiful leopard!!!!!
Crikey!

 

[Jodie]

Wow. Hard to believe that is the same tortoise! Beautiful leopard baby.

 

[tortdad]

Dang, talk about a make over. Never would have guessed from the first pics THAT was a leopard. Pretty

 

[hendry the tortoise]

I couldn't believe it myself. My fiance thought we got another tortoise when i sent him a picture how do i tell his age? On google images he looks like a sulcata but i dont know much so will agrees with the leopard. Thanks for all the advice

 

[Yvonne G]

I would say it's between a year and 6 months of age.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Your friend had him for about a year and his growth is dry....So honestly, he could be 1 year, 2 years or possibly older.
I've had, handled and seen leopards that had slow, dry growth be small like that at those ages.
Doesn't really matter though..size determines the type of care more than age does.

Now that you know what he is, you get the fun of setting up good habitat for him. Yay!

 

[Yvonne G]

@hendry the tortoise : I defer to Team Gomberg. I wasn't thinking about how dry the baby had been cared for previously. She's more than likely more accurate than I.

 

[hendry the tortoise]

Ok great. Looking forward to it. Can you soak your tortoise to much? Been soaking for the last three days.